Strategic Sourcing Specialist - Professional Services

Cohere; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly lunch stipend

Health and dental benefits

RRSP matching / 401K

Parental leave top-up

Enrichment benefits stipend

6 weeks paid vacation

Travel budget to other offices

Home office stipend

Job summary

Cohere is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Specialist to lead procurement for Professional Services in a fast-growing, security-focused AI company. You will shape sourcing strategies, manage vendors, and collaborate with FP&A, Accounting, Legal and business stakeholders to drive cost savings.

This is a 12-month fixed-term contract with potential for conversion, remote-friendly with offices in multiple cities. You will own end-to-end procurement lifecycle, run RFPs, and build category management for

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Procurement, Finance, Business or related field.
• 8–10 years of progressive procurement experience.
• Proven experience leading Procurement for Professional Services categories.
• Strong strategic sourcing and negotiation skills.
• Experience managing vendor relationships and contracts.
• Demonstrated experience in category management and strategic sourcing methodologies.
• Strong risk assessment and mitigation skills for supplier selection.
• Ability to conduct market research, benchmarking, RFPs, and competitive analysis.
• Experience with supplier evaluation, selection, and performance management.
• Proven track record of cost optimization and savings achievement.
• Proficiency in procurement software and ERP systems (Omnea preferred).
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive procurement initiatives.
• Experience with P2P (procure to pay) processes.
• Professional certification in procurement or supply chain (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Manage Procurement & Sourcing activities for Professional Services categories including Consulting, Marketing, Legal, Communications and other external services.
• Develop and execute strategic sourcing initiatives to optimize costs and service quality.
• Own the end-to-end Procurement lifecycle from needs assessment to contract execution.
• Lead and manage the complete RFP/RFQ process from development through vendor evaluation and selection.
• Develop and implement category management strategies across Professional Services.
• Conduct comprehensive market research, competitive analysis, and supplier benchmarking.
• Drive cost optimization initiatives and track savings realization.
• Analyze spending patterns and identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements.
• Manage contract lifecycle including renewals, amendments, and terminations.
• Manage vendor relationships and negotiations for Professional Services providers.
• Evaluate vendor performance and conduct strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with Procurement policy and regulations.
• Bridge the gap between Procurement and Accounting to ensure proper PO management and payment processes.
• Maintain robust documentation and internal controls.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align Procurement strategies with Business objectives.
• Prepare reports on Procurement performance, savings, and Vendor Management.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Negotiation

Vendor management

Procurement

RFP/RFQ process

Category management

Market research

Cost optimization

Cross-functional collaboration

P2P processes

Procurement software

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Procurement/Finance/Business

Tools

Omnea

Job description

Who are we?

Cohere is the leading security-first enterprise AI company. We build cutting-edge foundation AI models and end-to-end products that are designed to solve real-world business problems.

Who are we?

Cohere is the leading security-first enterprise AI company. We build cutting-edge foundation AI models and end-to-end products that are designed to solve real-world business problems.

We’re training and deploying frontier models for enterprises who are building AI systems. We believe that our work is instrumental to the widespread adoption of AI and we are looking for folks that want to be part of that.

We obsess over what we build. Each one of us is responsible for contributing to increasing the capabilities of our models and the value they drive for our customers. Cohere is a team of researchers, engineers, designers, and more, who are all passionate about their craft.

We are a global technology company headquartered in Toronto with key offices in London, New York City, San Francisco, Montreal, Paris, Berlin and Seoul. Join us!

Why This Role

Cohere seeks a Strategic Sourcing Specialist to manage our Professional Services Procurement function. In this role you will be responsible for executing Strategic Sourcing activities across these categories as we continue to grow rapidly. You will collaborate with FP&A, Accounting, Legal, and multiple business stakeholders to support our Procurement operations. This is an opportunity for a hands‑on Procurement professional who thrives in a high‑growth environment, is comfortable navigating ambiguity, and can help implement efficient processes. You’ll be instrumental in building Procurement categories for Professional Services spend and owning their development and optimization. You’ll have the opportunity to establish best practices, drive significant cost savings, and create strategic partnerships with key service providers that support our business growth.

Contract Terms

This is a 12‑month fixed‑term contract position with the potential for conversion to a permanent role based on business needs and performance. Please note that conversion to a permanent position is not automatic and will be subject to a separate evaluation process and mutual agreement between the candidate and Cohere. This arrangement provides an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your capabilities and contribute to our strategic procurement initiatives while allowing both parties to assess long‑term fit.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage Procurement & Sourcing activities for Professional Services categories including Consulting, Marketing (events, media, services), Legal, Communications and other external services
• Develop and execute strategic sourcing initiatives to optimize costs and service quality
• Own the end-to‑end Procurement lifecycle from needs assessment to contract execution
• Lead and manage the complete RFP/RFQ process from development through vendor evaluation and selection
• Develop and implement category management strategies across Professional Services
• Conduct comprehensive market research, competitive analysis, and supplier benchmarking
• Drive cost optimization initiatives and track savings realization
• Analyze spending patterns and identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements
• Manage contract lifecycle including renewals, amendments, and terminations
• Manage vendor relationships and negotiations for Professional Services providers
• Evaluate vendor performance and conduct strategic sourcing initiatives
• Ensure compliance with Procurement policy and regulations
• Bridge the gap between Procurement and Accounting to ensure proper PO management and payment processes
• Maintain robust documentation and internal controls
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (FP&A, Accounting, Legal, business stakeholders) to align Procurement strategies with Business objectives
• Prepare reports on Procurement performance, savings, and Vendor Management

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Procurement, Finance, Business or related field
• 8-10 years of progressive procurement experience
• Proven experience leading Procurement for Professional Services categories
• Strong Strategic Sourcing and negotiation skills
• Experience managing vendor relationships and contracts
• Demonstrated experience in category management and strategic sourcing methodologies
• Strong risk assessment and mitigation skills for supplier selection
• Ability to conduct market research, benchmarking, RFPs, and competitive analysis
• Experience with supplier evaluation, selection, and performance management
• Proven track record of cost optimization and savings achievement
• Proficiency in procurement software and ERP systems (Omnea preferred)
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving abilities
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive procurement initiatives
• Experience with P2P (procure to pay) processes
• Professional certification in procurement or supply chain (preferred)

Full-Time Employees At Cohere Enjoy These Perks

• A weekly lunch stipend of $75/£75 or equivalent in your local currency for lunch.
• Full health and dental benefits, including a separate budget for mental health.
• RRSP matching, 401K, Pension Scheme.
• 100% Parental Leave top-up for up to 6 months, for either parent.
• Annual enrichment benefits: Arts & culture, fitness/wellness, quality time, and a workspace improvement credit. Education & learning stipend for conferences, courses, and coaching.
• 6 weeks of paid vacation (30 working days!)
• Budget for traveling to other offices if you are remote, plus an annual company offsite.

How And Where We Work

• Cohere is remote-friendly, but we also have offices in Toronto, London, New York City, San Francisco, Montreal, Paris, Berlin and Seoul with more opening soon.
• For those in the office: a daily lunch program, plenty of snacks, and regular community and social events.
• For those not near an office: a co‑working benefit so you can work alongside others in your city.
• Everyone receives a $500 home office stipend to set up your workspace properly.

We strive to create an inclusive work environment for all; we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to providing equal opportunities. Should you require any accommodations during the recruitment process, please submit an Accommodations Request Form, and we will work together to meet your needs.

We may use AI-enabled tools to screen and assess applicants against the criteria for this position. This helps our recruiters identify potentially qualified candidates, but it doesn't limit the applications our recruiters may review or consider.