Strategic Sourcing Manager - Retail Operations & Facilities

Aquent is partnering with a leading global company in the retail sector, renowned for its innovative approach and commitment to excellence. This organization is at the forefront of delivering exceptional experiences to its customers and fostering a dynamic environment for its employees. Join a team dedicated to strategic impact, where your contributions will directly shape operational efficiency and value creation across a vast network of facilities.

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.

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