Strategic Procurement Advisor; Associate Director

Strategic Procurement Advisor (Associate Director) – Government Services

Location:

Anywhere in the country

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The Strategic Procurement Advisor (SPA) creates and drives strategic relationships with client procurement teams, especially the CPO, to position EY for competitive and sole-source revenue opportunities and account expansion. The SPA becomes the “go-to EY resource” for influencing client procurement, enabling the Global Client Services Partner, Client Executive, and other leaders to understand and navigate the client procurement organization.

Key activities include building face‑to‑face relationships with C‑level clients, participating in account planning workshops, virtual networking, and timely introductions of new offerings in the client ecosystem. An SPA must thrive in new environments, navigate client behavior, and drive business development through strategic influence.

• Collaborate with P&CE leaders, GCSPs, and account managers to prioritize accounts and opportunities where SPA services can drive revenue and improve profitability.
• Lead efforts with account teams to develop and execute negotiation strategies that achieve revenue growth. Activities may include assessing client procurement relationships, analyzing contractual terms, and pricing to improve competitive positioning.
• Provide strategic guidance to GCSPs and account managers before and during negotiations, assisting with MSAs, rate cards, preferred provider programs, and supplier-enabled innovation.
• Assess coaching needs, develop and execute training approaches, and drive business meetings to build negotiation talent among account teams.
• Direct internal training sessions/workshops for diverse audiences within P&CE, sector, and service lines on negotiation preparation, coaching, and contract terms.
• Collaborate with account teams to provide strategic guidance during the development of EY’s response to RFPs, leveraging intelligence from client procurement channels.
• Partner with account teams to sustain and expand existing client procurement relationships and build onsite relationships with senior client executives.
• Collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams to understand clients’ procurement needs, objectives, and expectations, advising how procurement translates into strategic strategies.
• Act as the primary point of contact for client procurement organizations, building long‑term partnerships that support mutual growth.
• Lead discussions with client procurement teams to understand unique requirements and align solutions to business goals.
• Conduct thorough market analysis to provide insights on emerging trends, risks, and opportunities for strategic sourcing.
• Lead negotiations with client procurement teams to secure favorable terms, pricing, and conditions while maintaining trust and collaboration.
• Establish credible relationships and become a trusted advisor to the client CPO.
• Provide expert guidance on procurement best practices, supplier selection, contract management, and sustainability initiatives.
• Monitor and measure the success of procurement strategies, gathering feedback continuously for improvement.
• Stay informed about industry regulations, compliance requirements, and ethical procurement practices.

• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, supplier management, and business development with a proven track record of successful client engagement.
• Exceptional negotiation skills, able to lead high‑stakes negotiations and maintain collaborative relationships.
• In‑depth knowledge of procurement best practices, market trends, and client relationship management.
• Speaker at procurement industry events with CPO connections.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information to diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency in procurement software/tools and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Customer‑focused mindset with a commitment to exceeding client expectations.
• Demonstra…