Strategic Sourcing Specialist - Marketing & Direct Mail

Strategic Sourcing Specialist – Marketing & Direct MailLocation: Charlotte, NC 28262 Duration: 6 Months contract (Possibilities of conversion or extension) Key Responsibilities: Sourcing Strategy & Category Management Lead end-to-end sourcing activities for complex Marketing, Brand Management, and Public Affairs engagements, including direct print, direct mail, print production, mailing services, fulfillment, communications, public relations, research, events, sponsorships, and related marketing execution services. Develop and execute category strategies for direct print and direct mail services, including offset and digital printing, variable data printing, personalization, prepress, proofing, finishing, kitting, warehousing, fulfillment, postal optimization, and campaign execution. Assess supplier portfolios to identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, print specification standardization, volume leverage, postal savings, improved turnaround times, quality management, and service model optimization. Review expiring agreements and support timely renewals and competitive sourcing events while identifying opportunities for cost reduction, supplier consolidation, service improvements, sustainability, and value creation. Contract Negotiation & Commercial Management Lead supplier negotiations, including category strategy development, negotiation planning, vendor communications, proposal evaluations, and award recommendations. Negotiate commercial models for print production and direct mail services, including unit pricing, rate cards, volume tiers, postage pass-throughs, paper and substrate costs, inventory management, storage, fulfillment, kitting, mailing services, service-level commitments, renewal caps, and price adjustment mechanisms. Negotiate contract provisions supporting secure and compliant handling of customer and campaign data, including data use limitations, address list management, privacy obligations, print file controls, chain-of-custody requirements, quality assurance, and incident notification. Negotiate commercial, operational, legal, governance, and risk-related terms while balancing stakeholder objectives, business timelines, and enterprise risk requirements. Draft, review, and manage contract language to address evolving business, regulatory, operational, brand, and market requirements. Required Qualifications: Minimum of 2 years of sourcing or procurement experience, or equivalent experience demonstrated through work, training, military service, or education. Desired Qualifications Experience drafting, reviewing, interpreting, and negotiating complex commercial contracts, including contractual terms, risk considerations, and commercial impacts. Sourcing and contract negotiation experience supporting Marketing, Brand Management, and Public Affairs categories, including direct print, direct mail, print production, fulfillment, communications, public relations, events, sponsorships, and related marketing execution services. Experience with direct print and direct mail categories, including offset and digital printing, variable data printing, prepress, proofing, color management, paper specifications, finishing, inserting, kitting, warehousing, fulfillment, and mailing services. Knowledge of direct mail supplier capabilities, including address list processing, National Change of Address (NCOA) updates, presort, commingling, Intelligent Mail Barcode tracking, postal optimization, delivery performance, and secure handling of customer mailing data. Understanding of marketing execution and brand management supply chains, including creative production, print specifications, campaign versioning, personalization, quality control, inventory management, sustainability, supplier performance metrics, and brand consistency. Experience negotiating contract terms for print, mail, fulfillment, and communications suppliers, including service levels, quality standards, turnaround times, postal and freight cost treatment, inventory controls, subcontractor management, audit rights, confidentiality, data protection, and transition support. Demonstrated success leading end-to-end strategic sourcing engagements and supplier negotiations within large, complex, highly regulated organizations. Ability to advise Marketing, Brand Management, and Public Affairs stakeholders on supplier strategy, contract structure, sourcing approaches, print and direct mail production models, risk considerations, implementation readiness, and supplier performance improvements. Strong commercial, financial, benchmarking, and spend analysis skills, including print specification analysis, volume consolidation, rate card evaluation, postage and freight analysis, supplier performance metrics, and pricing benchmarks. Experience managing cross-functional stakeholders, including Legal, Risk, Finance, Technology, Information Security, Third-Party Risk Management, and senior business leaders. Knowledge of banking regulations, third-party risk management, supplier governance, data privacy regulations, customer communications requirements, postal compliance, and regulatory requirements affecting supplier engagements and customer data use. Proficiency with strategic sourcing, procurement, and contract lifecycle management tools, including Ariba, RFx processes, e-auction platforms, spend analytics, supplier scorecards, print and mail production reporting, and benchmarking tools. Excellent relationship-building, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to establish credibility quickly and drive consensus. Strong project management, time management, analytical, and organizational skills, with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Professional certifications such as CPSM, CPSD, PMP, or equivalent sourcing, procurement, or project management credentials.