Manager, Sourcing Category Management - Operations

State Employees' Credit Union•Raleigh, NC

About The Position

If you are motivated and believe in the credit union philosophy of "People Helping People," join our team! This role utilizes Strategic Sourcing Process (SSP) Methodology and robust Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) practices and tools to source and manage assigned spend categories. The Manager will lead, supervise, and develop team members as required. They will work with internal teams to understand overall requirements and assumptions related to new engagements to ensure contractual obligations are aligned. This role leads RFP engagements, understanding project requirements, evaluating potential bidders, and creating the RFP package for submission, reviews supplier submittents, and proactively takes steps in the negotiation process to mitigate risk and guarantee performance by the suppliers. The Manager will partner with Business Owners, Third Party Risk Management (TPRM) and Legal to establish standards for contract language, supplier negotiations, overall management, and dispute resolution. They will ensure all agreements are reviewed, following appropriate approval processes and approved by Legal. A key responsibility is the review of new and existing contracts, agreements for assigned categories, and statements of work to achieve optimal terms and pricing as well as mitigate overall risk and ambiguity. The role contributes to and supports organizational goals focused on identification, qualification, development, and management of a diverse supply base. The Manager leads all phases of contracting from initiation, negotiations, maintenance, and regular review, proactively driving Sourcing and Procurement’s company-wide initiatives at the business level. They will develop timelines for contractual reviews based on complexity and provide overall status of contract reviews and escalations. Leveraging interpersonal relationships with business, suppliers and internal partners is crucial. The Manager ensures that SLAs are well documented and can be accurately tracked. They ensure documents and agreements are filed appropriately and that stakeholders understand scope, risks, termination clauses and performance guarantees. The role proactively manages all contracts to ensure maintenance of contract term dates, renewal clauses, termination details and non-disclosure agreement dates, issues and escalations with status and resolution dates. The Manager is responsible for achieving and exceeding metrics including, cost savings and avoidance, cycle time, customer service, invoicing compliance, and total cost of ownership. They work with Business Owners to establish standards for company, product, service, and integration protocols. The role resolves local supply and supplier related issues and trains employees in procurement systems and processes. Leveraging interpersonal relationship strengths to manage disputes and drive change in supplier behaviors is essential. The Manager works effectively with cross-functional teams to find opportunities for improved supplier/contract management and drive continuous process improvement.

Requirements

Practical experience with spend management (e.g., Ariba, ZYCUS, Bravo Solution, Analysis & Reports) and/or procurement enterprise resource planning systems and tools (e.g., Workday/Scout/SAP/Oracle).
Demonstrated experience and highly skilled at time management, prioritization, project management, negotiations, risk management, communications, and change management.
Independent thinker, able to adapt and shift paradigms while executing aggressively, handling challenges and ability to work with minimal supervision in cross-cultural and diverse environments.

Nice To Haves

Prior Strategic Sourcing Process (SSP) Methodology and robust Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) practices experience is desirable.
Certifications in accounting, purchasing, procurement, project management, and/or process improvement methodology would be highly beneficial. (CPA, CFA, CPSM, C.P.M., PMP, Lean/Six Sigma Green Belt or higher, etc.)

Responsibilities

Utilize Strategic Sourcing Process (SSP) Methodology and robust Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) practices and tools to source and manage the assigned spend categories.
Lead, supervise & develop team members as required.
Work with internal teams to understand overall requirements and assumptions related to new engagements to ensure the contractual obligations are aligned.
Leads RFP engagements, understanding project requirements, evaluating potential bidders, and creating the RFP package for submission, reviews supplier submittals, and proactively takes steps in the negotiation process to mitigate risk and guarantee performance by the suppliers.
Partner with Business Owners, Third Party Risk Management (TPRM) and Legal to establish standards for contract language, supplier negotiations, overall management, and dispute resolution.
Ensures all agreements are reviewed, following appropriate approval processes and approved by Legal.
Review of new and existing contracts, agreements for assigned categories, and statements of work to achieve optimal terms and pricing as well as mitigate overall risk and ambiguity.
Contribute to and support organizational goals focused on identification, qualification, development, and management of a diverse supply base.
Leads all phases of contracting from initiation, negotiations, maintenance, and regular review, proactively driving Sourcing and Procurement’s company-wide initiatives at the business level.
Develop timelines for contractual reviews based on complexity and provide overall status of contract reviews and escalations.
Leverage interpersonal relationships with business, suppliers and internal partners.
Ensure that SLAs are well documented and can be accurately tracked.
Ensure documents and agreements are filed appropriately and ensure stakeholders understand scope, risks, termination clauses and performance guarantees.
Proactively manages all contracts to ensure maintenance of contract term dates, renewal clauses, termination details and non-disclosure agreement dates, issues and escalations with status and resolution dates.
Achieve and exceed metrics including, cost savings and avoidance, cycle time, customer service, invoicing compliance, and total cost of ownership.
Works with Business Owners to establish standards for company, product, service, and integration protocols.
Resolve local supply and supplier related issues.
Train employees in our procurement systems and processes.
Leverage interpersonal relationship strengths to manage disputes and drive change in supplier behaviors.
Works effectively with cross-functional teams to find opportunities for improved supplier/contract management and drive continuous process improvement.