Senior Strategic Sourcing Managr [AQ-25750]

Aquent; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent partners with a leading global beauty retail organization to drive strategic sourcing across its physical retail footprint. This pivotal role shapes supplier relationships, delivers value, and enhances store environments worldwide.

As a senior sourcing professional, you will lead end-to-end initiatives, collaborate across Legal, Finance, and store operations, and identify cost-saving opportunities while ensuring robust terms and performance.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of strategic sourcing, procurement, or category management in retail or similar fast-paced environment.
• Hands-on sourcing experience supporting store-related categories (construction, fixtures, displays, store equipment, etc.).
• Strong knowledge of sourcing methodologies and end-to-end project management for sourcing initiatives.
• Proven success leading competitive sourcing events and supplier negotiations.
• Robust commercial and financial acumen with cost optimization experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with senior leadership presentation skills.
• Ability to collaborate with diverse cross-functional stakeholders and work autonomously.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing initiatives from market analysis to negotiation and implementation.
• Develop sourcing strategies aligned with business needs, pricing, risk, and total cost of ownership.
• Manage RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, supplier evaluations, and present recommendations.
• Drive sourcing across retail categories such as construction, fixtures, displays, and digital signage.
• Lead complex negotiations to optimize costs and establish service levels and terms.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Procurement

Category management

RFI/RFP/RFQ

Cost optimization

Negotiations

Project management

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain

Bachelor's degree in Business

Tools

SAP Fieldglass

Job description

As a valued Aquent talent, you will have an extraordinary opportunity to partner with a leading global beauty retail organization renowned for its innovative approach and commitment to exceptional customer experiences. In this dynamic role, you will make a tangible, lasting impact by shaping strategic sourcing initiatives that directly enhance physical retail environments and optimize operational efficiency. By driving critical store-related expenditures and fostering strong supplier relationships, your expertise will directly influence the look, feel, and functionality of beloved retail spaces worldwide, fueling the brand’s continued growth and success.

About The Opportunity

Our client is a trailblazer in the retail industry, dedicated to revolutionizing the shopping experience through innovation and design. We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced sourcing professional to join a collaborative, fast-paced team. In this pivotal position, you will lead end-to-end strategic sourcing projects from inception to implementation, focusing on a diverse range of retail store-related goods and services. You will empower the organization to make smarter, more efficient purchasing decisions, translating business requirements into actionable strategies that deliver measurable value and drive innovation across the brand’s physical footprint.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing initiatives, utilizing a structured 7-step methodology from market analysis and opportunity assessment through negotiation, contracting, and implementation.
• Develop comprehensive sourcing strategies aligned with business requirements, market dynamics, supplier capabilities, risk mitigation, and total cost of ownership objectives.
• Manage competitive sourcing events, including the creation and execution of RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs, conducting thorough supplier evaluations, and presenting informed recommendations.
• Drive sourcing efforts across critical retail store categories such as construction, fixtures, displays, store equipment, visual merchandising materials, architectural services, and digital signage technology.
• Lead complex commercial negotiations with suppliers to achieve competitive pricing, optimize costs, establish robust service levels, and mitigate risks.
• Collaborate closely with internal partners across Legal, Finance, and various business units throughout the contracting and approval processes.
• Support the development and negotiation of detailed statements of work, innovative pricing structures, commercial terms, and clear service-level expectations.
• Proactively identify and implement opportunities for cost savings, cost avoidance, supplier consolidation, and the improvement of commercial terms.
• Independently manage multiple sourcing projects concurrently, balancing varying levels of complexity and urgency while establishing key milestones and project plans.
• Partner effectively with cross-functional teams including Store Operations, Construction, Visual Merchandising, Design, Finance, and Legal to facilitate productive stakeholder discussions.
• Maintain accurate tracking of sourcing projects, timelines, and savings opportunities, providing regular status reports and clear presentations to leadership.

Required Skills & Experience

• 7+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or category management, ideally within a retail or similarly complex, fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated hands‑on sourcing expertise supporting retail stores, construction, fixtures, visual merchandising, design services, digital signage, or related categories.
• Strong foundational knowledge of strategic sourcing methodologies and a proven track record of independently managing end-to-end sourcing initiatives.
• Demonstrated success in leading competitive sourcing events and navigating complex supplier negotiations.
• Robust commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to critically evaluate pricing proposals and identify significant cost optimisation opportunities.
• Proven project management skills, with the ability to effectively manage multiple workstreams and priorities simultaneously.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to confidently present project status, risks, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse cross‑functional stakeholders and operate with a high degree of autonomy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience sourcing within a large-scale retail organization.
• Experience supporting store construction, remodels, new store openings, or managing store capital expenditures.
• Experience negotiating Statement of Work (SOW)-based professional services engagements.
• Familiarity with procurement and Vendor Management System (VMS) platforms such as SAP Fieldglass.
• A Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Operations, or a related discipline.