Senior Director, Sourcing & Partnership Growth Management

Sysco Northeast Rdc; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food service company is seeking a Senior Director of Sourcing & Partnership Growth Management in Houston, Texas. The role involves overseeing category strategy and sourcing initiatives to enhance profitability and drive value creation through strong supplier relationships. Ideal candidates will have over 10 years of experience in strategic sourcing, exceptional negotiation skills, and proficiency in data analysis. This position offers competitive compensation and the opportunity to lead a high-performing team.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of leadership experience in category management or strategic sourcing.
• Proven success in supplier negotiations and cost management.
• Experience with cross-functional teams, both domestically and globally.

Responsibilities

• Manage category strategy and sourcing programs to drive value creation.
• Oversee supplier negotiations to ensure cost-competitiveness.
• Develop and execute global sourcing strategies aligned with business goals.
• Provide ongoing reporting to executive leadership on sourcing initiatives.

Skills

Global sourcing knowledge

Data analysis

Negotiation

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA or equivalent advanced degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Tableau

Sourcing tools (e.g., Ariba)

Job description

The Senior Director of Sourcing & Partnership Growth Management (PGM) will be responsible for managing our category strategy program (PGM), cost management program, and sourcing capabilities (US and Global).This role will oversee strategic initiatives to drive value creation through product sourcing, cost control, and category planning. This role will lead efforts to optimize global supplier relationships, align category strategies with business objectives, and ensure cost-competitiveness for maintaining and expanding growth and profitability. The ideal candidate will have expertise in category strategy, cost analytics, sourcing, supplier negotiations, and fostering cross-functional collaboration to deliver measurable business outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Profit Management:

• Identifies strategic opportunities for margin expansion and profitable growth across the assortment and supplier base.

• Oversees the program office of our category management program (Partnership Growth Management) that manages the process, calendar and performance of our category strategies and supplier negotiations.

• Partners with Category Directors to define annual growth targets across multiple levers and tactics.

• Acts as an activist to identify and influence new / different activities across category teams to unlock growth.

• Collaborates closely with Merchandising, Operations, Sales, Finance, and Supply Chain teams to drive processes and compliance.

• Manages portfolio of ad hoc initiatives, driving incremental value and identifying risks or process gaps proactively.

• Supports business centers via a structured negotiation processes that facilitates supplier negotiations and contracting.

Cost Management & Profitability Optimization:

• Set and manage the cost management capabilities across all product categories to maximize cost competitiveness and margin expansion opportunities.

• Conduct frequent market intelligence / analyses and benchmarking to anticipate market fluctuations for both risks and opportunities

• Build and manage complex cost models using industry and market data, component indices, and supplier insights.

• Highlights opportunities and provide supplier facing materials to secure cost reductions.

• Provide strategic recommendations to mitigate commodity price fluctuations and enhance cost predictability.

US & Global Sourcing Center of Excellence:

• Develop and execute the global sourcing strategy, ensuring alignment with the company's strategic objectives and business goals.

• Lead the development and implementation of innovative sourcing strategies, including supplier diversification, digital sourcing, and sustainability initiatives.

• Identify and capitalize on emerging sourcing opportunities to enhance competitiveness and drive growth.

• Supplier relationship management

• Negotiate and manage complex contracts with global suppliers, ensuring favorable terms and conditions.

• Proactively identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including geopolitical, economic, and environmental disruptions.

• In partnership with international business units (e.g., Canada, Latin America, Asia, Europe) define, develop and deploy our global sourcing capabilities.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key strategic suppliers, fostering collaboration and driving value.

• Identify, onboard, and optimize approved suppliers by region, building value-driven supplier partnerships focusing on risk management, reliability, quality, and cost-effectiveness.

• Negotiate competitive pricing, terms, and growth agreements.

• Drive alignment across global suppliers and business units, ensuring compliance with corporate policies and performance standards. Monitor supplier performance.

• Develop sourcing center of excellence to continuously improve contracts, contract management, and tools (e.g., analytics, bid).

Program Management & Reporting:

• Develop and manage the sourcing budget, forecast resource allocations, and monitor financial performance.

• Manage supplier programs, including volume incentive programs and category renewals/extensions.

• Ensure the centralization of supplier agreements for corporately managed suppliers.

• Provide ongoing reporting to executive leadership, summarizing sourcing initiatives, cost impact, and profitability.

• Lead executive presentations to communicate progress on category strategies and sourcing outcomes.

• Develop and/or leverage dashboards and reporting tools to track cost savings, earned income, and program effectiveness.

Qualifications:

• Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred.

• Experience:

  • 10+ years of leadership experience in category management, strategic sourcing, or cost management within retail, food service, or consumer goods industries.

  • Proven success in supplier negotiations, cost analytics, and sourcing process optimization.

  • Experience in working with cross-functional and matrixed teams, both domestically and globally.

• Skills & Competencies:

  • Sourcing & Procurement: Deep and comprehensive knowledge of global sourcing and procurement principles, including international trade, customs regulations, and global supply chains.

  • Leadership & Management: Strong leadership and mentorship skills with the ability to motivate, inspire, and develop a high-performing team.

  • Data Analysis & Reporting: Proficiency in data analysis and reporting. Experience with sourcing platforms and data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, Tableau) preferred.

  • Communication & Presentation: Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills. Ability to communicate complex information effectively to senior leadership.

  • Strong analytical and negotiation skills with the ability to manage complex supplier relationships.

  • Proficient in data analysis and market intelligence to make informed sourcing decisions.

  • Expertise in strategic planning, financial management, and category portfolio development.

  • Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and drive alignment among stakeholders.

  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and sourcing tools (e.g., Ariba, Tableau).

Intrinsic Characteristics:

• Results-driven with a bias for action and problem-solving.

• Able to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.

• Collaborative team player with excellent communication and presentation skills.

• Passionate about discovering new market opportunities and learning about global supply dynamics.

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor and develop a high-performing team.