Category/Sourcing Advisor

General Description

The Category and Sourcing Advisor plans and executes strategic activities supporting the procurement of goods and services across assigned categories. Responsibilities include monitoring market developments and emerging capabilities; partnering with the bank’s business units to understand procurement needs and requirements; engaging vendors to address stakeholder needs; developing and executing competitive sourcing processes (RFx); evaluating vendor proposals against business requirements; and negotiating and executing vendor contracts. Following contract execution, the Advisor manages assigned categories, establishes vendor and category performance goals, and monitors performance and continuous-improvement metrics.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Partner strategically with business units to assess current and future needs, and lead sourcing projects to timely, optimal outcomes through market research, analysis, and negotiation.


•  Analyze market trends and conditions proactively, and recommend sustainable cost-reduction initiatives, service enhancements, and supplier-management strategies.


• Develop and manage bids and proposals that incorporate business and commercial requirements, company policies, and risk criteria.


• Conduct rigorous vendor-selection processes for each sourcing event to support ongoing compliance with contractual requirements and key performance indicators (KPIs).


•  Identify opportunities to continuously improve sourcing and supplier-onboarding processes. Serve as the subject-matter expert in contract negotiation and development.


• Analyze contractual clauses, collaborate with legal counsel to develop alternatives, and draft negotiable language for a broad range of service agreements.


•  Manage projects involving new suppliers and services, including the resolution of complex vendor implementation issues.


• Collaborate continuously with cross-functional teams and provide advisory support for technical procurement activities as needed. Serve as the subject-matter expert on sourcing policies, procedures, and processes. 


• Build trusted-advisor relationships with stakeholders across business units and influence adherence to cost-reduction initiatives, procurement policies, and established processes.


•  Analyze category spending patterns to develop projections and long-term models and to build value-adding supplier relationships.


• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify supplier-relationship conflicts and develop effective resolution plans.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities but may lead the work of others in special circumstances.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Communications, Marketing, Accounting, industrial Engineering, or related field.

Experience

• At least three years of experience in one or more of the following areas: vendor negotiations, supplier relationship management, sourcing or procurement, banking, financial analysis, or third-party contract management.


• Project management experience is strongly preferred.


• Demonstrated experience with data analysis, quantitative supplier evaluations, competitive bids, and formal requests for proposals (RFPs) in a regulated industry.


• Experience developing sourcing strategies across multiple categories to identify cost-reduction opportunities and respond to market trends.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's)

•    Demonstrated strategic thinking and sound judgment.
•    Strong planning and analytical skills.
•    Ability to critically evaluate proposals and contract clauses.
•    Extensive knowledge of all phases of the Supplier Management Lifecycle.
•    Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills in English and Spanish.
•    Ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
•    Ability to lead with initiative and urgency while building strong stakeholder relationships.
•    Willingness to travel as required.
•    Contract-management experience, including the ability to resolve complex negotiation issues.
•    Experience with Ariba or a comparable procurement platform is preferred.
•    Advanced proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and Teams.

Values