Strategic Sourcing Manager

ZS • Chicago, IL

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

ZS is seeking a Sourcing Manager, Indirect Procurement to execute strategic sourcing projects and category strategies across indirect spend categories including HR, IT, Marketing, Legal, and Professional Services. This role will optimize total value across cost, quality, service, risk, innovation, sustainability, and savings while partnering closely with business stakeholders across ZS regions and functions. As a key member of the Procurement team, this individual will play an instrumental role in helping build and shape the future of the indirect procurement function, driving best practices, influencing strategy, and supporting the team's continued growth and evolution.

Requirements

• B.S. / B.A. degree in Business or a related field; CIPS, CPSM, or equivalent certification preferred.
• 7-9+ years of strategic sourcing or procurement experience across indirect categories such as HR, IT, Marketing, Legal, and Professional Services.
• Demonstrated success delivering quantifiable value beyond price, including savings, cost avoidance, service improvements, quality gains, risk reduction, and innovation.
• Experience in a professional services or life sciences environment preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of strategic sourcing processes and technology, including Source-to-Pay and contract lifecycle management tools.
• RFx management, supplier negotiations, MSA/SOW contract writing, category strategy development, value strategy formulation, total cost / total value modeling, supplier management, and contract management.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive outcomes in a global, decentralized, matrixed organization with limited supervision.
• Project management skills and the ability to lead cross-functional teams through complex sourcing initiatives.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, cross-functional environment and build trusted relationships across business functions.
• Proven ability to influence decisions and drive measurable outcomes across a matrix organization.
• Fluency in English
• Client-first mentality
• Intense work ethic
• Collaborative spirit and problem-solving approach

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain category profiles, sourcing pipelines, and category strategies for assigned indirect categories including HR, IT, Marketing, Legal, and Professional Services.
• Execute sourcing events end-to-end, including requirements definition, RFI/RFP/RFQ management, supplier identification, bid analysis, supplier evaluation, and recommendation development.
• Lead negotiations, MSA/SOW development, and renewals by securing commercial terms, service levels, and risk protections that maximize total value.
• Incorporate total cost and total value modeling, TCO analysis, spend analysis, market intelligence, rate analysis, and benchmark insights into sourcing events and supplier decisions.
• Embed responsible sourcing and sustainability criteria into category strategies, sourcing events, and supplier relationship management activities.
• Define and report total value delivered, including hard savings, cost avoidance, service and quality improvements, risk reduction, and innovation.
• Lead cross-functional sourcing project teams across ZS regions and business units.
• Act as a trusted procurement partner to ZS corporate functions, building strong relationships with budget owners and senior stakeholders.
• Facilitate discussions around business requirements, supplier strategy, and category implications; partner with internal customer groups to define value levers, specifications, service levels, and scopes of work.
• Translate function and practice plans into an indirect sourcing pipeline and influence large and strategic buying decisions based on total value, balancing cost against quality, speed, and risk.
• Drive change management with colleagues and key contacts, promote sourcing best practices and policy compliance, and report category value performance to business leadership.

Benefits

• Cross-functional skills development & custom learning pathways
• Milestone training programs aligned to career progression opportunities
• Internal mobility paths that empower growth via s-curves, individual contribution and role expansions
• Comprehensive total rewards package that supports your health and well‑being, financial future, time away, and professional development.
• Robust skills‑building programs
• Multiple career progression paths
• Internal mobility
• Deeply collaborative culture

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level