Procurement Manager

Description

About Us:

At Orthodontic Experts, we are committed to delivering exceptional patient care and setting the standard for orthodontic excellence. With 33 locations across the greater Chicagoland area, Wisconsin, and Indiana, and continued growth ahead, we are focused on transforming smiles and making a meaningful impact in the communities we serve.

We are looking for team members who are passionate about high-quality care and align with our Core Values:

• Accountability
• Continuous Improvement
• Inclusion
• Integrity
• Respect
• Teamwork
• Transparency

If you are seeking an opportunity to grow your career in a purpose-driven, patient-centered organization, we encourage you to apply.

Learn more about our Procurement Manager position:

The Procurement Manager oversees the daily purchasing operations, inventory replenishment, and supply chain logistics across our network of clinic locations. They lead sourcing strategies, negotiate contracts, evaluate vendor performance, and manage supply chain risks to ensure consistent, cost-effective operations. The Procurement Manager works directly with vendors and local office staff to minimize product waste, optimize costs while ensuring clinics have the necessary supplies to provide seamless patient care. They manage the full procurement lifecycle—from sourcing suppliers and negotiating contracts to monitoring inventory—while ensuring compliance with company budgets and regulations. Position reports to the VP of Operations & HR and works directly with Finance Department and Assets & Facilities Department.

Job Responsibilities & Duties

• Identify and vet reliable suppliers based on pricing, quality, delivery times, service levels, and scalability.
• Lead commercial negotiations to secure favorable terms, volume discounts, pricing protections, and service-level agreements (SLAs) that protect the company against supply chain volatility.
• Build and maintain long-term partnerships with key suppliers, conduct regular supplier performance reviews, and resolve supply and service disputes.
• Manage and support the implementation of an inventory management software system across the organization, including assisting  with system selection, implementation, process development, user adoption, and ongoing optimization.
• Establish and maintain standardized inventory management processes across all clinics, including inventory controls, ordering procedures, receiving processes, storage standards, and inventory tracking.
• Establish and monitor minimum and maximum inventory levels for key supplies and products to ensure appropriate inventory availability while minimizing excess stock and carrying costs.
• Conduct regular inventory audits across clinics to validate inventory counts, identify discrepancies, improve inventory accuracy, and support accurate inventory reporting to the Finance team.
• Partner closely with Finance to provide accurate inventory data, purchasing information, spend reporting, and inventory valuation to support financial planning, forecasting, and reporting.
• Analyze purchasing data, supplier spend, and inventory trends to identify cost-saving opportunities, standardize purchases, and improve purchasing efficiency across the organization.
• Demonstrate measurable annual reductions in supply and purchasing costs through vendor negotiations, contract management, purchasing standardization, utilization analysis, and other cost-containment initiatives.
• Monitor inventory levels and purchasing patterns to reduce excess and obsolete inventory, minimize waste, and proactively identify products at risk of expiration.
• Develop and implement processes to reduce expired inventory, including inventory rotation, expiration-date monitoring, clinic-level accountability, and appropriate redistribution of supplies between locations when applicable.
• Mitigate supply chain disruptions by diversifying vendor bases, identifying alternative suppliers, maintaining appropriate safety stock levels, and developing contingency plans for critical supplies.
• Manage the annual review and renewal process for all vendor contracts, including evaluating pricing, terms, service levels, performance, utilization, and opportunities for renegotiation or consolidation.
• Maintain a comprehensive vendor and contract management process, ensuring key agreements, pricing, renewal dates, SLAs, and performance requirements are documented and monitored.
• Ensure that all purchasing and inventory management activities adhere to company guidelines, legal and regulatory requirements, and ethical sourcing standards.
• Collaborate with clinic leadership and operational teams to understand supply needs, improve purchasing practices, maintain appropriate inventory levels, and promote accountability for inventory management.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to purchasing, inventory accuracy, supply costs, vendor performance, expired inventory, and cost savings, and provide regular reporting to leadership

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, supply chain management, finance, or a closely related field.
• Minimum 4+ years of experience in procurement, purchasing, inventory management, or multi-site management, preferably within a dental, orthodontic, medical device, healthcare, or related environment.
• Demonstrated experience achieving measurable annual cost reductions through strategic sourcing, vendor negotiations, contract management, purchasing standardization, or other procurement initiatives.
• Experience managing inventory across multiple locations, including conducting inventory audits and establishing inventory controls, minimum/maximum levels, and replenishment protocols.
• Experience implementing, managing, or optimizing inventory management software or related purchasing/inventory technology.
• Proficiency in data analysis, including the ability to interpret spend data, analyze inventory trends, identify cost-saving opportunities, and forecast inventory requirements.
• Strong understanding of vendor and contract management, including pricing reviews, contract negotiations, renewals, and supplier performance management.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong time management and multitasking skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Hold a valid state driver's license.
• Pass a motor vehicle record (MVR) check

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience specifically within a Dental Support Organization (DSO), healthcare network, medical device organization, or multi-site healthcare environment.
• Experience implementing inventory management systems across multiple locations or clinics.
• Familiarity with major dental manufacturing brands, dental supply vendors, and digital dental workflow software.
• Experience partnering with Finance teams on inventory reporting, spend analysis, inventory valuation, and financial planning.
• Experience developing and tracking procurement and inventory KPIs, including cost savings, inventory accuracy, stock levels, vendor performance, and expired inventory.

Working Hours & Location:

• Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (flexibility required)
• Occasional Saturdays and some holidays
• Reporting base location: 1700 W Higgins Rd, Suite 320, Des Plaines, IL 60018
• After successfully completing the probationary period, employees may have the opportunity to work from home one day per week. 

Benefits (Full-Time Employees):

• Company vehicle, iPass, and gas card (based on MVR approval)
• Paid Time Off & Holiday Pay
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Health Savings Account & Dependent Care Account
• 401(k) with company match
• Pet Insurance
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Identity Theft Protection
• Legal Insurance (MetLife MetLaw)
• Transit Reimbursement
• Free and discounted orthodontic treatment