Strategic Sourcing Lead

Sidley Austin•Chicago, IL

9d•$107,000 - $150,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Strategic Sourcing Lead will support the Director of Strategic Sourcing (Head of Strategic Sourcing) and will work with personnel in all of the Firm's offices at various levels throughout the organization. The incumbent will manage and execute sourcing initiatives for specific functional/operational areas. These initiatives may include complex, high value contracts which support the infrastructure of the Firm. Within these areas, the Strategic Sourcing Manager will be involved with performing requests for proposals, requests for information, supplier analysis, financial analysis, contract negotiation, vendor implementations, reporting, and overall project/vendor management. The incumbent should be comfortable recommending courses of action to the senior level members within the firm. Strategic sourcing initiatives in the primary category of Library Research and supporting IT and Professional Services as needed. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders and business owners to define and negotiate requirements for each initiative within the assigned categories. Analyze vendor proposals, contract terms, including the evaluation of scope and cost of services; identify and recommend cost saving opportunities and negotiation strategies. Experienced in recommending contract structures, partnering with legal teams, negotiate with key vendors, and perform contract reviews; evaluate and recommend pricing and contract terms. Ensure correct suppliers are being used to help reduce risk and cost, while also driving innovative business solutions for our stakeholders and identifying supplier-chain redundancy. Provide timely communication of project status/timing to stakeholders, team members; including to perform proper escalation and ability to delegate work with dedicated project managers. Perform ongoing vendor management for several key large contracts, addressing service issues, improving services with SLA and changes in scope. Anticipate issues; propose solutions working in coordination with project teams. Highlight opportunities for business process change, continuous improvement and engage in the solution formation. Ability to plan schedules and pipeline workload, review work product, train and coach project manager as needed. Collaborate on projects with other departments including: Legal, Accounting, Procurement, IT and IT Security, Data and AI, Privacy, Library, Facilities and Office Administrators. Work independently to problem solve, applying in-depth analysis, understanding of business objectives and related disciplines. Ability to travel - less than 10%

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required in Business, Finance, or other related fields
A minimum of 5 years sourcing experience
Demonstrated strong oral, written and presentation communication skills in diverse settings: one-on-one as well as small and large groups
Strong organizational skills
Strong attention to detail
Good judgment
Strong interpersonal communication skills
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others
Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion
Able to work under pressure
Able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities

Nice To Haves

Experience in Professional Services and Library Research

Responsibilities

Manage and execute sourcing initiatives for specific functional/operational areas.
Perform requests for proposals, requests for information, supplier analysis, financial analysis, contract negotiation, vendor implementations, reporting, and overall project/vendor management.
Recommend courses of action to senior level members within the firm.
Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders and business owners to define and negotiate requirements for each initiative within the assigned categories.
Analyze vendor proposals, contract terms, including the evaluation of scope and cost of services.
Identify and recommend cost saving opportunities and negotiation strategies.
Recommend contract structures, partner with legal teams, negotiate with key vendors, and perform contract reviews.
Evaluate and recommend pricing and contract terms.
Ensure correct suppliers are being used to help reduce risk and cost, while also driving innovative business solutions for our stakeholders and identifying supplier-chain redundancy.
Provide timely communication of project status/timing to stakeholders, team members.
Perform proper escalation and ability to delegate work with dedicated project managers.
Perform ongoing vendor management for several key large contracts, addressing service issues, improving services with SLA and changes in scope.
Anticipate issues; propose solutions working in coordination with project teams.
Highlight opportunities for business process change, continuous improvement and engage in the solution formation.
Plan schedules and pipeline workload, review work product, train and coach project manager as needed.
Collaborate on projects with other departments including: Legal, Accounting, Procurement, IT and IT Security, Data and AI, Privacy, Library, Facilities and Office Administrators.
Work independently to problem solve, applying in-depth analysis, understanding of business objectives and related disciplines.