Position Title: Procurement Manager – FF+E Full Time

Location: Chicago, IL

Company Overview:

Design Environments is a leading national interior design and purchasing company that provides interior design, FF+E procurement, project management, warehousing, and installation services to its clients.

Headquartered in Marietta, GA, the company has design studios and offices in Chicago Downtown, Chicago Greater Area, Boston, San Francisco, and Greensboro. The company is the culmination of 5 acquired companies by Blackford Capital based in Grand Rapids, MI over the past five years. Recently in September 2022 the companies were consolidated and rebranded as Design Environments. The company services the hospitality, senior living, multi-family housing, single family housing, and student housing market verticals.

Visit our website to learn more about Design Environments: http://www.designenvironments.com

Company Cultural Behaviors

At Design environments, it is critical that we build the right culture! We have 30 behaviors that we strive to achieve every day.

Position Description:

The FF&E Procurement Manager must have deep knowledge and aptitude of hospitality purchasing and project management. Great understanding of brand standards, budgeting, sourcing, purchasing, freight management, and installation practices will be necessary to be effective in this role. Clear communication with clients, contractors, suppliers, designers, logistics and installation teams are pertinent to deliver successful projects. Delivering to the created design intent and remaining within budget and timeline are extremely important. This is critical to the organization and supports delivery of legendary service to our clients.

Position Responsibilities:

• Manage assigned projects from design completion through FF&E installation with minimal supervision
• Prepare project timeline and deliverable budgets, schedules, and responsibility matrices
• Participate in biweekly project review meetings with key stakeholders
• Coordinate communication by project team member, including meeting minutes, email documentation and transmittals
• Correspond and coordinate with design team
• Liaison between Client/Contractor and designer for construction schedule
• Communicate with manufacturer representatives to research material selection costs and specification information, as required
• Build and maintain high-level contacts with current and prospective clients in conjunction with other business and project partners i.e.: brands, project management companies, architects, design firms, and general contractors
• Review and approve PO’s, RFI/RFPs, and order acknowledgments, as required
• Assure purchasing and installation processes conform to contractual agreement with client and any sub-contractors
• Meet project profitability goals
• Provide risk management and solution focused mindset by problem-solving project issues: supplier, design, construction, freight, and installation
• Build and maintain supplier relationships vital for sourcing and effective, efficient deliveries, tracking against established KPIs
• Ability to communicate complex FF&E budgets and specifications to clients
• Deep knowledge of Brand Standards
• Demonstrated expertise in value sourcing, delivering cost effective products while maintaining or exceeding design intent
• Knowledgeable on appropriate costs, budgeting and estimating techniques for FF&E and finish materials
• Strong knowledge of hospitality supplier’s product offerings and costs
• Communicate fee schedules and add services with clients and coordinate with accounting
• Adept technical knowledge for installation coordination of FF&E furnishings, decorative lighting, and other related interior design elements
• Models a highly organized approach to the procurement and project process resulting in on time, and on budget deliverables
• A sense of business acumen to advise and guide clients, as required
• Proven track record of success in maintaining and growing client relationships
• Site inspections and FF&E punch list, as required
• Travel may be required

Start Date: Within 30 days

Work Hours: Typically, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Compensation + Benefits:

• Includes market-based salary. Position includes full-time employee benefits package consisting of medical insurance, Paid holidays, 401K, and PTO.

Qualifications + Skills:

• Procurement Management: 3+ years [Required]
• Proven track record of managing new construction and renovation hospitality projects
• In-depth understanding of hospitality construction schedules and supplier lead times
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite [Excel, Word, Outlook, Project]
• Strong, persuasive communicator, verbal and written
• Outstanding attention to detail
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills
• Well-presented and articulate
• Demonstrates self-confidence and composure
• Analytical
• Naturally shows initiative and is solutions focused
• Skilled in negotiating product costs and terms
• A team player with leadership abilities