Strategic Sourcing Manager

Strategic Sourcing Manager

This is a high-impact strategic sourcing role within a fast-growing technology and operations environment focused on addressing the global wildfire crisis. You will develop and execute sourcing strategies that balance cost, quality, delivery, supplier performance, and long-term business needs. Working closely with engineering, operations, quality, and finance teams, you will influence critical supply chain and product decisions. The role offers broad ownership across supplier selection, negotiations, cost optimization, risk management, contracts, and new product introduction. You will manage relationships across a global supplier base while identifying opportunities to improve resilience, innovation, and operational efficiency. As a trusted advisor to leadership, you will use market intelligence, commercial analysis, and supplier insights to guide strategic decisions. This remote opportunity is well suited to an experienced sourcing professional who thrives in a complex, collaborative, and mission-driven environment.

Accountabilities:

• Develop strategic sourcing strategies: Create and execute sourcing plans across assigned categories, including direct materials, indirect spend, and services, aligning sourcing decisions with broader business and product objectives.
• Lead supplier selection and onboarding: Manage supplier identification, qualification, evaluation, selection, and onboarding processes while ensuring suppliers meet required commercial, operational, quality, and compliance standards.
• Drive cost optimization: Lead cost reduction initiatives through strategic negotiation, value engineering, market analysis, benchmarking, and evaluation of cost drivers.
• Manage RFx processes: Design and execute RFI, RFP, and RFQ processes, analyze supplier proposals, and develop recommendations based on commercial and operational considerations.
• Build supplier partnerships: Develop strong, productive supplier relationships that support reliable performance, innovation, continuous improvement, and long-term risk mitigation.
• Track supplier performance: Establish and monitor KPIs covering cost, quality, delivery, responsiveness, and other relevant performance indicators, taking corrective action when needed.
• Partner cross-functionally: Collaborate with engineering, quality, operations, finance, and other stakeholders to ensure sourcing strategies support product requirements, operational priorities, and business goals.
• Manage supply chain risk: Identify and mitigate risks related to supplier capacity, geopolitical conditions, single-source dependencies, market volatility, and other supply continuity challenges.
• Lead commercial and contract negotiations: Negotiate supplier agreements and commercial terms while ensuring alignment with legal requirements and internal policies.
• Analyze market intelligence: Monitor market trends, industry benchmarks, supplier economics, and cost drivers to inform sourcing strategies and leadership decisions.
• Support new product introduction: Engage suppliers early in NPI initiatives to support product development, manufacturability, cost targets, quality, and supply readiness.
• Drive continuous improvement: Identify and implement initiatives that improve supplier performance, sourcing processes, cost efficiency, and supply chain resilience.
• Advise leadership: Provide leadership with clear insights into supply market dynamics, strategic opportunities, cost trends, and emerging risks.
• Develop sourcing talent: Mentor and support sourcing team members and, where applicable, provide direct people management and leadership.

Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Strategic sourcing experience: 10–15 years of experience across strategic sourcing, procurement, and supply chain management, ideally with substantial ownership of complex sourcing initiatives.
• Manufacturing experience: Demonstrated experience managing suppliers within a manufacturing, hardware, or operations-oriented environment.
• Commercial expertise: Strong negotiation, contract management, supplier management, and commercial decision-making capabilities.
• Analytical skills: Proven ability to analyze complex data, assess cost structures and market dynamics, and make well-supported, data-driven sourcing decisions.
• Global sourcing: Experience working with international suppliers and managing sourcing activities across global markets.
• Technology proficiency: Familiarity with ERP platforms such as SAP or Oracle, as well as modern sourcing and procurement tools.
• Project management: Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple strategic initiatives and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Communication and influence: Ability to communicate sourcing strategies, risks, recommendations, and commercial insights effectively to both operational teams and senior leadership.
• Relationship management: Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trusted, collaborative relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Leadership mindset: Experience mentoring sourcing professionals and the ability to lead teams or influence others toward shared objectives.

Benefits:

• Compensation: $150,000–$200,000 base salary.
• Equity: Eligibility for equity participation.
• Remote work: US-based remote position.
• Health coverage: Benefits may include health insurance and other locally applicable coverage.
• Retirement benefits: Retirement or pension contributions may be available depending on location and applicable requirements.
• Paid time off: Paid leave aligned with local market standards and statutory requirements.
• Mission-driven work: Opportunity to contribute to technology designed to improve wildfire detection, response, and community resilience.
• Cross-functional environment: Collaborate with engineering, operations, quality, finance, and leadership teams.
• Global exposure: Work with an international supplier base and contribute to sourcing strategies across multiple markets.
• Growth and impact: Broad ownership of strategic sourcing initiatives in a rapidly scaling technology organization.