Strategic Sourcing Manager - Procurement

ZS; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

ZS is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Manager, Indirect Procurement to drive category strategies across HR, IT, Marketing, Legal, and Professional Services. You will optimize total value by balancing cost, quality, service, risk, and sustainability while partnering with stakeholders worldwide.

The role requires 8+ years in strategic sourcing, strong RFx and contract negotiation skills, and experience with Source-to-Pay. A hybrid work model in the United States is supported, with travel as needed.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of strategic sourcing or procurement experience across indirect categories.
• Experience in professional services or life sciences environments preferred.
• Fluency in English and strong communication with senior stakeholders.
• Knowledge of Source-to-Pay and contract lifecycle management tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain category profiles, sourcing pipelines, and category strategies for indirect categories.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing events including RFIs, RFPs and supplier evaluations.
• Lead negotiations and develop MSAs/SOWs with favorable terms.
• Incorporate total cost and total value modeling into sourcing decisions.
• Create and report on total value, including savings, risk reductions, and quality improvements.
• Manage cross-functional sourcing project teams and partner with budget owners.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

RFx management

Contract terms

Total cost / total value analysis

Supplier negotiations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or related field

Tools

Source-to-Pay

Contract lifecycle management

Job description

ZS is a place where passion changes lives. As a management consulting and technology firm focused on improving life and how we live it, we transform ideas into impact by bringing together data, science, technology and human ingenuity to deliver better outcomes for all. Here you'll work side-by-side with a powerful collective of thinkers and experts shaping life-changing solutions for patients, caregivers and consumers, worldwide. ZSers drive impact by bringing a client-first mentality to each and every engagement. We partner collaboratively with our clients to develop custom solutions and technology products that create value and deliver company results across critical areas of their business. Bring your curiosity for learning, bold ideas, courage and passion to drive life-changing impact to ZS.

ZS is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Manager, Indirect Procurement to execute strategic sourcing projects and category strategies across indirect spend categories including HR, IT, Marketing, Legal, and Professional Services. This role will optimize total value across cost, quality, service, risk, innovation, sustainability, and savings while partnering closely with business stakeholders across ZS regions and functions. As a key member of the Procurement team, this individual will play an instrumental role in helping build and shape the future of the indirect procurement function, driving best practices, influencing strategy, and supporting the team’s continued growth and evolution.

What You Will Do

• Develop and maintain category profiles, sourcing pipelines, and category strategies for assigned indirect categories including HR, IT, Marketing, Legal, and Professional Services.
• Execute sourcing events end-to-end, including requirements definition, RFI/RFP/RFQ management, supplier identification, bid analysis, supplier evaluation, and recommendation development.
• Lead negotiations, MSA/SOW development, and renewals by securing commercial terms, service levels, and risk protections that maximize total value.
• Incorporate total cost and total value modeling, TCO analysis, spend analysis, market intelligence, rate analysis, and benchmark insights into sourcing events and supplier decisions.
• Embed responsible sourcing and sustainability criteria into category strategies, sourcing events, and supplier relationship management activities.
• Define and report total value delivered, including hard savings, cost avoidance, service and quality improvements, risk reduction, and innovation.
• Lead cross-functional sourcing project teams across ZS regions and business units.
• Act as a trusted procurement partner to ZS corporate functions, building strong relationships with budget owners and senior stakeholders.
• Facilitate discussions around business requirements, supplier strategy, and category implications; partner with internal customer groups to define value levers, specifications, service levels, and scopes of work.
• Translate function and practice plans into an indirect sourcing pipeline and influence large and strategic buying decisions based on total value, balancing cost against quality, speed, and risk.
• Drive change management with colleagues and key contacts, promote sourcing best practices and policy compliance, and report category value performance to business leadership.

What You Will Bring

• S. / B.A. degree in Business or a related field; CIPS, CPSM, or equivalent certification preferred.
• 8+ years of strategic sourcing or procurement experience across indirect categories such as HR, IT, Marketing, Legal, and Professional Services.
• Demonstrated success delivering quantifiable value beyond price, including savings, cost avoidance, service improvements, quality gains, risk reduction, and innovation.
• Experience in a professional services or life sciences environment preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of strategic sourcing processes and technology, including Source-to-Pay and contract lifecycle management tools.
• RFx management, supplier negotiations, MSA/SOW contract writing, category strategy development, value strategy formulation, total cost / total value modeling, supplier management, and contract management.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive outcomes in a global, decentralized, matrixed organization with limited supervision.
• Project management skills and the ability to lead cross-functional teams through complex sourcing initiatives.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, cross-functional environment and build trusted relationships across business functions.
• Proven ability to influence decisions and drive measurable outcomes across a matrix organization.
• Fluency in English
• Client-first mentality
• Intense work ethic
• Collaborative spirit and problem-solving approach

How you'll grow:

• Cross-functional skills development & custom learning pathways
• Milestone training programs aligned to career progression opportunities
• Internal mobility paths that empower growth via s-curves, individual contribution and role expansions

Perks & Benefits:

At ZS, your growth matters. We offer a comprehensive total rewards package that supports your health and well-being, financial future, time away, and professional development. With robust skills-building programs, multiple career progression paths, internal mobility, and a deeply collaborative culture, you'll have the opportunity to do meaningful work, expand your capabilities, and thrive as part of a global community. For details on total rewards in United States, visit ZS US office locations | Where we work | ZS.

Hybrid working model:

We are committed to giving our employees a flexible and connected way of working. A flexible and connected ZS allows us to combine work from home and on-site presence at clients/ZS offices for the majority of our week. The magic of ZS culture and innovation thrives in both planned and spontaneous face-to-face connections.

Travel:

Travel is a requirement at ZS for client facing ZSers; business needs of your project and client are the priority. While some projects may be local, all client-facing ZSers should be prepared to travel as needed. Travel provides opportunities to strengthen client relationships, gain diverse experiences, and enhance professional growth by working in different environments and cultures.

Considering applying?

At ZS, we honor the visible and invisible elements of our identities, personal experiences, and belief systems—the ones that comprise us as individuals, shape who we are, and make us unique. We believe your personal interests, identities, and desire to learn are integral to your success here. We are committed to building a team that reflects a broad variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Learn more about our inclusion and belonging efforts and the networks ZS supports to assist our ZSers in cultivating community spaces and obtaining the resources they need to thrive.

ZS is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities without regard to any class protected by applicable law.

Work Authorization:

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Candidates must have authorization to work in the United States that does not now or in the future require employer sponsorship.