Staff Global Supply Manager - Indirect

Aurora Innovation•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

Aurora is seeking a Staff Global Supply Manager - Indirect, a mid-level contributor role responsible for managing end-to-end strategic sourcing across Aurora's indirect spend portfolio. This role is part of a team of six that provides primary procurement support for key business functions including Engineering, Finance, Legal, IT, and HR. The ideal candidate will excel in ambiguous environments, apply structured thinking to complex negotiations, and demonstrate a proven ability to deliver measurable value in high-growth technology settings.

Requirements

10+ years of strategic sourcing or procurement experience, with a strong focus on software/SaaS and at least one other major indirect commodity (e.g., professional services, IT hardware, contingent labor).
Demonstrated success managing complex, multi-stakeholder negotiations and delivering measurable cost savings or value improvements.
Strong analytical skills, including experience with cost modeling, should-cost analysis, and total cost of ownership (TCO) frameworks.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to develop and deliver presentations for financial and executive audiences.
Experience operating in fast-paced, high-growth technology companies with evolving and ambiguous procurement needs.
Outstanding stakeholder management skills and demonstrated ability to influence cross-functionally at all levels of the organization.
Solid understanding of contract law fundamentals, including SaaS agreement structures, MSAs, SOWs, and NDAs.
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, Engineering, or a related field.

Nice To Haves

Experience with ERP and eProcurement platforms such as Coupa, NetSuite, and Jira.
Familiarity with the autonomous vehicle, robotics, or advanced technology hardware/software ecosystem.
CPSM, CSCP, or equivalent professional procurement certification.
Exposure to global procurement operations across multiple regions (North America, EMEA, APAC).
Experience implementing or optimizing a procurement technology stack in a scaling organization.

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end procurement for indirect categories such as enterprise software, SaaS, professional services, IT, and contingent workforce, negotiating complex agreements to secure optimal terms and protect Aurora's interests.
Establish and own global sourcing strategies that balance cost, risk, quality, and speed to market.
Develop cost models and lead competitive RFx processes (RFI, RFP, RFQ) to drive standardization and spending discipline.
Manage a portfolio of indirect spend categories with a focus on scalability, ensuring procurement infrastructure supports Aurora's growth.
Serve as a strategic advisor to internal stakeholders in Engineering, Finance, Legal, IT, and People teams, aligning procurement strategy with business priorities.
Partner with Legal on contract review, risk mitigation, and compliance to ensure agreements meet regulatory, security, and operational standards.
Communicate complex procurement decisions clearly to senior and financial leadership.
Champion procurement best practices and change management to drive adoption of standardized processes and tools.
Build and manage supplier relationships through structured Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) and performance tracking KPIs.
Proactively identify and mitigate supplier risks, including single-source dependencies, geopolitical exposure, and financial stability.
Cultivate long-term strategic partnerships with key vendors.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to streamline procurement workflows, reduce cycle times, and enhance customer experience.
Ensure all procurement activities comply with Aurora's policies, ethical sourcing standards, and regulations.
Support the development and maintenance of procurement playbooks, contracting templates, and supplier onboarding documentation.
Utilize ERP and procurement systems for purchase orders, spend tracking, and reporting.