Purchasing Lead

The Employee Connect; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Employee Connect is seeking a Purchasing Lead in Dearborn, MI for a hybrid, in-office schedule Tue–Thu. You will own end-to-end sourcing of software, services, and products across marketing, technology, and general spend.

You will drive cost reductions, favorable commercial terms, risk mitigation, and policy improvements while presenting concise sourcing strategies to VP level and above. This role emphasizes advanced financial analysis and cross-functional credibility.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in strategic sourcing for marketing and IT spend.
• 5+ years of contract negotiation experience.
• 4+ years building sourcing strategies and leading initiatives.
• 4+ years in digital media, advertising, and IT industries.
• ERP purchasing or sourcing experience.
• Understanding of contractual terms and AI-enabled tools.
• Bachelor's degree required.

Responsibilities

• Educate and drive acceptance of the sourcing program at all levels of the organization.
• Develop and analyze sourcing program policies and procedures, and advise business units on engaging the sourcing team.
• Improve sourcing strategy for sourcing events to deliver best-in-class decisions while mitigating contract risk.
• Create benchmarks to measure competitive rates and department performance, and take corrective action when targets are missed.
• Monitor market conditions and adjust sourcing strategy accordingly.
• Use AI-based tools to improve efficiency, accuracy, and quality of work.
• Manage assigned indirect spend categories to deliver annual cost savings, both reduction and avoidance, and document savings achieved.
• Negotiate contracts with selected suppliers and work with the Legal team to finalize favorable terms and conditions.
• Evaluate, recommend, and guide supplier selection in alignment with business owners and company objectives.
• Lead competitive bid events and make sourcing awards.
• Use a contract management tool to track and respond to contract matters.
• Negotiate and issue purchase order terms and conditions, and track invoices through the life of approved purchase orders for Finance.
• Review and approve single-source forms above an assigned threshold.
• Support supplier assessments, including due diligence and financial, legal, security, and data-use reviews.
• Develop and improve team training content.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Contract negotiation

Digital marketing spend

ERP systems experience

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Gatekeeper

NetSuite

Contract management software

Job description

Purchasing Lead

Location: Dearborn, MI (Hybrid)

Shift/Schedule: Full-time, hybrid, in the office Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

About the Role

A growing digital marketing company is looking for a Purchasing Lead to maintain and enhance its strategic sourcing function. This is a hybrid role covering end-to-end sourcing of software, services, and products, with a focus on digital marketing, advertising, technology, and general business spend. You will keep improving sourcing strategy and policy to secure high quality, favorable commercial terms, cost avoidance, and risk mitigation.

The strong candidate has excellent financial analysis skills, especially around Total Cost of Ownership, can build credibility with executive stakeholders, and presents concise sourcing strategies, supplier recommendations, and risks to VP level and above.

This is a permanent, direct-hire opportunity presented by The Employee Connect. Qualified candidates will be contacted promptly to review the role, answer questions, and discuss next steps in the interview process.

Key Responsibilities

• Educate and drive acceptance of the sourcing program at all levels of the organization
• Develop and analyze sourcing program policies and procedures, and advise business units on engaging the sourcing team
• Improve sourcing strategy for sourcing events to deliver best-in-class decisions while mitigating contract risk
• Create benchmarks to measure competitive rates and department performance, and take corrective action when targets are missed
• Monitor market conditions and adjust sourcing strategy accordingly
• Use AI-based tools to improve efficiency, accuracy, and quality of work
• Manage assigned indirect spend categories to deliver annual cost savings, both reduction and avoidance, and document savings achieved
• Negotiate contracts with selected suppliers and work with the Legal team to finalize favorable terms and conditions
• Evaluate, recommend, and guide supplier selection in alignment with business owners and company objectives
• Lead competitive bid events and make sourcing awards
• Use a contract management tool to track and respond to contract matters
• Negotiate and issue purchase order terms and conditions, and track invoices through the life of approved purchase orders for Finance
• Review and approve single-source forms above an assigned threshold
• Support supplier assessments, including due diligence and financial, legal, security, and data-use reviews
• Develop and improve team training content

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of strategic sourcing experience with marketing and IT-related spend, such as advertising, media, market research and analytics, PR, digital, web design, promotional materials, consulting services, staff augmentation, or software
• 5+ years of contract negotiation experience
• 4+ years formulating strategies and driving initiatives
• 4+ years in digital media, advertising, and marketing industries
• 4+ years in information technology industries, particularly software, consulting, and staff augmentation
• Experience with ERP systems for purchasing or sourcing applications
• Understanding of contractual terms and conditions and their impact on the organization
• Fluency with AI-enabled tools and their appropriate use
• Bachelor's degree

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing and implementing sourcing methodology
• Experience with contract management and sourcing workflow tools such as Gatekeeper and NetSuite
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Screening Questions

1. How many years of strategic sourcing and contract negotiation experience do you have?
2. Do you have experience sourcing marketing, advertising, or IT-related spend?
3. Are you able to work a hybrid schedule in Dearborn, MI (in the office Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday)?