Lead Strategic Sourcing Specialist, IT & Technology

Festival Foods•De Pere, WI

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Strategic Sourcing Specialist, IT & Technology, in Indirect Procurement leads complex strategic sourcing initiatives and supplier negotiations across enterprise information technology and technology-related categories. The role serves as the primary strategic sourcing subject matter expert for technology procurement, partnering with IT leadership and business stakeholders to develop category strategies, evaluate suppliers, negotiate agreements, manage commercial risk, and deliver financial and operational value. Categories include software, hardware, cloud services, telecommunications, cybersecurity, infrastructure, managed services, and technology consulting. As a lead-level individual contributor, the specialist independently manages highly complex sourcing initiatives, provides sourcing guidance to other specialists, and supports consistent enterprise sourcing practices. The role operates primarily in a professional office environment with enterprise-wide responsibilities. Occasional travel may be required, and flexibility beyond normal business hours may occasionally be necessary for critical sourcing activities.

Requirements

Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, category management, or supplier negotiations.
Significant demonstrated experience sourcing information technology products and services.
Experience leading complex software, SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, telecommunications, or technology services negotiations.
Demonstrated success developing category strategies, conducting competitive sourcing events, negotiating agreements, and delivering measurable financial value.
Experience with software licensing models, technology contract structures, supplier risk considerations, and total cost of ownership analysis.
Experience working effectively with senior IT leadership and cross-functional business stakeholders.
Advanced understanding of technology procurement categories, software licensing, subscription models, IT services, and technology supplier markets.
Ability to develop and execute complex negotiation strategies that balance financial value, service quality, contractual protection, and business requirements.
Ability to develop sourcing strategies, assess market conditions, evaluate suppliers, and manage category opportunities.
Strong analytical skills involving spend analysis, pricing comparisons, total cost of ownership, business cases, and savings calculations.
Working knowledge of commercial contract provisions, licensing agreements, service level commitments, renewal terms, and technology-related risks.
Ability to establish credibility with technology leaders, executive stakeholders, and supplier representatives.
Ability to independently lead complex sourcing projects, manage competing priorities, and deliver results within established timelines.
Strong written and verbal communication, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, manage sensitive negotiations, and escalate risks appropriately.
Ability to mentor colleagues, provide sourcing guidance, influence decisions, and promote consistent sourcing practices.
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Information Technology, Finance, or a related field preferred; equivalent combinations of education and relevant professional experience may be considered.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting large, multi-location, or multi-entity organizations.

Responsibilities

Lead enterprise strategic sourcing activities for assigned IT and technology categories, including software, SaaS, cloud services, hardware, infrastructure, telecommunications, cybersecurity, managed services, and professional technology services.
Develop and execute category sourcing strategies aligned with enterprise technology roadmaps, business requirements, financial objectives, and risk considerations.
Partner with IT leadership to understand technology requirements, anticipated investments, contract renewals, implementation schedules, and supplier dependencies.
Lead competitive sourcing processes, including requests for information, proposals, and quotations, supplier evaluations, bid analysis, and recommendations.
Evaluate total cost of ownership, supplier capabilities, implementation costs, licensing models, service requirements, and long-term commercial implications.
Identify opportunities to consolidate suppliers, leverage enterprise purchasing volume, standardize technology agreements, and reduce duplicative expenditures.
Support sourcing for major technology implementations, enterprise applications, and digital transformation initiatives.
Lead complex supplier negotiations covering pricing, licensing, subscriptions, maintenance, support, professional services, and multi-year agreements.
Negotiate commercial terms related to renewals, price escalations, service levels, performance commitments, termination rights, and supplier accountability.
Coordinate with Legal, Information Security, Privacy, and other stakeholders to address contractual risks involving data protection, confidentiality, cybersecurity, intellectual property, and business continuity.
Evaluate software licensing structures, usage rights, subscription metrics, renewal provisions, and other technology-specific commercial considerations.
Develop negotiation strategies using market intelligence, competitive benchmarks, historical spend, and business requirements.
Coordinate contract review, approval, execution, and documentation in accordance with enterprise procurement governance.
Manage technology contract renewal timelines to preserve negotiation leverage and minimize unfavorable automatic renewals.
Develop and maintain strategic category plans, monitor technology markets and pricing, and maintain relationships with strategic suppliers and internal partners.
Evaluate supplier performance, contractual compliance, service levels, and commercial commitments; support supplier reviews, issue resolution, and corrective actions.
Identify supplier concentration risks, service dependencies, and opportunities for improved contract structures or alternative sourcing arrangements.
Maintain visibility into technology sourcing pipelines, upcoming renewals, and major supplier commitments.
Identify and deliver cost savings, cost avoidance, supplier consolidation, and enterprise harmonization opportunities.
Analyze technology expenditures across operating companies to identify overlapping applications, licensing inefficiencies, fragmented contracts, and purchasing leverage opportunities.
Develop financial analyses, business cases, total cost of ownership comparisons, and sourcing recommendations.
Track and document negotiated savings and other financial benefits; validate assumptions and outcomes with business and financial stakeholders.
Support annual planning and budgeting with supplier cost information, contract commitments, market insights, and renewal forecasts.
Ensure sourcing activities comply with procurement policies, procedures, contract approval requirements, and delegated authorities.
Identify and address supplier and contractual risks related to cybersecurity, data handling, supplier continuity, implementation dependencies, and contractual obligations.
Maintain accurate sourcing documentation, supplier evaluations, negotiation records, and contract information.
Support due diligence and governance requirements for significant technology purchases and agreements.
Escalate material commercial, supplier, or contractual risks to the Manager, Strategic Sourcing and appropriate business leaders.
Provide guidance, mentoring, and knowledge sharing to Strategic Sourcing Specialists on sourcing methodology, negotiations, supplier evaluation, and contract strategy.
Support the Manager, Strategic Sourcing in developing consistent sourcing practices, templates, tools, and processes.
Collaborate with other sourcing specialists on enterprise initiatives requiring technology expertise and provide recommendations to Indirect Procurement leadership.
Independently manage multiple complex sourcing projects and remain accountable for timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder communication.
Perform other duties as assigned.