Strategic Sourcing Manager

Reporting to the Director of Strategic Sourcing, this position will oversee multiple commodity categories and support enterprise-wide sourcing initiatives. This position will be responsible for increasing spend under management, achieving cost savings, cost avoidance, and partnering with internal stakeholders and suppliers to ensure goods and services are procured at the best value in a timely manner to support the research, teaching and public service mission of the University System.

The Strategic Sourcing Manager will manage assigned projects, commodities, strategic suppliers, RFx processes, and negotiations. The Strategic Sourcing Manager is responsible for contributing to and effectively executing the University System’s defined strategic sourcing strategies in the acquisition of goods and services. The primary responsibility of the Strategic Sourcing Manager is to work with the Director of Strategic Sourcing in executing the sourcing strategies and methodology as well as fulfill large spend requests submitted by the campuses.

This position may have the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule (partially remote and in-office). Periodic campus/system office visits will be required.

Duties/Responsibilities

• •Responsible for comprehensive management of assigned categories and projects with an emphasis on cost optimization and value maximization. This includes overall category management including identifying cost savings and improvement opportunities, planning and executing strategic sourcing processes, effectively managing supplier relationships, monitoring contract compliance, working with eProcurement to implement and manage appropriate catalogs and forms to streamline the procure-to-pay process, and building excellent relationships with campus clients.
• •Proactively and effectively engage with campus stakeholders to build relationships, understand business needs and instill confidence that procurement is a highly capable and professional function able to add value and meet the business needs of campus stakeholders. Partners with stakeholders and builds relationships that facilitate early engagement and the realization of added value to the University system.
• •Works independently and closely with functional stakeholder management teams and suppliers to develop and implement integrated sourcing strategies for managed categories including competitive landscape, technology, and business direction, supplier analysis, development and selection, pricing strategy, and cost reduction opportunities.
• •Works collaboratively with customers to understand demand behavior, specification requirements, and product/service needs.
• •Positively represents the Procurement Team in campus settings such as workgroups, task forces, and committees; works to achieve outcomes consistent with University and Procurement strategy and direction.
• •Utilizes qualitative and quantitative data to influence stakeholders and obtain support for new or improved courses of action that maximize value to the organization.

Business Case Development

• •Develops solid business cases to support recommended courses of action that rely upon quantitative and/or qualitative measures that clearly show the pros and cons of recommended courses of action and the benefit of the recommended direction.
• •Present business cases both formally and informally to procurement and organizational leadership as well as stakeholders.

Strategic Sourcing & Project Management

• •Oversee the development and execution of category management strategies to include risk assessments, overall market, industry and supply base analysis, and category and vendor segmentation.
• •Develops and manages an annual procurement plan and multi-year portfolio strategy that aligns with strategic vision, business forecast/objectives, and annual financial plan. Oversees annual review of supplier value analysis cost reduction opportunities with the supplier base. Ensures short, medium, and long-term strategy for supplier management strategic direction.
• •Defines, obtains support and approval and executes strategic sourcing initiatives aligned to category strategies. Develop, champion, and ensure implementation of strategic sourcing principles that will optimize total cost of ownership for spend categories.
• •Conducts supplier research and gathers market intelligence to ensure appropriate products/services are being acquired at competitive prices.
• •Manages complex RFx processes and, when assigned/available, directs sourcing specialist work related to RFx processes.
• •Defines key metrics and leads the contract negotiation process for pricing, key terms, service level requirements, and other performance metrics.
• •Performs total cost of ownership evaluations, supply-market research and conducts pricing and impact analysis.
• •Provides project management and coordination for strategic sourcing initiatives to ensure success throughout the entire process.
• •May manage and/or provide direction to Sourcing Specialists or other assigned staff by providing guidance, prioritizing workloads, administering training, and conducting performance evaluations.
• •Ensures all selection processes comply with applicable Federal, State, and University System Laws and Regulations.

Complex and High-Value Buys

• •Manages a portfolio of strategic contracts and supplier relationships for assigned categories. Conducts regular business and performance reviews with key suppliers and internal stakeholders. Measures and manages supplier performance relative to contracted service levels.
• •Analyzes supplier data to determine pricing inconsistencies, savings opportunities, consolidation, and demand management opportunities.
• •Identifies and resolves key supplier performance issues to ensure customer satisfaction and supplier performance is at or above required service levels.
• •Works collaboratively with suppliers and customer stakeholders to identify and execute continuous cost and performance improvement strategies.
• •Drives implementation of preferred supplier relationships across campus by developing internal marketing action plans and executing them effectively.

Setup for Optimize P2P Process

• •Works closely with Procurement Technology Manager to enable contracted vendors in the eProcurement system with preferred products, pricing, and controls to drive value maximization and reduce overhead cost.
• •Improves end-use procurement experience, reduces cost, and streamlines procurement processes by simplifying specifications and introducing standardization where applicable.

Value Creation Reporting

Tracks projected value creation (cost savings, avoidance, revenue, rebates, prompt pay incentives, efficiency improvements) using USNH methodology and tracking processes and provides business justifications and backup documentation to support savings claims with stakeholders and finance teams.

Other

• •Plans and prioritizes activities based upon impact and urgency.
• •Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Acceptable Education & Experience:

• •Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain, or related field
• •Five years’ experience in strategic sourcing with strong knowledge of related sourcing processes, tools/systems, policies, and best practices.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• •Strong project management skills, including meeting stakeholder timelines and leading teams.
• •Ability to lead, support and conduct successful negotiations.
• •Demonstrated ability to develop highly functioning stakeholder relationships to achieve key business and performance objectives.
• •Demonstrated leadership capabilities, with particular strengths in collaboration, written and verbal communications, and cross-functional teamwork; ability to inspire and motivate peers, team-mates, and stakeholders towards a common goal.
• •Proficiency with Microsoft Office software including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint required. Experience working with ERP solutions and eProcurem