Global Strategic Sourcing Manager

Job description

This is an incredible opportunity to join a company that has been at the forefront of AI and high-performance data storage innovation for over two decades. DataDirect Networks (DDN) is a global leader in AI and multi-cloud data management at scale, helping customers run some of the world’s most demanding AI and data-intensive environments. This is a high-impact, **Greenfield opportunity**. We are looking for a visionary Strategic Sourcing Manager to build our procurement function from the ground up. You will help design the workflows, select the tools, and help establish the "source-to-pay" playbook within the domain of our new ERP system Workday. The Strategic Sourcing Manager is responsible for identifying, developing, and managing long-term partnerships with key suppliers. You won’t just be "buying stuff"; you will be analyzing market trends, evaluating Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), and executing sourcing strategies that drive value, mitigate risk, and support the company's bottom line. A significant portion of your initial focus will be on our **SaaS and Technology stack**, ensuring we optimize our digital spend, eliminate redundant subscriptions, and manage renewals proactively. ## What you’ll do - **Stakeholder Evangelism:** Partner with IT, Finance, and Marketing to align their departmental needs with the new sourcing strategy - **Category Strategy:** Develop and execute multi-year sourcing strategies for assigned categories to achieve cost savings and improve service levels. - **Supplier Selection:** Lead the end-to-end process, from identifying potential vendors to final selection. - **Negotiation:** Act as the lead negotiator for complex contracts, focusing on pricing, SLAs, legal terms, and performance incentives. - **Relationship Management (SRM):** Conduct regular business reviews with "Tier 1" suppliers to ensure compliance and foster innovation. - **Risk Mitigation:** Monitor global market trends and geopolitical shifts to identify supply chain vulnerabilities and develop contingency plans. - **Data Analysis:** Utilize spend analytics tools to identify "maverick spend" and consolidation opportunities. - **Process Architecture:** Design and implement the company’s first formal Strategic Sourcing framework. Define "how we buy" and "who signs what." - **SaaS Portfolio Management:** Conduct a "SaaS Audit" to identify overlapping tools (e.g., three different project management apps) and consolidate spend into enterprise agreements. - **Renewal Pipeline:** Build a proactive calendar for SaaS renewals to avoid "auto-renews" and create leverage for price negotiations. ## What we’re looking for - **Experience:** 10+ years in procurement or strategic sourcing, with a proven track record of managing a high-spend portfolio. - **The "Human" Side:** Exceptional communication skills—you need to be able to tell a story with data to convince stakeholders to change vendors. - **The "Zero-to-One" Mindset:** Proven experience building a sourcing function or department where none existed before. - **SaaS Savvy:** Deep understanding of software licensing models (per seat, consumption-based, tiered) and the ability to navigate complex "Terms of Service" in SaaS contracts. - **Shadow IT Discovery:** Experience using tools (like Zylo, Blissfully, or simple spend exports) to find hidden software spend across the company. - **Change Management:** The ability to influence company culture so that employees view "Sourcing" as a partner that saves them time, rather than a department that says "no."