Associate Director, Payables Transformation Lead Lisboa

Job Description

This position is for an exciting new role in the Source to Settle Global Process Ownership Team. We are looking for an experienced leader who will help lead our ongoing transformation. We are seeking a strategic,
- thinking, and
- oriented Associate Director with strong project and program management capabilities.

This role will work directly under the Source to Settle Global Process Owner and play a pivotal role in delivering the future state of the STS process including leading continuous improvement initiatives, creating strategic visions, executing the strategy into operational action, and fostering a change‑resilient culture.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about driving process excellence, be a skilled storyteller, advocate across senior stakeholder groups, and possess the technical depth to bridge process innovation with Coupa and SAP S/4HANA (S4). You will be a coach to junior team members, a connector across functions, and a change leader shaping the future.

Responsibilities

• Drive deployment and execution of the newly defined global Source to Settle process vision in collaboration with the GPO and key markets.
• Act as a strong advocate for the STS process across senior leadership, partnering with Procurement, Finance, IT, and Business Operations to drive alignment.
• Give direct insights into future proofing the St
  S process by helping incorporate AI best practice.
• Help us integrate adaptive automation and decision awareness.
• Oversee implementation of third‑party software to accompany the existing purchasing technology stack. Partner in deploying procurement software to route intake requests to appropriate buying channels.
• Translate complex process transformations into compelling narratives for stakeholders at all levels.
• Conduct external benchmarking and translate best practices into actionable internal strategies that elevate operational performance.
• Provide mentorship and process knowledge to junior STS team members and end users across regions.
• Help shift legacy mindsets to forward‑thinking models through influence, empathy, and data‑backed reasoning.
• Ensure seamless alignment of business processes with technology platforms including Coupa (Procure‑to‑Pay) and SAP S/4HANA (At
  R and Finance).
• Own and drive end‑to‑end continuous improvement efforts including lean process reviews, root‑cause analysis, and stakeholder feedback loops.
• Understand market trends, connect dots across functions, and align execution with the long‑term vision.
• Build trust and drive decisions across cross‑functional teams.
• Support others’ growth while maintaining accountability.
• Navigate ambiguity and lead others through transformation.
• Make decisions based on insights and measurable outcomes.
• See the big picture while understanding the interdependencies of process and tech.
• Champion consistency, quality, and simplification.
• Project‑manage a portfolio of initiatives and provide key status updates, make rapid decisions, and ensure an excellent customer experience.

Required Education, Experience, and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Finance, Supply Chain, or related field.
• 8+ years of relevant experience in global procurement, finance operations, or shared services.
• Demonstrated experience leading large‑scale transformation.
• Strong experience with operations associated with both Indirect and Direct material procurement with additional experience directly working with suppliers.
• Deep understanding of Source to Settle / Procure to Pay process frameworks.
• Proven ability to lead through influence and build strong relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Experience with Coupa and SAP S/4HANA in a business process owner or super‑user capacity.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex topics into actionable insights.
• Advanced user or functional lead level; experience with supplier enablement, requisitioning, invoicing, and approvals workflows in COUPA.
• SAP S/4HANA: Familiarity with procurement and finance modules (MM, FI, AP); understands how transactional data supports reporting and compliance.
• Data & Reporting Tools: Proficiency in Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or similar tools.
• Process documentation and visualization tools.

Preferred Education, Experience, and Skills

• MBA or equivalent advanced degree.
• Experience working in a global or matrixed organization.
• Familiarity with agile methodologies or process reengineering.
• Previous experience in training and enablement or capability building.
• Previous programming experience e. g. , Python, Java
  Script, or Ruby.
• Understanding of SOX controls and compliance requirements in procure‑to‑pay environments.

As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from candidates with a diverse background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all our applicants.