Strategic Sourcing & Vendor Management Specialist

Enterprise Supply Management is your strategic partner for all your supplier needs. You can count on us to bring you a seamless purchasing experience from start to finish and to deliver scalable value across Vanguard.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing (Primary Focus – ~75%)

• Leads complex sourcing engagements, including supplier identification, evaluation, selection, and negotiations.
• Conducts supply market analysis and leverages industry trends to inform category strategies and sourcing decisions.
• Partners with business stakeholders, legal, and risk to execute sourcing initiatives and resolve escalations.
• Negotiates and interprets contract terms, ensuring risk mitigation and clear communication of obligations.
• Ensures adherence to sourcing governance, policies, and procedures; educates stakeholders on sourcing best practices.
• Maintains sourcing and contract data in enterprise systems to support reporting and transparency.

Vendor Management (Secondary Focus – ~25%)

• Manages relationships with key vendors, serving as a primary point of contact for performance and issue resolution.
• Monitors vendor performance against contractual commitments and service expectations; recommends improvements as needed.
• Performs vendor analysis, pricing evaluations, and invoice reviews to ensure value realization and contract compliance.
• Supports development and execution of RFPs, including proposal evaluation and vendor selection.
• Resolves vendor-related issues and contributes to continuous improvement of vendor management practices.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or vendor management.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience required; advanced degree preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in:
  • Strategic sourcing and supplier negotiations
  • Contract development and risk management
  • Supplier and market analysis
  • Vendor performance management

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Effective negotiation and contract management capabilities
• Ability to influence and collaborate across cross-functional teams
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Understanding of procurement governance, risk, and compliance frameworks

Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Business Acumen
• Relationship Management
• Decision Making
• Risk Awareness

Additional Information

• Experience in HR, Benefits, Talent, or IT categories preferred
• Experience working in a complex, matrixed organization

Special Factors

Sponsorship

About Vanguard

At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission—we're on a mission.

To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.