Manager, Strategic Sourcing

Waste Management, Inc. (WM)•Houston, TX

13h•Onsite

About The Position

Leads the strategic sourcing process for assigned enterprise categories — including but not limited to Uniforms, First Aid, Fire Safety, Facilities Maintenance and Third-Party Services — by developing and implementing category strategies & playbooks, managing supplier relationships, and executing RFx events on behalf of the enterprise. The Manager, Strategic Sourcing does not directly purchase goods or services, but acts as the primary owner of the sourcing process and supplier management for their categories. The chief metrics for sourcing are quality, delivery, and price. The ideal candidate demonstrates exceptional critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and a strong drive to deliver results. Success in this role also requires strong interpersonal skills, the ability to foster effective team collaboration, and a partnership mindset with functional owners and business stakeholders. The Manager is expected to act as a steward of the supply chain within the business, identifying opportunities for improvement in process, cost, or other areas, and ensuring alignment with enterprise objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree (accredited)
5 years of relevant work experience (in addition to education requirement), preferably in strategic sourcing or category management for enterprise categories.
Strong critical thinking and analytical skills.
Demonstrated intellectual curiosity and drive to deliver results.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a proven ability to build relationships and collaborate across teams and functions.
Familiarity with commodity indices, as well as their impact on sourcing and price negotiations.

Nice To Haves

Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) preferred.
Experience in Uniforms, First Aid, Fire Safety, Facilities Maintenance, Third-Party Services, or similar categories preferred.
Six Sigma Training

Responsibilities

Develops and implements category strategies & playbooks aligned with enterprise objectives, in close collaboration with cross-functional teams.
Leads RFx events (RFI, RFP, RFQ) for assigned categories, including bid preparation, evaluation, and supplier selection.
Manages supplier relationships, including performance reviews, issue resolution, and ongoing communications, while building strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
Analyzes data and market trends—including commodity indices—to inform sourcing decisions, price negotiations, and strategy development, with a focus on quality, delivery, and price.
Collaborates with internal stakeholders to understand business needs and ensure alignment of sourcing strategies.
Partners with business units and functional owners to identify and drive opportunities for process, cost, or operational improvements, leveraging category expertise and a collaborative approach.
Negotiates major contracts and agreements, ensuring value, quality, delivery, and price compliance.
Researches and develops a pipeline of qualified suppliers for assigned categories.
Designs and applies supplier evaluation techniques to assess quality, reliability, and performance.
Tracks and reports on category performance, supplier effectiveness, and cost savings.
Maintains technical, analytical, and industry skills by attending training, seminars, and industry events as needed.