Director, Strategic Sourcing

Acuity Brands, Inc.; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 142,400 - 256,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care

Dental coverage

Vision plans

401K benefits

Commissions/incentive compensation

Job summary

Acuity Brands, Inc. is seeking a Director of Strategic Sourcing to drive long-term supplier relationships and translate business needs into sourcing strategies that accelerate innovation and reduce risk.

The role partners with product development, engineering, and executives to embed SRM capabilities, develop category strategies, and lead a high‑performing team delivering measurable cost savings and supplier excellence.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain; 5+ years in senior leadership.
• Proven track record building and managing strategic supplier relationships at executive level.
• Deep experience collaborating with product development, engineering, or R&D in fast-paced environments.
• Proven ability to influence C-suite on sourcing matters.
• Strong commercial acumen including contract negotiation and financial analysis.
• Experience operationalizing SRM frameworks, category strategies, and governance.

Responsibilities

• Own and cultivate executive-level relationships with Tier 1/Tier 2 suppliers.
• Lead SRM framework development to drive performance and value.
• Conduct quarterly/annual business reviews with suppliers.
• Identify and mitigate supplier risks including capacity and geopolitical exposure.
• Champion preferred supplier programs and tiered ecosystems.
• Embed sourcing strategies within the product development lifecycle.
• Translate roadmaps into actionable sourcing strategies for capacity.
• Advise development teams on supplier selection and TCO analysis.
• Collaborate to evaluate supplier capabilities and qualify new sources.
• Partner with executives to align sourcing with corporate objectives.
• Present supplier insights and risk mitigation strategies to leadership.
• Lead multi-year strategic sourcing decisions and governance.

Skills

Strategic sourcing leadership

Executive stakeholder management

SRM framework design

Cost modeling & TCO

Contract negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Supplier risk management

Product development collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or a related field

Job description

Work Location

This position requires on-site presence in Costa Mesa, CA or Boulder, CO following a hybrid work model.

Job Summary

The Director of Strategic Sourcing is a pivotal leadership role responsible for building and sustaining long‑term, value‑driven relationships with key suppliers and strategic partners. This leader serves as the connective tissue between product development teams, executive management, and the external supplier ecosystem — translating business needs into sourcing strategies that accelerate innovation, reduce risk, and deliver sustained competitive advantage.

This role requires a commercially astute executive who can influence at the C‑suite level, partner deeply with engineering and development teams, and build a world‑class supplier relationship management (SRM) capability. The ideal candidate balances strategic vision with operational rigor, and is equally comfortable in a boardroom negotiation as in a cross‑functional product planning session.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

Strategic Relationship Management

• Own and cultivate executive‑level relationships with Tier 1 and strategic Tier 2 suppliers, acting as the primary ambassador for the company's sourcing interests.
• Develop and execute a Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) framework that drives supplier performance, innovation partnership, and mutual value creation.
• Lead quarterly and annual business reviews with key suppliers, driving accountability against KPIs, SLAs, and joint roadmaps.
• Proactively identify and mitigate supplier risks including capacity constraints, geopolitical exposure, financial instability, and single‑source dependencies.
• Champion preferred supplier programs, fostering a tiered supplier ecosystem aligned to strategic importance and performance.

Partnership with Development & Product Teams

• Embed sourcing strategy within the product development lifecycle — partnering with R&D, engineering, and product management from concept through commercialization.
• Facilitate early supplier involvement (ESI) initiatives to drive design‑for‑manufacturability, cost optimization, and supply continuity.
• Translate technology roadmaps and product requirements into actionable sourcing strategies that anticipate capacity and capability needs.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to development teams on supplier selection, make‑vs‑buy decisions, and total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis.
• Collaborate with technical teams to evaluate supplier capabilities, conduct supplier assessments, and qualify new sources of supply.

Executive Engagement & Business Alignment

• Partner with executive leadership to align sourcing strategy with corporate objectives, growth initiatives, and financial targets.
• Present strategic sourcing plans, supplier performance insights, and risk mitigation strategies to the Board and executive leadership team.
• Influence enterprise‑level decisions related to supply chain investment, M&A diligence, and geographic expansion by providing sourcing intelligence.
• Drive cross‑functional alignment on sourcing priorities through executive steering committees and governance forums.
• Define and communicate a multi‑year strategic sourcing vision that positions the company for scalable, resilient growth.

Sourcing Strategy & Value Delivery

• Lead the development and execution of category strategies across direct spend, focusing on strategic, high‑impact categories.
• Drive measurable cost savings, cost avoidance, and working capital improvements in alignment with annual financial targets.
• Negotiate complex, multi‑year agreements with strategic partners including pricing structures, volume commitments, IP protections, and service levels.
• Leverage market intelligence, spend analytics, and supplier benchmarking to continuously optimize the supply base.
• Build and manage a pipeline of sourcing initiatives with clearly defined value metrics and executive visibility.

Team Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high‑performing strategic sourcing team, fostering a culture of curiosity, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Define team structure, roles, and capability roadmaps to support evolving business needs and organizational scale.
• Drive adoption of sourcing technologies, digital tools, and data analytics to enhance decision‑making and operational efficiency.

Skills and Minimum Experience Required

• 10+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain management; 5+ years in a senior leadership role.
• Demonstrated track record of building and managing strategic supplier relationships at an executive level.
• Deep experience collaborating with product development, engineering, or R&D organizations in a fast‑paced, innovation‑driven environment.
• Proven ability to influence and partner with C‑suite and executive stakeholders on strategic sourcing matters.
• Strong commercial acumen including contract negotiation, financial analysis, and total cost modeling.
• Experience developing and operationalizing SRM frameworks, category strategies, and governance structures.
• Exceptional communication, executive presence, and cross‑functional leadership skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or a related field.

Travel Requirements

• 1-20%

Compensation and Benefits

The range for this position is $142,400.00 to $256,200.00. Placement within this range may vary depending on applicant’s experience and geographic location. Acuity offers generous benefits including health care, dental coverage, vision plans, 401K benefits, and commissions/incentive compensation depending on role.

Accommodation for Applicants with Disabilities

As an equal‑opportunity employer, Acuity Inc. is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in its application process for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you have difficulty using our online system due to a disability and need accommodation, you may contact us at [phone], select option 4. Please clearly indicate what type of accommodation you are requesting and for what requisition.

Equal Opportunity Employment

We value diversity and are an equal‑opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ethnicity or national origin, disability, pregnancy, religion, covered veteran status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.