Technology Sourcing Specialist

Job Title:
Technology Sourcing Specialist

Location:
Remote - North Carolina

What’s the Job?

The Technology Sourcing Specialist is a critical role as a strategic sourcing team member. The role will focus on driving value optimization; intelligently and ambitiously reducing the technology cost base via the planning and execution of sourcing events and vendor negotiations; effectively contracting for critical products and services to drive growth, efficiency, and innovation; and leading process improvement and modernization of the technology sourcing function.

• Lead technology sourcing events e.g., RFx, benchmarking, sole supplier interactions, complex technology contract negotiations
• Gather clear requirements and demands, help business in creating clarity of needs (where needed)
• Challenge requirements and demand (influencing stakeholders of various levels) to align with market best practices (where possible) through industry/market/vendor insights
• Execute effective and aligned sourcing and negotiation strategies (including process) often leading cross-functional teams of varying levels of seniority
• Lead vendor communication, being SPOC for the client to ensure best leverage/clarity (internally and externally)
• Project manage end to end sourcing process and contract negotiations against aggressive timelines, exhibiting the judgment necessary to balance speed, cost, and quality to best serve both the business needs and the organization and team’s savings goals
• Contribute through deep knowledge of the Global, European, and local markets towards the assigned region/function (i.e., supplier visits and attending fairs) for all Tech categories.
• Understand the strategy of the business owner (Manager/Director), identify the solutions needed and challenge the status quo with the ideas and solutions collected from an external orientation.
• Ensure development and delivery of non-cost saving related sourcing benefit including enabling revenue growth from innovations, new goods and services supporting business revenue growth initiatives, cash optimization (payment terms, inventory), currency and tax optimization, asset optimization, Corporate Social Responsibility, company reputation management, (commodity, labor) risk management and compliance.
• Observe developments and trends and where necessary translate these trends into inspiring solutions for the assigned region for all tech categories.
• Comply with the objectives and standards set on healthy living, sustainable trade, community engagement and climate actions
• Execute and in alignment with the region/function sourcing and category strategy and internal (stakeholders) relationship
• Lead the business relationship management (BRM) with stakeholders in the region/function and call for support and/or escalating issues (if and when needed)
• Providing guidance to business for vendor strategies/challenges i.e. being an advisor
• Take a long-term view on contract structures & end dates to construct appropriate sourcing strategies, in consultation with key internal stakeholders
• Design impactful sourcing events that will bring excitement from incumbent and non-incumbent vendors resulting in powerful, innovative value propositions
• Grow individually and support team growth towards status of a trusted advisor and business / technology decision influencer
• Follow up opportunities with Sourcing Director and Business Owners
• Onboard region stakeholder(s) best practices (aligned with global guidance) for respective region/function (e.g., Ways of working, policy, processes, tools, templates, descriptions etc.) and embed change.
• Ensure supplier due diligence and performance monitoring is being performed correctly
• Contribute to the modernization, process improvement, stakeholder education, and internal marketing of the Technology Sourcing function.
• Ensure exceptional delivery of service, monitor quality, seek feedback, and drive improvement
• Communicate & promote the service and the team to internal stakeholders / customers on the Manager and Director level
• Support the Sourcing Director in ways of working policies and procedures to learn, share, ensure synergies and prioritize across the…