Strategic Sourcing Specialist I or II

Position Summary

Strategic Sourcing is used to create a competitive advantage for NPPD by promoting and implementing strategies and initiatives based on any, some or all of the following: total NPPD buying leverage, multi-year agreement incentives, combined category buying power, best practices, specification optimization, market competition and more. These and other strategies will be used to positively affect price, efficiency and supplier/contractor performance for the best interest of the District.

The individual must demonstrate high potential and be a self-starter capable of handling multiple assignments with a high degree of initiative, accountability, and accuracy. This person will need to have good communication skills in order to lead teams, promote ideas, articulate vision, and represent the District to a wide range of suppliers. This person will need to have good analytical skills in order to effectively evaluate a large amount of internal and external spend and market data with the ability to interpret what the data is telling us and the appropriate strategy to implement in order to achieve an optimal outcome for the District.

The Strategic Sourcing Specialist I will be expected to lead projects and manage spend categories that will have a direct impact on the business unit in which they are assigned. Sourcing projects and initiatives may involve other business units, but the assignment of responsibility will be based on the need of their own unit.

The Strategic Sourcing Specialist II is expected to lead projects and manage spend categories for any and all business units across the District. This person will be responsible to lead the larger and more complex sourcing projects and initiatives. Attributes of these types of projects may include some or all of the following: involvement with multiple business units, high dollar spend categories, complex or multiple round proposal process, difficult to negotiate pricing strategies and terms and conditions, the need for a complex contract and legal review, , review and update complex requirements and specifications with significant engineering and/or technical involvement , and in some cases, involvement and input from District executive leadership.

Education, Training and Experience

Strategic Sourcing Specialist I 

Bachelor's Degree in Business, Engineering, or a related area

OR

Associates Degree in Business or related area and 3 years’ experience as described below;

OR

High School Diploma or GED and 5 years’ experience as described below. 

Experience: Professional level experience in supplier development, Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, buying, agreement preparation, supplier negotiations, supplier selection, agreement administration, materials management, inventory or logistics support, freight and transportation services is highly preferred. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret financial reports and legal documents. Experience in negotiating long-term agreements and / or contracts with a high spend potential over the life of the agreement is preferred.
 

Strategic Sourcing Specialist II

Bachelor's Degree in Business, Engineering, or related area and 7 years’ experience as described below;
 

OR

Associate Degree (or equivalent accumulation of college credit hours) in Business or related program and 10 years’ experience as described below;

OR

High School Diploma or GED and 15  years’ experience as described below. Experience: Professional level experience in supplier development, strategic sourcing,
procurement, agreement preparation, supplier negotiations, supplier selection, agreement administration, materials management, inventory or logistics support, freight and transportation services is highly preferred. Experience in developing complex agreements. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret financial reports and legal documents. Experience in negotiating long-term agreements and / or contracts with a potential spend in excess of $1 million over the life of the agreement is preferred

Licenses and/or Certifications

Advanced certification including Certified Purchasing Manager, Certified Professional in Supply Management, APICS,  is highly desired for this position.

Strategic Sourcing Specialist I - Essential Duties & Responsibilities

The Strategic Sourcing Specialist I is expected to manage request for proposals and bidding process. Establishing and supporting relationships with key suppliers to ensure competitive pricing, a best total cost of ownership outcome, and long-term supplier partnership with District business units for projects as assigned. Lead business level or District-wide collaborative strategic sourcing projects and joint procurement initiatives. Responsible for managing the process for identifying, developing, implementing, and administering the District's strategic sourcing agreements for assigned spend categories. When appropriate, provide direction on procurement practice and strategies with internal stakeholders and suppliers to reduce the cost of acquiring the products and services. The Strategic Sourcing Specialist I will perform this function primarily at the business level.

Utilize and lead cross-functional teams to: 1) analyze total expenditures and requirements, 2) analyze the conditions of the market, 3) identify the opportunity for improvement and 4) develop and execute a strategy for reducing the total cost of ownership satisfying business unit requirements. After the completion of the initiative, coordinate, manage or administer the results in the best interest of all parties.

