Sourcing Manager - Supply Chain (Newport News, VA)

This job is with Ferguson, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Please do not contact the recruiter directly.

Job Posting:

Since 1953, Ferguson has been a source of quality supplies for a variety of industries. Together We Build Better infrastructure, better homes and better businesses. We exist to make our customers' complex projects simple, successful, and sustainable. We proactively solve problems, adapt and grow to continuously serve our customers, communities and each other. Ferguson, a Fortune 500 company, is proud to provide best-in-class products, service and capabilities across the following industries: Commercial/Mechanical, Facilities Supply, Fire and Fabrication, HVAC, Industrial, Residential Trade, Residential Building and Remodel, Waterworks and Residential Digital Commerce. Ferguson has approximately 36,000 associates across 1,700 locations. Ferguson is a community of proud associates who operate with the shared purpose of building something meaningful. You will build a career that you are proud of, at a company you can believe in.

The Sourcing Manager - Supply Chain is responsible for developing and driving strategic sourcing initiatives that deliver measurable financial and operational value, optimize supplier relationships, reduce total cost of ownership, and mitigate commercial and operational risk across Ferguson's supply chain.

This role partners closely with corporate, district, regional, branch, and enterprise leadership to understand business needs, influence sourcing decisions, and develop solutions that improve operational effectiveness and supplier performance.

The Sourcing Manager serves as a trusted advisor to internal customers and a strategic partner to suppliers, connecting market intelligence, commercial strategy, and operational requirements to achieve sustainable business results.

Location:

This role is based out of Ferguson's corporate offices in Newport News VA, according to company policy.

Responsibilities:

• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives across supply chain categories, including logistics, transportation, distribution, and related operational services, from opportunity identification and partner alignment through competitive sourcing, negotiation, contracting, and implementation.
• Proactively engage and collaborate with partners to understand business priorities, operational challenges, supplier requirements, and opportunities to improve cost, service, efficiency, and overall business performance.
• Build and maintain a strong network of internal partners and external suppliers to strengthen partnerships, expand market intelligence, improve collaboration, and increase Sourcing's influence in commercial decisions.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to business partners by providing market insights, commercial recommendations, supplier intelligence, and objective guidance that balances operational needs, financial objectives, risk, and long-term business value.
• Lead complex commercial negotiations involving pricing, contractual terms, service levels, performance commitments, risk allocation, and other business considerations. Confidently challenge assumptions, address competing priorities, and navigate difficult conversations to achieve favorable outcomes.
• Develop and implement sourcing strategies using spend analysis, market research, competitive intelligence, demand trends, supplier capabilities, and total cost of ownership to find opportunities and inform business decisions.
• Drive measurable financial and operational value through cost reduction, cost avoidance, improved commercial terms, supplier optimization, process improvements, and enhanced supplier performance.
• Lead competitive sourcing events and supplier evaluations, including developing requirements, facilitating partner participation, assessing proposals, conducting comparative market analyses, negotiating commercial terms, and recommending supplier selections.
• Handle supplier relationships and performance by establishing expectations, monitoring contractual compliance, resolving intensified issues, addressing service gaps, and driving continuous improvement and innovation.
• Influence cross-functional decisions by building alignment among partners with competing priorities, communicating trade-offs, presenting data-driven recommendations, and securing commitment to sourcing strategies and business outcomes.
• Coordinate sourcing activities across Supply Chain and Operations organizations to ensure commercial decisions support operational requirements, customer service objectives, and enterprise priorities.
• Draft, negotiate, and implement agreements in partnership with Legal, Information Security, Technology, and other relevant business partners to ensure appropriate governance, risk management, and contractual compliance.
• Communicate sourcing strategies, recommendations, negotiation outcomes, and business impacts effectively through written communications, presentations, business cases, and partner updates tailored to audiences at all organizational levels.
• Handle multiple sourcing initiatives simultaneously, prioritizing work based on business impact, financial opportunity, risk, and partner needs while maintaining accountability for deliverables and results.
• Monitor supply chain market developments, supplier capabilities, emerging technologies, and industry trends to identify risks and opportunities to improve efficiency, resilience, service, and value.
• Track, measure, document, and report sourcing results in alignment with department and company objectives, ensuring savings and other business benefits are appropriately validated.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by management.

Qualifications:

Strategic Sourcing and Supply Chain Expertise

• Demonstrated experience leading strategic sourcing initiatives and complex supplier negotiations, preferably across transportation, logistics, distribution, or other supply chain categories.
• Strong understanding of sourcing methodologies, supply chain operations, supplier markets, commercial agreements, and total cost of ownership.
• Proven ability to identify cost savings, cost avoidance, process improvements, and opportunities to improve supplier performance and operational value.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to translate data and market intelligence into actionable recommendations.
• Ability to assess supplier capabilities, market conditions, commercial risks, and operational requirements to develop effective sourcing strategies.

Communication, Relationship Building, and Influence

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex commercial concepts clearly and persuasively to audiences ranging from operational associates to senior executives.
• Demonstrated ability to build and harness a broad network of internal partners and external suppliers to facilitate collaboration, influence decisions, and deliver business results.
• Ability to establish credibility and trust, understand partner priorities, and serve as a valued business partner and trusted advisor.
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, including the ability to gain alignment without direct authority and navigate differing perspectives, competing priorities, and organizational dynamics.
• Comfortable engaging in difficult conversations, constructively challenging assumptions, addressing resistance, and holding suppliers and partners accountable while maintaining productive working relationships.
• Proven ability to negotiate assertively and collaboratively, balancing relationship management with the need to achieve favorable commercial and business outcomes.
• Ability to tailor communication and negotiation approaches to different audiences, situations, and business objectives.

Leadership and Execution

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence business outcomes without direct supervisory authority.
• Strong project management, organizational, and prioritization skills, with the ability to handle multiple initiatives and challenging deadlines.
• Ability to exercise sound business judgment, make data-driven decisions, and develop creative solutions to complex commercial and operational challenges.
• Demonstrated accountability for delivering measurable results and driving initiatives from opportunity identification through execution and implementation.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, Legal, Technology, and other business functions.

Experience and Education:

• Minimum of three years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain, logistics, or a related business function.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with suppliers to lead negotiations and support the development and execution of commercial agreements.
• Two-year degree in business, supply chain management, project management, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), APICS certification, or equivalent credentials preferred.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent experience preferred.

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