Head, Strategic Sourcing & Procurement; E1

Overview

Save the Children – For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment, protected from harm. We work in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places – over 100 countries, including the U.S. No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you’re creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share.

The Head of Strategic Sourcing and Procurement serves as the senior leader responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive procurement strategy that strengthens Save the Children US’s operational excellence, financial stewardship, and mission impact. This role oversees Procurement which encompasses strategic sourcing and category management, supplier and vendor relationship management, and end-to-end purchasing and contract lifecycle processes (approximately $50M to $70M in contracts and supplies).

The Head of Strategic Sourcing and Procurement enables the agency to achieve long-term value, mitigate risk, and ensure resources are used effectively in support of children and families worldwide.

As the head of the function, this leader sets the vision for a unified sourcing and procurement framework, aligning the agency to a common set of principles, policies, and standards. The role partners closely with program, operations, finance, legal, technology, and global colleagues to ensure procurement practices are efficient, transparent, ethical, and fully compliant with donor regulations and organizational requirements. They champion continuous improvement, implement best-in-class procurement tools and approaches, and lead a high-performing team committed to service, collaboration, and operational excellence.

Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, the Head of Strategic Sourcing and Procurement serves as a strategic advisor to senior leadership across all areas of the Agency including Finance, Legal, Programs, Technology, and Operations. The Head of Strategic Sourcing and Procurement is an influential strategic partner, providing insights that inform business decisions, create sustainable savings, strengthen supplier ecosystems, and support the organization’s long-term priorities.

This role is ideal for a visionary leader who can drive transformation while ensuring the fundamentals of procurement operate with consistency, accountability, and integrity.

Hybrid – Washington DC, Fairfield, CT or Lexington, KY office locations;
Remote – United States

• Governance, Policy & Compliance:
  Oversee procurement governance frameworks to ensure consistent application of policies, internal controls, and ethical standards.
• Ensure compliance with donor regulations, federal acquisition guidelines (as applicable), global policies, and organizational standards.
• Maintain and evolve agency-wide procurement policies, templates, and tools to ensure clarity, usability, and accountability.
• Partner with Legal, Finance, and internal audit to proactively manage risk and strengthen contract and vendor oversight.
• Embed environmental, social, and ethical sourcing considerations into procurement strategy and supplier relationships.

• Sourcing Strategy & Vendor Management:
  Lead sourcing strategies for key categories to drive value, competition, innovation, and sustainability. Key spend categories include programmatic goods and services, fundraising and marketing, IT and digital services, facilities, professional services, and insurance.
• Conduct market analyses, supplier evaluations, and cost-benefit assessments to inform leadership decisions.
• Build strong supplier relationships that support programmatic agility, resilience, and long-term value.
• Oversee competitive bid processes, contract negotiations, and supplier performance management.
• Manage vendor accountability in delivery of SLAs/KPIs.

• Procurement Operations & Team Leadership:
  Manage centralized procurement operations, ensuring timely, quality, and cost-effective purchasing activities.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing sourcing and procurement…