Sourcing Manager

When you join the Finance & Budget division, you become part of a smart, driven team that thrives on solving complex challenges. We align our business practices with the university's priorities and cultivate talented teams who find purpose in creating simpler, more effective systems that drive institutional success. Our focus is clear: developing our people, transforming our work, and elevating our role.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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Category Strategy, Market Research & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Oversee 1-3 year strategic sourcing plans aligned with university and Supply Chain Services goals under the direction of leadership.
• Assist in developing and executing OGSM (Objectives, Goals, Strategies, and Measures) plans, as directed, to drive value creation and operational effectiveness.
• Conduct in-depth market research and spend analysis to identify sourcing opportunities and inform category strategy to make recommendations to leadership.
• Monitor macro/microeconomic, legislative, and industry trends within assigned category to proactively manage risk and ensure continuity of supply.
• Collaborate with university stakeholders within work unit to assess sourcing needs and buying trends.
• Partner with peer institutions as assigned to explore joint sourcing opportunities and leverage sector insights.
• Cultivate strong relationships with existing and prospective suppliers within the assigned units to build a sustainable sourcing pipeline.
• Handles supplier performance evaluations and ensure the development of mitigation strategies as needed.
• Mentor, support, and evaluate daily task of the team to ensure alignment with strategic and performance goals.
• Continuously assess and improve sourcing programs, policies, and infrastructure in collaboration with cross-functional teams.

Negotiation & Contract Management:

• Lead contract negotiation activities by providing information and assistance to the negotiation team, ensuring favorable terms that align with institutional needs.
• Manage contract development, compliance, and administration across assigned categories.
• Manage corrective action plans for under-performing or non-compliant suppliers.
• Provide guidance on contractual risk management and ensure adherence to all applicable legal and policy requirements to leadership.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop Statements of Work (SOWs), business cases, and negotiation strategies.
• Influence buy-in from senior leadership on contract execution and value delivery.

Reporting, Analytics & Performance Measurement:

• Use data analytics to inform sourcing decisions, measure performance, and forecast trends.
• Track key performance indicators (KPIs) across sourcing functions as provided by supervisor.
• Prepare and present reports, dashboards, and category strategies to the direct supervisor.
• Manage the monitoring cost savings, cost avoidance, and ROI across sourcing initiatives.
• Share industry best practices and promote consistent performance standards for suppliers.

Strategic Initiatives & Cross-Functional Leadership:

• Collaborate with supervisor and other unit managers on university-wide strategic initiatives involving procurement, technology, process redesign, or stakeholder engagement.
• Identify and implement innovative sourcing solutions to address medium-to-high complexity challenges.
• Allocate resources based on organizational sourcing demand and priorities.
• Support transformation initiatives and help guide the organization through change and process evolution.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• Minimum of 5 years of related work experience, including 2 years of managerial experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain, or related field. MBA preferred.
• Experience working in the procurement, sourcing or supply chain field.
• Experience in higher education or complex institutional environments preferred.