Sourcing Leader

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Inc.; Iowa; On-site; USD 88,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Health benefits

Retirement plans

Time off

Wellness programs

Job summary

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory seeks a Sourcing Leader to act as the procurement function's senior technical and strategic expert for sourcing and contract management. You will lead high-value sourcing initiatives, manage competitive RFP events, and administer a large contract portfolio with a focus on total cost of ownership and service levels.

You will mentor staff, optimize Workday procurement processes, and collaborate with Legal, Finance, and stakeholders to align sourcing with

Qualifications

• Significant progressive experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, and contract management, including leading competitive RFP/RFQ events.
• Demonstrated experience managing a large, active contract portfolio, including negotiation, renewal, and risk management.
• Strong contract knowledge, including terms and conditions, risk clauses, SLAs, and negotiation best practices.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, and written/verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent sourcing events and competing priorities independently.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing initiatives, including spend analysis, market research, supplier identification, and sourcing strategy development for high-value and high-risk categories
• Plan and manage competitive RFP, RFQ, and RFI events from scope development through evaluation, negotiation, and award recommendations
• Develop and apply evaluation criteria, scoring models, and negotiation strategies to secure optimal total cost of ownership, terms, and service levels
• Own and manage a portfolio of (approximately 150) active contracts totaling roughly $2 million in annual expenditure, tracking key terms, renewal/expiration dates, obligations, and performance milestones
• Draft, review, and negotiate contract terms and conditions in coordination with Legal, Finance, and business stakeholders; manage amendments, renewals, and terminations
• Maintain contract repository and reporting in Workday, ensuring data accuracy, complete documentation, and audit readiness across the portfolio
• Partner with internal stakeholders to define requirements, develop category strategies, and align sourcing activity with organizational goals
• Monitor supplier performance against contractual obligations and service levels; lead resolution of performance or compliance issues
• Identify and deliver cost savings, cost avoidance, and process improvement opportunities across assigned categories
• Ensure sourcing and contracting activity complies with organizational policy, procurement regulations, and (where applicable) grant or sponsor requirements
• Serve as a subject-matter expert and informal mentor to Buyers and other procurement staff on sourcing methodology, RFP execution, and Workday procurement processes
• Support Workday procurement system optimization, testing, and process improvement initiatives as a super-user or key contributor

Skills

Strategic sourcing

RFP/RFQ/RFI design

Contract lifecycle

Supplier performance

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or related field

Tools

Workday procurement

Job description

Worker Type: Regular

Position Description

The Sourcing Leader is the most senior individual-contributor role within the Procurement function, serving as the technical and strategic expert for sourcing and contract management below the supervisory level. This position leads complex, high-value sourcing initiatives, manages competitive RFP events from strategy through award, and administers a large, active contract portfolio. The role requires deep expertise in strategic sourcing methodology, contract lifecycle management, and Workday procurement functionality, and serves as a mentor and technical resource to other procurement staff.

Position Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing initiatives, including spend analysis, market research, supplier identification, and sourcing strategy development for high-value and high-risk categories
• Plan and manage competitive RFP, RFQ, and RFI events from scope development through evaluation, negotiation, and award recommendations
• Develop and apply evaluation criteria, scoring models, and negotiation strategies to secure optimal total cost of ownership, terms, and service levels
• Own and manage a portfolio of (approximately 150) active contracts totaling roughly $2 million in annual expenditure, tracking key terms, renewal/expiration dates, obligations, and performance milestones
• Draft, review, and negotiate contract terms and conditions in coordination with Legal, Finance, and business stakeholders; manage amendments, renewals, and terminations
• Maintain contract repository and reporting in Workday, ensuring data accuracy, complete documentation, and audit readiness across the portfolio
• Partner with internal stakeholders to define requirements, develop category strategies, and align sourcing activity with organizational goals
• Monitor supplier performance against contractual obligations and service levels; lead resolution of performance or compliance issues
• Identify and deliver cost savings, cost avoidance, and process improvement opportunities across assigned categories
• Ensure sourcing and contracting activity complies with organizational policy, procurement regulations, and (where applicable) grant or sponsor requirements
• Serve as a subject-matter expert and informal mentor to Buyers and other procurement staff on sourcing methodology, RFP execution, and Workday procurement processes
• Support Workday procurement system optimization, testing, and process improvement initiatives as a super-user or key contributor

Position Requirements

• Significant progressive experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, and contract management, including leading competitive RFP/RFQ events
• Demonstrated experience managing a large, active contract portfolio, including negotiation, renewal, and risk management
• Strong contract knowledge, including terms and conditions, risk clauses, SLAs, and negotiation best practices
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, and written/verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent sourcing events and competing priorities independently

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience

Experience

• Experience in use of modern ERP systems, on-line procurement platforms, and e-commerce
• Experience with Workday procurement and/or contract management modules strongly preferred
• Certification such as CPSM, CPSD, or CPCM (preferred)
• Experience in a research, higher education, or grant-funded environment
• Minimum of 5 years hands on experience

Skills

• Strategic sourcing methodology and category management
• Competitive RFP/RFQ/RFI event design and management
• Contract lifecycle and risk management
• Supplier relationship and performance management
• Workday (procurement/contracts modules preferred)
• Data analysis and reporting to support sourcing and spend decisions
• Stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration

Compensation and Benefits

Our employees are compensated in many ways for their contributions to our mission, including competitive pay, exceptional health benefits, retirement plans, time off, and a range of recognition and wellness programs. Visit our CSHL Benefits sites to learn more. The salary range for this role is $88,000.00– $95,000. The salary range and/or hourly rate listed is a good faith determination of potential base compensation that may be offered to a successful applicant for this position at the time of this job advertisement and may be modified in the future. When determining a base salary and/or rate, several factors may be considered as applicable (e.g., years of relevant experience, education, credentials, and internal equity).

Environment

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is a world-renowned biomedical research institution in New York. It has shaped contemporary biomedical research and is the home of eight Nobel Prize laureates. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory provides a highly dynamic and interactive research environment and also a unique opportunity of timely exposure to advances in various biomedical research fields and of interaction with a broad range of researchers from all over the world through its renowned Meetings and Courses program. We believe that science is for everyone and our researchers have a wide variety of backgrounds. CSHL is an EO Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or protected veteran status. VEVRAA Federal Contractor. For more information about CSHL, please visit us at www.cshl.edu. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) is a community of more than 1,100 scientific, academic, administrative and support staff hailing from more than sixty different countries throughout the world, working together to advance research and education in the biological and biomedical sciences. It’s a stimulating and dynamic place to work, with cutting-edge research programs and science education and training at all career levels. From secondary education and enrichment programs run through the DNA Learning Center to the laboratories of our faculty and principal investigators, CSHL thrives by assembling a rich mix of people who are provided the resources and creative freedom to develop new ideas, solve problems, and advance knowledge.