Strategic Sourcing Manager

About the role:

We are looking for an experienced Strategic Sourcing professional with 6 - 8 years of experience in developing and executing sourcing strategies, managing supplier relationships, negotiating commercial agreements, and driving cost optimization initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

- Develop and implement strategic sourcing strategies aligned with organizational procurement objectives and business requirements.

- Identify, evaluate, and onboard potential suppliers based on quality, cost, delivery capabilities, service standards, and compliance requirements.

- Conduct market research, supplier assessments, spend analysis, and benchmarking to identify sourcing opportunities and cost-saving initiatives.

- Lead commercial negotiations with suppliers to achieve competitive pricing, favorable payment terms, and optimal contractual conditions.

- Manage the complete sourcing lifecycle, including requirement analysis, supplier identification, RFQ/RFP processes, bid evaluations, negotiations, and contract finalization.

- Build and maintain strong relationships with strategic suppliers and key stakeholders to ensure long-term supplier performance.

- Analyze procurement spend and identify opportunities for cost reduction, process improvement, and operational efficiency.

- Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including finance, operations, legal, and business teams, to understand procurement requirements and develop appropriate sourcing solutions.

- Monitor supplier performance against agreed KPIs, SLAs, quality standards, delivery timelines, and contractual obligations.

- Identify and mitigate sourcing risks, including supplier dependency, pricing fluctuations, supply disruptions, and compliance-related risks.

- Drive supplier consolidation, category management, and procurement process standardization initiatives wherever applicable.

- Ensure adherence to procurement policies, internal controls, regulatory requirements, and organizational governance standards.

- Prepare sourcing reports, supplier performance dashboards, cost analysis, and procurement-related MIS for management review.

- Support continuous improvement initiatives through procurement analytics, process automation, and effective vendor management practices.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

- 6 - 8 years of experience in Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, Purchasing, or Supply Chain Management.

- Strong understanding of strategic sourcing methodologies, procurement lifecycle, and supplier management processes.

- Hands-on experience in supplier identification, evaluation, negotiation, onboarding, and contract management.

- Excellent commercial negotiation, cost analysis, and vendor relationship management skills.

- Experience in conducting RFQs, RFPs, RFIs, bid comparisons, and supplier assessments.

- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret procurement spend data and identify cost optimization opportunities.

- Knowledge of procurement policies, contract terms, supplier risk management, and compliance requirements.

- Proficiency in MS Excel and procurement reporting tools; exposure to ERP or procurement platforms such as SAP Ariba, Oracle Procurement, or Coupa would be an advantage.

- Strong stakeholder management, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.

- Ability to manage multiple sourcing projects and deliver results within defined timelines.