Procurement Manager

About Tailscale

Tailscale is building the new Internet by delivering software that makes it easy to securely interconnect people and their devices, no matter where they are. From hobbyists to multinational corporations, teams of every size use Tailscale each day to protect their networks, share access to internal tools, and more. We're building a future for the Internet that's easy, sensible, and safe, like it used to be. Founded in 2019 and fully distributed, we're backed by Accel, CRV, Insight, Heavybit, and Uncork Capital.

Job Description

We are seeking a talented and motivated full-time Procurement Manager to build and own Tailscale's procurement function, reporting into our VP of Finance. As our first dedicated procurement hire, you'll create lightweight, scalable processes and systems that help teams buy the software and services they need while maintaining strong commercial discipline and appropriate legal, security, and financial controls. You’ll manage procurement requests end-to-end – from intake and sourcing through negotiation, contracting, and renewal management, and partner closely with Legal, Security, Finance, and internal buyers across the company. At Tailscale, small teams solve concrete problems and build systems that "just work," so we're looking for someone who can bring that same mindset to procurement: high judgment, strong ownership, and durable processes that support growth without adding unnecessary overhead.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and own Tailscale's procurement function, including intake, policy, approval paths, vendor governance, and operating rhythms for software, SaaS, cloud, data, and professional services spend.
• Manage procurement requests from intake to signature, prioritizing across competing asks and aligning stakeholders on requirements and timelines.
• Lead all vendor negotiations directly: pricing, order forms, SLAs, SOWs, renewals, and key commercial terms, with the goal of securing the best possible outcomes for Tailscale.
• Partner closely with Legal and Security, and where relevant Finance, IT, Privacy, and business owners, to coordinate contract review, security/privacy diligence, risk assessment, and approvals.
• Design and implement scalable tooling and systems for procurement intake, contract and renewal tracking, approval routing, and reporting, plus the playbooks and templates that drive consistency.
• Own vendor lifecycle management, including renewal planning, usage review, supplier performance, and opportunities for consolidation or cost optimization.

What We Are Looking For

• 6+ years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, vendor management, or technology purchasing, ideally in SaaS or other high-growth technology environments.
• Proven success building procurement processes, policies, and tooling from scratch and operating them independently—you've created structure where none existed.
• Strong experience negotiating SaaS, cloud, data, and professional services agreements, including pricing structures, order forms, SLAs, SOWs, and renewals.
• Ability to partner credibly with Legal, Security, Finance, IT, and business stakeholders, including working knowledge of vendor due diligence, security questionnaires, and privacy/compliance considerations.
• Strong analytical and financial skills, including the ability to evaluate total cost of ownership, benchmark pricing, manage renewals, and identify savings opportunities.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, with a service-minded approach that makes procurement an enabler rather than a bottleneck, and the judgment to know when more process is needed and when less is better.

As a company, we strive to maintain fair and equitable compensation practices within our team across all roles and all levels. Tailscale's compensation package includes base salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits. The salary range displayed on each job posting represents the target range for a new hire's base salary. Individual offers may vary based on experience and skill set.

US Pay Range

$115,000—$165,000 USD

Frequently cited statistics show that people who identify with historically marginalized groups are likely to apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We encourage you to help us break that statistic!

What We Offer

• An inclusive, flexible environment where you can be your authentic self. We recognize the impact of diverse voices and backgrounds on the growth of our people, product, and company. And that flexibility in how and when you work empowers our team to integrate work and life.
• A competitive total compensation package. This includes a base salary, an equity incentive plan and variable commission (for quota-based roles).
• Comprehensive group benefits with no waiting period. Take advantage of coverage for health, vision, dental, and more for you and your family!
• Remote first company—most of our teams work fully remotely. Enjoy a change of scenery wherever you can get wifi, participate in virtual and in-person social events, and leverage our corporate co-working program to visit WeWork (or other similar spaces near you). Some roles require in-office collaboration depending on team needs, which will be clearly noted in the job description.
• Connect with other Tailscalars IRL. Attend our annual company retreat, participate in team off-sites, and collaborate in person with teammates across Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. We support intentional in-person connection through team travel and distributed collaboration.
• Support for your personal and professional development. Grow your career thoughtfully with $1500 USD annually for professional development, or take advantage of mentorship, coaching, and internal promotion opportunities. 
• Paid time off and a healthy work-life integration. Our flexible, paid time off program supports you for any situation life throws your way, whether moving homes or travelling the world!
• A build-your-own home office setup. You choose your own company-owned laptop (Mac or PC), receive a monthly home internet reimbursement, and $1000 USD to customize your workstation to make it your own.
• Generous parental leave program from your first day. We care about your life outside of work and encourage new parents to take advantage of parental leave top-ups for up to 26 weeks.

 

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