What are the responsibilities and job description for the Strategic Sourcing Manager (Marketing Procurement) position at RLink Solutions?
Role: Strategic Sourcing Manager (Marketing Procurement)
NYC, NY//SFO, CA-Hybrid
6 months
Job Description:
Top responsibilities:
Strategic Sourcing & Category Strategy: Proactively analyze spend and market trends to build, present, and execute sourcing strategies for Creative, Production, and Events/Experiential spend.
Agency & Vendor Procurement: Lead competitive sourcing events (RFXs), benchmark costs, and negotiate contracts (MSAs, SOWs, and rate cards) with creative agencies, production partners, venues, staffing, and event logistics suppliers.
Stakeholder & Relationship Management: Partner closely with internal leaders, external agencies, third-party cost consultants, and industry networks to drive spend optimization and influence change.
Supplier Performance & Operations: Manage vendor performance against key targets, oversee production cost benchmarking, and build implementation and change management plans for strategic initiatives.
Required Skills:
- Strong background in Strategic Sourcing with deep expertise in Marketing categories—specifically Creative Production and Media. (Minimum 4 years of direct experience required) This is not a junior-level role!
- High analytical proficiency for heavy data-crunching, spend analysis, and business case modeling.
- Experience utilizing AI tools (e.g., prompt engineering, developing AI agents) to streamline data analysis and workflows.
- Experience analyzing spend, assessing supply markets, and identifying sourcing opportunities.
- Experience supporting or leading sourcing initiatives, including RFXs and supplier negotiations.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to develop and present business cases and cost/benefit analyses.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to advise stakeholders and influence decisions.
- Ability to take initiative, operate within prescribed parameters, and implement work with minimal guidance.
- Experience negotiating with creative, production, or experiential event agencies and vendors.
- Familiarity with common commercial models (e.g. firm bid vs cost plus, hourly rate cards, retainer structures)
Nice To Have:
- Experience supporting marketing-related categories such as Policy & Comms, Market
- Research, B2B Marketing, Media, agency, or related professional services spend.
- Experience with supplier performance management and change management.
- Strong Excel, data analysis, and presentation skills.
- Experience working in a matrixed environment with multiple stakeholder groups.