Leads strategic sourcing and procurement for complex manufacturing spend categories. Develops multi-year category strategies, negotiates with global suppliers, manages supplier performance, drives cost savings through analytics and total cost of ownership methods, and mitigates supply chain risks. Partners with operations, engineering, R&D, finance, and senior leadership while leading cross-functional initiatives and mentoring procurement professionals.
Job Summary
The Strategic Sourcing Manager is a leadership role responsible for overseeing high-value and complex spend categories, developing long-term sourcing strategies, and leading enterprise-wide initiatives that drive cost optimization, supply continuity, and innovation. This role serves as a key advisor to senior leadership and plays a critical role in shaping procurement strategies that support manufacturing excellence and business growth.Key Responsibilities
Strategic Category Leadership
Education
The Strategic Sourcing Manager is a leadership role responsible for overseeing high-value and complex spend categories, developing long-term sourcing strategies, and leading enterprise-wide initiatives that drive cost optimization, supply continuity, and innovation. This role serves as a key advisor to senior leadership and plays a critical role in shaping procurement strategies that support manufacturing excellence and business growth.Key Responsibilities
Strategic Category Leadership
- Develop and execute multi-year category strategies aligned with corporate, operational, and manufacturing objectives
- Lead strategic planning processes, including demand forecasting, market intelligence, and risk assessment
- Identify opportunities for innovation, supplier collaboration, and competitive advantage
- Lead complex, high-impact sourcing initiatives and negotiations with global suppliers
- Establish and execute negotiation strategies that deliver best-in-class commercial outcomes
- Oversee contract development, ensuring alignment with legal, financial, and operational requirements
- Build executive-level partnerships with strategic suppliers to drive performance, innovation, and long-term value
- Implement supplier segmentation models and governance frameworks
- Lead supplier business reviews and continuous improvement initiatives
- Drive significant cost savings and value creation through advanced analytics, should-cost modeling, and total cost of ownership (TCO) methodologies
- Champion value engineering and demand management initiatives across manufacturing operations
- Monitor commodity markets and economic trends to proactively manage cost and risk
- Partner with senior leaders in operations, engineering, R&D, and finance to align category strategies with business priorities
- Lead procurement involvement in new product development (NPD) and capital projects
- Act as a trusted advisor to stakeholders on sourcing decisions and supplier strategies
- Identify, assess, and mitigate supply chain risks (e.g., geopolitical, capacity, single-source dependencies)
- Ensure adherence to company policies, regulatory requirements, and sustainability goals
- Lead business continuity and contingency planning efforts
- Mentor and develop Sourcing Specialist and procurement professionals
- Lead cross-functional and global project teams
- Drive a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field
- MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred
- 8+ years of progressive experience in procurement, category management, or strategic sourcing in a manufacturing environment
- Proven experience managing large, complex spend categories (e.g., direct materials, capital equipment, logistics, raw materials)
- Demonstrated success delivering significant cost savings and strategic value initiatives
- Advanced strategic thinking and business acumen
- Expert negotiation and contract management skills
- Deep knowledge of manufacturing supply chains and operations
- Strong financial and analytical expertise (cost modeling, TCO, market analysis)
- Executive-level communication and stakeholder management
- Leadership and team development capabilities
- Ability to influence across a global, matrixed organization
- Strong risk management and decision-making skills
- Experience with global sourcing and international supplier networks
- Proficiency with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and advanced procurement tools
- Certification such as CPSM, CIPS, or Six Sigma (Black Belt preferred)
- Experience in digital procurement transformation initiatives
Job location- Santa Clara, CA
Salary range- $110k-$155k
Salary range- $110k-$155k
Similar Jobs
Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software • Transportation • Design • Manufacturing
Leads strategic sourcing and procurement for battery cells or batteries used in autonomous vehicles. Responsibilities include supplier identification and evaluation, RFQs, contract and price negotiations, supply chain and partnership management, cost reduction, market research, supplier performance assessment, total cost modeling, and cross-functional collaboration with engineering, manufacturing, finance, legal, and operations.
Top Skills:
Battery CellsExcel
Artificial Intelligence • Cloud • Information Technology • Automation
Leads strategic sourcing and procurement for complex manufacturing spend categories. Develops category strategies, negotiates with global suppliers, manages supplier performance, drives cost savings and value engineering, mitigates supply-chain risks, ensures compliance, and advises senior stakeholders. The role also leads cross-functional initiatives, supports product development and capital projects, and mentors procurement professionals.
Top Skills:
Erp SystemsOracleSAP
Healthtech • Other • Biotech
Leads strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, cost modeling, market analysis, risk mitigation, vendor performance management, and supply-chain optimization. Develops sourcing strategies, manages supplier relationships and QBRs, identifies cost-reduction opportunities, and coordinates contingency planning for supply constraints. Requires global sourcing experience, particularly in Asia, and collaboration across Operations, Engineering, Finance, Sales, and Marketing.
Top Skills:
ChatgptClaudeMicrosoft CopilotExcelMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerpointMicrosoft Word
What you need to know about the Los Angeles Tech Scene
Los Angeles is a global leader in entertainment, so it’s no surprise that many of the biggest players in streaming, digital media and game development call the city home. But the city boasts plenty of non-entertainment innovation as well, with tech companies spanning verticals like AI, fintech, e-commerce and biotech. With major universities like Caltech, UCLA, USC and the nearby UC Irvine, the city has a steady supply of top-flight tech and engineering talent — not counting the graduates flocking to Los Angeles from across the world to enjoy its beaches, culture and year-round temperate climate.
Key Facts About Los Angeles Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 375,800; 5.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Snap, Netflix, SpaceX, Disney, Google
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, adtech, media, software, game development
- Funding Landscape: $11.6 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Strong Ventures, Fifth Wall, Upfront Ventures, Mucker Capital, Kittyhawk Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: California Institute of Technology, UCLA, University of Southern California, UC Irvine, Pepperdine, California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Quantum Science and Engineering
