Strategic Sourcing Manager

Why Align
For over three decades, many of the world’s leading firms have relied on Align as a trusted IT solution provider and center of excellence in IT advisory, infrastructure design, build, delivery, and managed services. We are actively seeking innovative minds to establish and strengthen our team to deliver high-quality state-of-the-art technology solutions for our enterprise and boutique clients.
Overview
Align is seeking an experienced Strategic Sourcing Manager to help support the Data Center Design and Build and Workplace Technology lines of business. The candidate should have strong supply chain and procurement skills, analytical and financial acumen, communication capabilities and a passion to dive deep and innovate into processes used in our supply network. Additionally, the candidate must have proven skills in managing large-scale supply chain and procurement improvement projects. As a Strategic Sourcing Manager, you will be responsible for negotiating contracts for the data center environment globally across the company. The position involves developing negotiation strategies, advising requestors on contract terms and conditions, monitoring cost and scope of assigned contracts to drive efficiencies, reducing risks, and costs for Align. The candidate may recommend cost saving proposals including alternative sourcing and will exercise both independent and collaborative judgment to determine appropriate action. Your team will work cross-functionally with Align line of business teams, to deliver proactive profitability initiatives being more efficient with increasing predictability, low-cost, high-quality and shorter lead times. The ideal candidate thinks long term, drives multiple initiatives, communicates appropriately, and influences internal customers and suppliers at all levels. The candidate will be collaborative, but also work with significant autonomy. To be successful in this role you will be highly analytical, think strategically and globally, exhibit curiosity and learning drive, have a sense of urgency to meet customer timelines, succeed in a fast-paced environment, and have a high level of customer focus and business judgement.
* The hybrid position will be based out of our North Dallas Office, and will be a combination on remote and onsite work
* This is a full-time position offering a competitive salary, comprehensive benefit including medical, dental, 401K matching, paid time off, paid training, and performance-based bonuses
Responsibilities
Strategic Sourcing
* Develop global sourcing and supplier strategies for data center and workplace technology products and services
* Work with various stakeholder groups to qualify new or existing capable suppliers, initiate requests for proposals/quotations (RFPs/RFQs)
* Conduct RFP and lead cross functional teams through the supplier selection process with effective scoring criteria to critically evaluate supplier proposals in accordance with company policies
* Lead negotiations on Procurement agreements, including Master Agreements, Statements of Work, Change Orders balancing business deliverables, legal interests and pricing
* Conduct analysis on proposals for services in support of various business functions
* Analyze total costs, assist business functions with ROI analysis, price and rate benchmarking and negotiate favorable business terms to leverage company purchasing power
* Research market intelligence to understand cost drivers and market trends
* Evaluate single sourcing requests and ensure competitiveness
* Ensure pricing & deliverables as negotiated are included in the contracts
Category Management
* Develop, refine and implement category strategies and tactics that enable the procurement of products and services at the highest value benefit to the company
* Add value by becoming the subject matter expert on data center and workplace technology categories and consulting internal clients on industry trends, benchmarking, and best practices
* Lead cross-functional meetings with various business functions and develop a communication strategy to keep internal clients informed about procurement processes, supplier strategy, and procurement policies
* Demonstrate proven experience driving large-scale process improvements resulting in measurable value
* Cost modeling: Partner with internal service and material requestors to ensure best-in-class pricing is secured. Drive continual improvement of cost productivity
Supplier Management
* Manage supplier relationships with focus on supply risk management, contract risk management and cost management
* Mediate supplier issues and resolve supplier contract and invoicing disputes with AP as necessary
* Lead and participate in supplier performance reviews with vendors to review performance and support mutually agreed upon improvement programs as required
* Support ad-hoc reporting needs including supplier scorecards and other reporting
Contract Management
* Evaluate processes and recommend improvements to standardize lifecycle contract management
* Ensure appropriate pricing & deliverables as negotiated are included in contracts; coordinate comparison of proposals and final contract terms
* Act as liaison between legal, suppliers and the business
* Ensure contract execution & retention, through electronic signature process
* Provide timely updates, support management reporting of quarterly reports and address any issues quickly
Required Skills
* Bachelor’s degree required with 7+ years of experience in category management and/or strategic sourcing
* Subject matter expertise in sourcing & contracting tools
* Contract Negotiation / Vendor Management / Influencing Skills / Cost Modeling / Project Management
* Ability to work well in a fast-paced dynamic environment, handle multiple projects simultaneously, and ensure task completion and deadlines are met as required
* Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Excel
* Communicate well in English both in verbal and written form
* Strong project management, organizational, and analytical skills
* Excellent team facilitation and presentation skills
Desired Skills
* Certified Purchasing Manager – desirable
* Experience in data centers, engineering, and infrastructure service provider or similar technology company is a plus
* Experience with international procurement is a plus
* High-tech, start-up, rapid growth company experience is a plus
About Align
Align is a dynamic and flexible place to work, offering professionals unparalleled opportunities to train in the leading technologies, make an impact within the industry and control their own destinies. We have a flawless track record of delivering technical solutions and have established long-standing relationships with an impressive client list of both Global 1000 and SMB clients.
We work across a diverse list of industries including financial services, life sciences (pharmaceutical and health care), retail, technology, media and telecommunications. We give our professionals the autonomy to pursue opportunities and manage assignments in ways that maximize their creativity and talents, leading to self-fulfillment and financial rewards.
For more details, visit www.align.com.
PM20
Tier 2