Category Sourcing Expert

Kimberly Hume is looking to hire a Category Sourcing Expert to work a 12 month extendable contract based in Dublin (Hybrid).

Role purpose:

IT Strategic Sourcing is responsible for the development and execution of sourcing strategies to leverage relationships across the enterprise to achieve best total value. The role includes category management strategies and execution, supplier relationship management, negotiation, risk management and supply base performance management. Successful candidate will be required to have the knowledge, skills, abilities and experience to design and execute sourcing strategies in a global environment with both niche and blue chip OEMs across a range of platforms.

Key accountabilities:

Responsible for leading global cross functional teams in the development, communication and approval of sourcing strategies.

• Sourcing:
  • Responsible for drafting, negotiating IT Master agreements including licenses agreements, SaaS services, professional/consulting services, Service level agreements with support from Legal teams.
  • Responsible for negotiation planning and contracting with suppliers, ensuring that agreements reflect company needs globally.
  • Develop and implement sourcing strategies and establish and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers within IT Category.
  • Responsible for leading global cross functional teams through the supplier selection process and for the approval of selected suppliers by stakeholders. The team-based supplier selection process is inclusive of identification of potential suppliers, RFX development and execution, proposal evaluation against business requirements and total cost of ownership, and supplier selection Upon stakeholder approval and completion of successful negotiation and contracting.
  • Challenge Suppliers and internal Stakeholders to identify and deliver Value and Savings within the assigned IT Category
• Stakeholder Management:
  • Manage and conduct QBRs with strategic supplier
  • Ensure regular connect up with key stakeholders
  • Work with cross-functional teams to evaluate new technology onboarding and identify technology rationalization opportunities

Person specification: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain, Engineering, or equivalent experience
• 8+ years’ experience in IT sourcing, ideally with a minimum of 5 years in IT Category Management experiepegance within areas such as Software Licensing (SaaS, Subscription, Perpetual)
• Strong negotiation skills with experience in complex negotiations and supplier management within IT category
• Prior experience of working with suppliers like Pega, Salesforce, Adobe, Google, Cisco, Avaya is advantageous
• Excellent written and verbal communication and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced matrix environment
• Ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams.
• Very strong interpersonal, influencing and communication skills.
• Project Management in complex multi-project and multi-geography environment
• Technical qualification/background and Lean Six Sigma experience, desired but not mandatory
• Proficiency with SAP & Microsoft Office applications (including PowerPoint, Excel and Word)