Procurement Director - Supply Chain

Build your career at Sazerac! With almost 400 years of rich history, Sazerac Company has thrived as an independent, American family-owned company with operations in the United States and around the world. Since the 2000s, Sazerac has averaged double digit growth every year! Sazerac Company produces and markets the most award-winning bourbons and whiskeys in the world, including Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, and Sazerac Rye. Additionally, Sazerac owns many popular brands across a range of spirits, including Fireball, Southern Comfort, Seagram’s V.O., Myers’s, Goldschläger, Parrot Bay, 99 Brand, and Platinum Vodka. 

We’re proud of our award-winning culture and distilleries. Our Louisville office has been named one of the “Best Places to Work in Kentucky” four times, and our Buffalo Trace Distillery has earned the title of “world’s most award-winning distillery” through the dedication of our craftsmen for well over 200 years. Whether you’re a recent graduate or an experienced professional, Sazerac provides extraordinary opportunities for growth with competitive salaries and benefits in an exciting, entrepreneurial industry.

Lucerne, Switzerland

Role Overview

The Supply Chain Procurement Director leads Sazerac’s global sourcing and procurement strategies across all supply chain categories, including road transport, ocean freight, warehousing, and associated services. This role drives cost optimization, supply resilience, and supplier innovation to enable sustainable growth across Sazerac’s operations network. Reporting to the Global Head of Indirect, Logistics & Co-Manufacturing Procurement, the Director partners closely with Operations, Planning, and Finance to deliver measurable savings and improve end-to-end supply chain performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies for supply chain and logistics procurement, covering road transport, ocean freight, warehousing, and associated services.
• Manage end-to-end sourcing processes, supplier selection, and contract negotiations to ensure best total value, service, and reliability.
• Build strategic supplier partnerships and performance scorecards to drive continuous improvement, service quality, and innovation.
• Collaborate with Logistics Operations and Finance to track budgets, freight rates, and cost-to-serve metrics.
• Ensure all supplier agreements comply with company policies, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop annual sourcing plans aligned with business priorities and cost-reduction targets.
• Lead and coach category managers and analysts, building capability in strategic sourcing, analytics, and supplier relationship management.
• Monitor market trends, capacity shifts, and risk factors impacting transportation and warehousing costs.
• Contribute to the development of global supply chain strategies and governance standards.
• Drive procurement support for central CAPEX process (led by Capital Excellence department) and drive aging warehouse negotiations with select suppliers with dedicated headcount.

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Must-have qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of procurement experience in CPG, beverage, or manufacturing industry.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing category managers or cross-functional teams.
• Proven record in developing and executing sourcing strategies delivering measurable cost savings and supply continuity.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and strategic thinking skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Willingness to travel up to 25%.
• In-person job attendance required.

Preferred qualifications

• MBA or professional certifications (CPSM, CSCP, CIPS).
• Experience leading global teams and large-scale transformation initiatives.
• Expertise with SAP Ariba, Oracle ERP, or other procurement systems.