Strategic Sourcing Manager - Retail Operations & Facilities

Aquent; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Subsidized health plan

Vision and dental plans

Retirement plan with match

Free online training (Aquent Gymnasium

Job summary

Aquent Talent is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Manager to shape the operational landscape for a prominent retail enterprise across Store Operations & Facilities in the US and Canada. You will lead end-to-end sourcing, build category strategies, and drive measurable value through enterprise agreements and cost improvements.

You will partner with stakeholders to define requirements, run RFx events, negotiate master services agreements and SOWs, and ensure governance across regions while advancing

Qualifications

• 5+ years leading end-to-end strategic sourcing engagements.
• Experience across retail store operations and/or facilities categories.
• Experience managing sourcing lifecycle from requirements to governance.
• Experience negotiating enterprise agreements (MSAs, SOWs).
• Proven cost savings and productivity improvements.
• Strong stakeholder-management and cross-functional collaboration.
• Advanced Excel, PowerPoint, data visualization and sourcing tools.
• Bachelor’s Degree in related field or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end sourcing projects from market profiling to awards.
• Define business requirements with stakeholders and lead RFx events.
• Lead RFI/RFP/RFX events and evaluate supplier responses.
• Negotiate and finalize contracts, MSAs and SOWs.
• Develop and implement category strategies and roadmaps.
• Drive cost reduction, supplier performance, and governance.
• Partner with teams across US and Canada and support Diversity goals.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Stakeholder management

Contract negotiations

RFI/RFP/RFX

Excel

PowerPoint

Vendor management

Analytics

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management

MBA or related field (preferred)

Tools

Procure-to-Pay

E-RFX systems

Contract lifecycle management

Spend analytics tools

Job description

About the Opportunity

Step into a pivotal role where you will help shape the operational landscape of a prominent retail enterprise. As a Strategic Sourcing Manager supporting Store Operations & Facilities, you will develop strong business partnerships and provide strategic sourcing expertise at an enterprise level.

You will lead sourcing initiatives across goods and services critical to operating a large fleet of retail stores and facilities throughout the US and Canada, including store supplies and services, asset protection services, facilities-related goods and services, and other operational categories.

This role will leverage the end-to-end Source-to-Contract process to develop sourcing and category strategies, negotiate supplier agreements, identify cost-saving opportunities, and deliver measurable value to the organization. You will also support broader goals related to supplier diversity, risk management, sustainability, and process compliance.

What You’ll Do

• Lead all aspects of the end-to-end strategic sourcing process for assigned projects, including profiling supply markets, partnering with stakeholders to define business requirements, leading RFI/RFP/RFX events using sourcing technology, evaluating supplier responses, gaining consensus on awards, conducting supplier negotiations, finalizing contracts, and transitioning awarded business to internal partners.
• Support business partners with sourcing objectives and supplier needs through the Intake-to-Contract and Source-to-Contract processes, identifying opportunities to optimize value across assigned categories.
• Serve as the sourcing lead for assigned contracts, coordinating approvals across internal stakeholders and suppliers, summarizing negotiation results in deal summaries, and facilitating senior leadership approvals.
• Develop comprehensive category strategies across assigned Store Operations and Facilities categories, using knowledge of national and regional supply markets to identify opportunities and optimize supplier capabilities.
• Build strategic sourcing roadmaps in partnership with key stakeholders, leveraging spend data, contract expirations, business priorities, and market insights to identify future sourcing opportunities.
• Lead negotiations for enterprise agreements, including master services agreements, statements of work, and other commercial agreements, ensuring commercial terms support business objectives.
• Identify and optimize spend opportunities across departments and geographies, including opportunities spanning the US and Canada and broader enterprise or global partnerships.
• Partner with internal stakeholders and suppliers to drive cost reduction, productivity improvements, supplier performance, continuous improvement, risk management, and long-term value.
• Support broader sourcing requirements across the Retail Operations and Facilities teams as business needs evolve.
• Build strong, trusted relationships with key stakeholders by delivering against sourcing plans, communicating effectively, and influencing decisions at multiple levels of the organization.

Must-Have Qualifications

• 5+ years of proven success leading end-to-end strategic sourcing engagements.
• 5+ years of sourcing experience across retail store operations and/or facilities categories spanning both goods and services, preferably within a large North American retail organization.
• Demonstrated experience managing the complete sourcing lifecycle, including requirements gathering, supply-market analysis, RFI/RFP/RFX events, supplier evaluation, negotiations, contracting, implementation, and governance.
• Strong experience negotiating enterprise agreements, including Master Services Agreements (MSAs), Statements of Work (SOWs), and related commercial agreements.
• Experience developing category strategies, multi-year sourcing plans, supplier relationship management programs, continuous improvement initiatives, should-cost models, and negotiation strategies.
• Proven track record of delivering cost savings, cost avoidance, productivity improvements, and measurable sourcing value.
• Strong stakeholder-management skills with demonstrated ability to gain buy-in, influence decisions, and work effectively with senior-level business partners.
• Excellent project and timeline management skills with the ability to manage multiple sourcing initiatives from intake and onboarding through project closure, operationalization, and governance.
• Strong understanding of supplier markets and the ability to develop sourcing strategies that optimize supplier capabilities at national and regional levels.
• Advanced skills in Excel, PowerPoint, analytics, presentations, data visualization, and strategic sourcing tools.
• Hands-on experience with sourcing and procurement technology, such as procure-to-pay, vendor management, e-RFX, sourcing pipeline and savings reporting, and contract lifecycle management tools.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, negotiation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives in a fast-paced environment while remaining comfortable with ambiguity and changing business needs.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, or a related field preferred, or equivalent professional experience.

Working Conditions

• Ability to work in an office environment 2 days per week.
• Ability to travel as required.
• Ability to clearly communicate complex sourcing information, recommendations, and ideas to stakeholders at multiple levels of the organization.

About Aquent Talent

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world’s biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We’re about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.