Lead Strategic Sourcing Specialist, IT & Technology

Festival Foods•De Pere, WI

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Strategic Sourcing Specialist, IT & Technology, leads complex strategic sourcing initiatives and supplier negotiations across enterprise information technology and technology-related categories. The role is 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. It supports technology transformation across software, hardware, cloud services, telecommunications, cybersecurity, infrastructure, managed services, and technology consulting. As a lead-level individual contributor, this specialist independently manages highly complex sourcing initiatives, advises other specialists, and supports consistent sourcing practices across the enterprise. The position operates primarily in a professional office environment, has enterprise-wide responsibilities, and may require occasional business travel and flexibility beyond normal business hours. The role has authority to lead assigned sourcing initiatives, negotiate within established procurement authority, and recommend suppliers, contract structures, strategies, and financial opportunities. Material risks, policy exceptions, and decisions requiring higher-level approval are escalated. The position has no direct personnel management responsibilities and no independent authority to establish enterprise procurement policy.

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.
Strong ability to develop and execute complex negotiation strategies balancing 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, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience may be considered.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting large, multi-location, or multi-entity organizations.
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Information Technology, Finance, or a related field is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead 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 technology roadmaps, business requirements, financial objectives, and risk considerations.
Partner with IT leadership to understand technology requirements, anticipated investments, 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 supplier consolidation, enterprise purchasing leverage, agreement standardization, and expenditure reduction opportunities.
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 technology agreements.
Negotiate 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 procurement governance.
Manage technology contract renewal timelines to preserve negotiation leverage and minimize unfavorable automatic renewals.
Develop and maintain strategic category plans; monitor market developments, pricing trends, supplier capabilities, and sourcing opportunities.
Build relationships with strategic technology suppliers and internal business partners; evaluate supplier performance, contractual compliance, service levels, and commercial commitments.
Identify supplier concentration risks, service dependencies, and opportunities for improved contract structures or alternative sourcing.
Support supplier performance reviews, issue resolution, and corrective action initiatives; maintain visibility into sourcing pipelines, renewals, and 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 savings and validate outcomes with business and financial stakeholders.
Support annual planning and budgeting with supplier cost information, contract commitments, market insights, and renewal forecasts.
Ensure sourcing follows procurement policies, procedures, contract approval requirements, and delegated authorities.
Address supplier and contractual risks related to cybersecurity, data handling, supplier continuity, implementation dependencies, and contractual obligations.
Maintain sourcing documentation, supplier evaluations, negotiation records, and contract information; support due diligence and governance for significant purchases and agreements.
Escalate material commercial, supplier, or contractual risks to the Manager, Strategic Sourcing and appropriate business leaders.
Serve as a senior sourcing resource for highly complex or high-value technology initiatives and provide guidance, mentoring, and knowledge sharing to Strategic Sourcing Specialists.
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, maintaining accountability for timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder communication.
Perform other duties as assigned.