Conduct research and learning sessions and analyze market conditions and supply channels. Prepare market projections and compare to District historic use and forecasted requirements to develop the lowest total cost of ownership strategy to acquire the product or services for the District. The division of responsibility across spend categories and effected markets will be based on the way they impact the District. Categories primarily impacting one business will be managed by a Strategic Sourcing Specialist I.  Assist in the development and administration of the sourcing contracts and/or agreements in the best interest of the District. This administration will primarily include (but is not limited to): Identifying a need for a sourcing or procurement process and method, coordinating the development of technical and commercial requirements (scope of work), negotiation of exceptions and review of final documentation.

Participate in the evaluations, negotiations, and award of agreements. The evaluations will include working with stakeholders to determine the best supplier(s) and best value to satisfy all requirements.  Monitor suppliers' performance against performance indicators and through communications such as supplier performance meetings and collaborative partner forums. Work with suppliers for constant improvement over time. Report the progress and results of the sourcing efforts to stakeholders and other participants.

Lead the effort to identify standardization and efficiency opportunities that may include reduced supplier and product base. Solicit feedback from the inventory leaders, Procurement, business unit teams, collaborative sourcing partners, and suppliers.  Work closely with business and financial leaders in order to evaluate budget opportunities for large savings initiatives. This includes future forecast, current and next year budgeting adjustments as appropriate. The Strategic Sourcing Specialist I will need to be a key member of their business specific team and able to give solid guidance on budgeting.

Strategic Sourcing Specialist II - Essential Duties & Responsibilities

The Strategic Sourcing Specialist II is expected to manage multiple projects, request for proposals and bidding strategies. Establishing and supporting relationships with key suppliers to ensure competitive pricing, a best total cost of ownership outcome, and long-term supplier partnership with business units across the District. Lead high dollar spend, business level or District-wide collaborative strategic sourcing projects and joint procurement initiatives. Responsible for managing the process for identifying, developing, implementing, and administering the District's strategic sourcing agreements for assigned spend categories. When appropriate, provide direction on procurement practice and strategies with internal stakeholders and suppliers to reduce the cost of acquiring the products and services. The Strategic Sourcing Specialist II will be responsible for performing this function in areas of spend that impact the entire District and will deliver sizable favorable impact across multiple businesses.

Utilize and lead cross-functional teams to: 1) analyze total expenditures and requirements, 2) analyze the conditions of the market, 3) identify the opportunity for improvement and 4) develop and execute a strategy for reducing the total cost of ownership, satisfying business unit requirements. After the completion of the initiative, coordinate, manage or administer the results in the best interest of all parties.

Conduct research and learning sessions and analyze market conditions and supply channels. Prepare market projections and compare to District historic use and forecasted requirements to develop the lowest total cost of ownership strategy to acquire the products or services for the District.  The division of responsibility across spend categories and effected markets will be based on the way they impact the District. Categories that have significant impact across multiple businesses will be primarily managed by a Strategic Sourcing Specialist II.  Assist in the development and administration of the sourcing contracts and/or agreements in the best interest of the District. This administration will primarily include (but is not limited to): identifying a need for a sourcing or procurement process and method, coordinating the development of technical and commercial requirements (scope of work), negotiation of exceptions, and review of final documentation.

Participate in the evaluations, negotiations, and award of agreements. The evaluations will include working with stakeholders to determine the best supplier(s) and best value to satisfy all requirements. The Strategic Sourcing Specialist II will be working with a team of members across multiple business units.  Monitor suppliers' performance against performance indicators and through communications such as supplier performance meetings and collaborative partner forums. Work with suppliers for constant improvement over time. Report the progress and results of the sourcing efforts to stakeholders and other participants.  Lead the effort to identify standardization and efficiency opportunities that may include reduced supplier and product base. Solicit feedback from the inventory leaders, Procurement, business unit teams, collaborative sourcing partners, and suppliers.Work closely with business and financial leaders in order to evaluate budget opportunities for large savings initiatives. This includes future forecast, current and next year budgeting adjustments as appropriate. The Strategic Sourcing Specialist II will need to be well connected to all of the business leaders across the District to adequately evaluate the financial impact of each project and the proper decision making in regard to budgets.

Accountable for other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies