Strategic Sourcing Manager - Retail Operations & Facilities

Aquent is partnering with a leading global company in the retail sector, renowned for its innovative approach and commitment to excellence. This organization is at the forefront of delivering exceptional experiences to its customers and fostering a dynamic environment for its employees. Join a team dedicated to strategic impact, where your contributions will directly shape operational efficiency and value creation across a vast network of facilities.

About the Opportunity

Step into a pivotal role where your expertise will directly shape the operational landscape of a prominent retail enterprise. This is an exciting opportunity to leverage your strategic sourcing acumen to drive significant value and efficiency across a vast network of retail stores and facilities. You will be instrumental in fostering strong business partnerships and providing enterprise-level strategic sourcing expertise, directly impacting the organization's bottom line and customer experience.

In this role, you will lead critical sourcing initiatives across a diverse range of goods and services essential for operating a large fleet of retail stores and facilities throughout the US and Canada. This includes everything from essential store supplies and asset protection services to comprehensive facilities-related goods and services and other vital operational categories. You will champion the end-to-end Source-to-Contract process, developing innovative sourcing and category strategies, negotiating impactful supplier agreements, and identifying significant cost-saving opportunities. Your work will not only deliver measurable value but also support broader organizational goals related to supplier diversity, robust risk management, sustainability initiatives, and process compliance.

What You'll Do

• Lead the complete strategic sourcing process for assigned projects, from profiling supply markets and defining business requirements with stakeholders to executing RFI/RFP/RFX events using advanced sourcing technology.
• Evaluate supplier responses, facilitate consensus on awards, conduct high-stakes supplier negotiations, finalize contracts, and seamlessly transition awarded business to internal partners.
• Act as the primary sourcing lead for assigned contracts, coordinating approvals across internal stakeholders and suppliers, summarizing negotiation outcomes in detailed deal summaries, and facilitating senior leadership approvals.
• Develop comprehensive category strategies for Store Operations and Facilities, leveraging deep knowledge of national and regional supply markets to identify opportunities and optimize supplier capabilities.
• Construct strategic sourcing roadmaps in collaboration with key stakeholders, utilizing spend data, contract expirations, business priorities, and market insights to pinpoint future sourcing opportunities.
• Lead negotiations for critical enterprise agreements, including Master Services Agreements (MSAs), Statements of Work (SOWs), and other commercial agreements, ensuring terms align with and advance business objectives.
• Identify and optimize spend opportunities across various departments and geographies, including initiatives spanning the US and Canada, and broader enterprise or global partnerships.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and suppliers to drive continuous cost reduction, productivity improvements, enhance supplier performance, foster continuous improvement, mitigate risks, and deliver long-term value.
• Support evolving sourcing requirements across the Retail Operations and Facilities teams as business needs change and grow.
• Cultivate strong, trusted relationships with key stakeholders by consistently delivering on sourcing plans, communicating effectively, and influencing decisions at multiple levels of the organization.

Must-Have Qualifications

• 5+ years of proven success leading end-to-end strategic sourcing engagements.
• 5+ years of dedicated sourcing experience across retail store operations and/or facilities categories, encompassing both goods and services, preferably within a large North American retail organization.
• Demonstrated expertise in managing the complete sourcing lifecycle, including requirements gathering, supply-market analysis, RFI/RFP/RFX events, thorough supplier evaluation, skillful negotiations, robust contracting, seamless implementation, and ongoing governance.
• Strong experience negotiating complex enterprise agreements, including Master Services Agreements (MSAs), Statements of Work (SOWs), and other related commercial agreements.
• Proven ability to develop sophisticated category strategies, multi-year sourcing plans, effective supplier relationship management programs, continuous improvement initiatives, accurate should-cost models, and winning negotiation strategies.
• Track record of delivering significant cost savings, cost avoidance, productivity improvements, and measurable sourcing value.
• Exceptional stakeholder-management skills with a demonstrated ability to gain buy-in, influence critical decisions, and work effectively with senior-level business partners.
• Excellent project and timeline management skills, capable of overseeing multiple sourcing initiatives from initial intake and onboarding through project closure, operationalization, and ongoing governance.
• Deep understanding of supplier markets and the ability to craft sourcing strategies that effectively optimize supplier capabilities at both national and regional levels.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, analytics, presentations, data visualization, and strategic sourcing tools.
• Hands-on experience with modern sourcing and procurement technology, including procure-to-pay, vendor management, e-RFX, sourcing pipeline and savings reporting, and contract lifecycle management tools.
• Outstanding written, verbal, presentation, negotiation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize and expertly manage multiple initiatives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, while remaining comfortable with ambiguity and adapting to changing business needs.
• A Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, or a related field is preferred, or equivalent professional experience.

Other Relevant Details

• Ability to travel as required.