Sourcing / Procurement manager

Strategic Sourcing Manager, Indirect

Bay Area preferred but remote is Ok. Client is looking for a sourcing/procurement manager to join our Sourcing and Procurement team. This role is hybrid based in Palo Alto. In this role you will primarily work with various internal business units to understand their requirements and work with the supply base to deliver services / software as required. The ideal candidate has a passion for speed of contract execution with compliance / risk management in mind while being strategic about the tradeoffs made. Key categories include (i) Marketing (ii) Corporate Services (HR, Real Estate) (iii) Professional Services (Contingent Workers, Consulting) (iv) Software.

What You'll Do:

• Define and implement comprehensive sourcing strategies for both the Marketing and Software categories, aligning them with overall business objectives and financial targets.
• Lead complex negotiations for Marketing contracts, demonstrating deep experience in various pricing structures and models specific to influencer campaigns, agency retainers, video production costs, and brand development services.
• Manage relationships and execute negotiation strategies with top-tier software vendors specializing in optimizing pricing for licensing agreements, maintenance renewals, and subscription-based (SaaS) models.
• Act as a subject matter expert for both categories, continuously researching industry trends, pricing benchmarks, and the supplier landscape to advise business stakeholders and proactively identify new, innovative suppliers.
• Drive the end-to-end sourcing process, including RFI/RFP development, vendor shortlisting, supplier evaluation, and contract finalization, ensuring adherence to internal policies and legal standards.
• Proactively partner with Marketing and Technology stakeholders to understand their current and future needs, providing expert guidance on optimal sourcing channels, supplier selection, and commercial terms.
• Partner with legal and finance teams to oversee the full lifecycle of agreements, including drafting, execution, ongoing performance monitoring, and ensuring timely renewal or exit strategies for all critical Marketing and Software agreements.
• Be accountable for delivering measurable cost savings, cost avoidance, and value enhancement across both categories through strategic sourcing initiatives and continuous contract optimization.
• Champion the adoption of digital sourcing tools and best practices, focusing on streamlining purchasing for both large enterprise software deals and high-volume creative/production-related services.
• Lead the sourcing and procurement process for core UTM components, including Data feeds and services (high-resolution weather, real-time airspace constraint data, geospatial and LIDAR data)
• Secure mission-critical, high-integrity data feeds essential for UTM functionality
• Identify and manage relationships with external UAS Service Suppliers (USS) and supplemental data providers to ensure interoperability and compliance with regulatory standards
• Partner closely with the Software Engineering and UTM Teams to define technical requirements and ensure sourced services are technically viable and integrate seamlessly

What You'll Need:

• 8+ years of experience in supply chain development, sourcing management for Marcomms/Software areas
• Bachelor's degree in a directly related field or equivalent practical experience
• Working knowledge of Sourcing / Procurement systems & tools
• Analytical/negotiation skills with internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to toggle between strategic and detail oriented thinking
• Tenacious problem solving & issue resolution skills
• Excellent presentation and interpersonal skills
• Ability to influence across multiple functional teams
• Flexibility to adapt to dynamic and rapidly changing environments
• Excellent communicators, capable of working in multinational environments, driven and motivated by accomplishing extraordinary objectives

Diverse Lynx LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive due consideration for employment without any discrimination. All applicants will be evaluated solely on the basis of their ability, competence and their proven capability to perform the functions outlined in the corresponding role. We promote and support a diverse workforce across all levels in the company.