Sr Strategic Sourcing Spec

The Strategic Sourcing Specialist - IT Procurement is responsible for establishing and driving procurement strategies across key Information Technology categories including Software, SaaS, Hardware, Telecommunications, Cloud Services, IT Professional Services, Managed Services, and Technology Projects. The role partners closely with IT leadership, Cybersecurity, Infrastructure, Digital, Finance, Legal, and business stakeholders to align sourcing initiatives with the Annual Operating Plan and Strategic Plan.

You will support and execute category strategies to optimize total cost of ownership, improve working capital, enhance supplier performance, manage technology risks, and ensure service continuity. The role requires managing multiple sourcing initiatives in a fast-paced environment while ensuring compliance with company policies, cybersecurity requirements, data privacy standards, and regulatory obligations.

The role is accountable for delivering cost savings, productivity improvements, working capital objectives, supplier performance, risk mitigation, technology lifecycle optimization, and service continuity across assigned IT categories.

Strategy & Planning

• Develop and execute category strategies aligned with Annual Operating Plans and long-term business objectives.
• Drive sourcing strategies that support business growth, innovation, and new program introductions.
• Support category planning through spend analysis, benchmarking, and market intelligence.

Category Management (IT Procurement)

Manage procurement across:

• Enterprise Applications (ERP, CRM, HRIS, Productivity Tools)
• Infrastructure Software and Platforms
• Cloud Services (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS)

Supplier Management

• Manage strategic relationships with key technology providers including software publishers, cloud providers, telecommunications carriers, systems integrators, and managed service providers.
• Conduct supplier business reviews and performance assessments aligned to service levels, cost, innovation, cybersecurity, and business objectives.
• Support supplier selection, RFIs/RFQs, negotiations, and contract execution.

Cost & Working Capital Optimization

• Optimize software licensing, subscription utilization, maintenance agreements, and cloud consumption to reduce total technology spend.
• Identify opportunities for technology standardization, consolidation, and rationalization across the enterprise.
• Drive software asset optimization through effective license management, subscription governance, usage analytics, and contract compliance.

Risk Management & Supply Resilience

• Assess and mitigate supplier, cybersecurity, data privacy, operational, financial, and business continuity risks associated with technology suppliers.
• Partner with Information Security, Legal, Privacy, and Compliance teams to evaluate supplier risk and ensure compliance with information security requirements.
• Evaluate technology vendor concentration risks and develop mitigation strategies for critical systems and services.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Influence stakeholders to adopt enterprise sourcing strategies, preferred suppliers, and procurement best practices.
• Partner with IT Infrastructure, Digital, Applications, Cybersecurity, PMO, Finance, Legal, and business stakeholders to align sourcing strategies with enterprise technology objectives.
• Partner with Legal to negotiate commercial terms, service level agreements (SLAs), liability provisions, intellectual property protections, cybersecurity requirements, audit rights, data privacy obligations, and software licensing terms.

Operations & Compliance

• Support procurement escalations, reporting, and reconciliation activities.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements (including import/export where applicable).
• Drive continuous improvement using Lean/Six Sigma principles.
• Ensure supplier compliance with cybersecurity, privacy, data protection, intellectual property, and software licensing requirements.

You Must Have

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, category management, procurement, or supplier management.
• Experience negotiating Statements of Work (SOWs), Master Service Agreements (MSAs), and professional services contracts.
• English proficient.
• Experience sourcing Information Technology categories including software, SaaS, cloud services, telecommunications, hardware, managed services, IT consulting, and technology projects.
• Experience negotiating technology agreements including Software License Agreements, SaaS Agreements, Cloud Services Agreements, Statements of Work (SOWs), Managed Services Agreements (MSAs), and Telecommunications Contracts.
• Understanding of software licensing models, cloud consumption models, and IT supplier commercial structures.
• Experience working with IT, Infrastructure, Digital, Cybersecurity, or Technology teams.
• Experience working in cross-functional or site-based teams.
• Project management experience.
• Contract management experience.
• Experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP), eSourcing tools, and procurement platforms.

We Value

• Knowledge of software licensing, SaaS, cloud computing, and telecommunications services.
• Experience supporting software asset management (SAM) and cloud cost optimization initiatives.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity, privacy, and third-party technology risk management processes.
• Understanding of technology contracts, service level agreements (SLAs), uptime commitments, support models, and software maintenance programs.
• Experience working with major technology suppliers (e.g. Microsoft, SAP, Oracle, Salesforce, Adobe, ServiceNow, Dell, Lenovo, Cisco, AWS, Google Cloud), or similar providers.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple sourcing projects simultaneously in a dynamic environment.
• Experience using spend analytics, reporting, and business intelligence tools.
• Experience supporting supplier risk management and business continuity initiatives.
• Professional certifications (e.g., CPSM, PMP, CSCP, Six Sigma).
• Strong business and financial acumen.
• Experience leading supplier negotiations and managing complex contracts.
• Familiarity with Lean and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Master’s Degree (MBA or related field preferred).