Director, Global Strategic Sourcing (Durham, NC)

Job Overview:

The Director, Global Strategic Sourcing, is responsible for leading the strategy, design and development of a world-class strategic sourcing and category management function for one or more categories or segments within Fortrea’s global sourcing scope. This leader must have the interest and ability to work cross functionally with stakeholders across the entire enterprise to ensure that business objectives and strategies are achieved.

Summary of Responsibilities:

Leadership & People Management

Build, lead, and develop a global team of category and sourcing managers , establishing clear role clarity, performance expectations, and decision rights aligned to Fortrea’s strategic priorities.

Create a high‑performance culture by coaching leaders, providing regular performance feedback, and holding managers accountable for results, behaviors, and talent development outcomes.

Own talent strategy for assigned categories , including workforce planning, capability development, succession planning, and identification of future leaders within Global Procurement Services.

Set and cascade measurable objectives across the team (savings, service levels, stakeholder satisfaction, compliance), ensuring alignment between enterprise priorities and individual goals.

Foster an inclusive, growth‑oriented environment that encourages continuous improvement, innovation, and cross‑functional collaboration.

Strategic Leadership

Own the strategy, governance, and performance outcomes for assigned sourcing categories, ensuring category strategies are developed and executed effectively.

Hold team leaders accountable for execution quality , including sourcing rigor, supplier performance management, contract compliance, and stakeholder engagement.

Serve as an executive escalation point , removing barriers, resolving priority conflicts, and enabling teams to deliver value at scale rather than directly managing routine sourcing activities.

Translate enterprise strategy into category‑level priorities , ensuring consistent application of sourcing methodologies, tools, and governance across the team.

Stakeholder & Organizational Leadership

Act as a senior strategic advisor to enterprise leaders, shaping demand, influencing sourcing decisions, and aligning stakeholders to long‑term value creation rather than transactional outcomes.

Model and enforce disciplined decision‑making , ensuring teams balance speed, risk, compliance, and value in alignment with Fortrea policies and regulatory requirements.

Execution

Lead and project manage multi-functional stakeholder teams on specific strategic sourcing initiatives or projects, including RFX’s, to ensure benefit realization and drive value through supplier relationship management within the assigned categories.

Conduct regular contract review meetings with suppliers and key stakeholders to ensure supplier performance is meeting expectations , contractual commitments, and service levels and that any concerns are communicated in a timely manner ensuring the avoidance of service disruption and stakeholder dissatisfaction. Provide advice on all procurement related issues and discuss detailed contractual issues on a wide and varied portfolio with stakeholders to ensure that (i) contractual terms and obligations are fully understood, (ii) both financial, operational, and supply risks are minimized, and (iii) stakeholders fully understand and remain in compliance with finance, legal and procurement procedures.

Verify the relevance of the sourcing strategy by consulting with leaders, understanding external market trends, monitoring business conditions and priorities, being attentive to business objectives and continually validating, evolving, and adjusting the suitability of the functions' strategic objectives to ensure alignment.

Results & Accountability

Own delivery of savings and value targets through the performance of the team , including P&L impact, cost avoidance, working capital improvements, and supplier innovation.

Establish and review team ‑ level performance dashboards , using metrics and analytics to guide coaching, prioritization, and continuous improvement.

Design and continuously evolve the operating model for category management and strategic sourcing, including governance forums, escalation paths, and cross‑functional engagement models.

Partner with the Executive Director to shape functional strategy , transformation roadmaps, and multi‑year capability investments for Global Procurement Services.

Qualifications (Minimum Required):

Bachelor's degree

A deep knowledge of sourcing processes, market trends, benchmarks, and best practices across categories under management

In-depth knowledge of category strategy, management and sourcing, methodologies, and best practices

Proven analytical skills, and demonstrated ability to solve complex problems to drive value

Deep business and financial acumen and strong strategic and conceptual skills

Demonstrated excellent written and verbal communication skills

Demonstrated organizational, time management, and multi-tasking skills

Working knowledge of data analysis and forecasting tools and ability to develop actionable insights from data

Interpersonal skills and ability to build, develop and maintain trusted relationships both internally and externally

Attention to detail and analysis accuracy

Ability to make decisions and commit to completion dates

Ability to troubleshoot issues of high complexity

Microsoft Office365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint)

Fortrea may consider relevant and equivalent experience in lieu of educational requirements.

Experience (Minimum Required):

Demonstrated team leadership experience

Experience working in a matrixed business environment, leading multiple commitments and collaborators while prioritizing conflicting demands, maintaining focus on the objective, and providing high quality service to both internal and external partners

Specific experience in leading large, complex sourcing projects and supporting Senior Leadership on development of the sourcing strategy, management of risks and issues and the execution of the project to deliver the greatest value for money for the organization

Developing and executing clear category management, strategic sourcing, procurement, and cost reduction strategies

This is a hybrid role with the expectation to work within our Durham headquarters 3 days each week.

Pay Range: $160,000-$170,000 (The range does not include benefits, and if applicable, bonus, commission, or equity)

Benefits: All job offers will be based on a candidate’s skills and prior relevant experience, applicable degrees/certifications, as well as internal equity and market data. Regular, full-time or part-time employees working 20 or more hours per week are eligible for comprehensive benefits including: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, STD/LTD, 401(K), ESPP, Paid time off (PTO) or Flexible time off (FTO), and Company bonus where applicable. For more detailed information, please click here.

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

Work Environment:

Work is performed in an office environment with exposure to electrical office equipment.

Physical Requirements:

Frequently stationary for 6-8 hours per day.

Repetitive hand movement of both hands with the ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.

Occasional crouching, stooping, with frequent bending and twisting of upper body and neck.

Ability to access and use a variety of computer software developed both in-house and off-the-shelf.

Application deadline: September 30, 2026

Learn more about our EEO & Accommodations request here .