Sourcing Manager

Aquent, a leader in connecting top talent with global brands, is thrilled to partner with a prominent financial services institution dedicated to empowering individuals and institutions through innovative financial solutions. This organization is at the forefront of embracing cutting-edge technologies and is seeking a dynamic professional to join their team, significantly influencing the strategic direction of vendor relationships and impacting how external partnerships drive growth and navigate the evolving landscape of financial technology and emerging digital assets.

Step into a pivotal role where you will champion category management leadership and strategic sourcing expertise within a critical function. This is your chance to forge strong relationships with senior business stakeholders, develop and execute comprehensive sourcing strategies, and lead the full lifecycle of strategic vendor engagements. You will be instrumental in identifying innovative solutions, optimizing value, and ensuring the organization remains agile and competitive in a rapidly changing market. Your work will directly contribute to securing essential services and technologies, playing a key part in continued success and innovation, particularly within the exciting and complex domain of emerging digital asset technologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide essential category management leadership, planning, and expertise to business partners.
• Cultivate robust relationships with senior business stakeholders across various core business units.
• Develop, maintain, and execute comprehensive sourcing strategies.
• Lead all aspects of the strategic sourcing lifecycle, collaborating with internal risk and legal teams as needed.
• Conduct competitive sourcing events to identify optimal vendors and alternative solutions, driving favorable pricing and terms.
• Lead the review, analysis, and negotiation of strategic projects.
• Gather business and technical requirements, producing necessary documentation for competitive bidding processes.
• Develop internal presentations and business cases to support management approvals for multi-year vendor agreements.
• Draft, review, and manage ad hoc documents requiring special risk and legal reviews.
• Perform economic analysis of vendor proposals and respond to internal management inquiries regarding existing or potential vendor expenditures.
• Identify and document internal and external risks associated with complex financial technologies, emerging digital assets, and related transactions.
• Support sourcing and procurement activities for vendor engagements involving emerging digital asset technologies, including infrastructure, custody, trading, and compliance solutions.
• Collaborate with internal legal, risk, compliance, information security, and finance partners to evaluate vendor risk considerations, including regulatory requirements, data security, operational resiliency, and contractual considerations.
• Work with internal subject matter experts to ensure adherence to policies and procedures.
• Ensure the utilization of industry-leading procurement services and tools to foster strong supplier and business partner relationships.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 5 years of experience in category management, strategic sourcing, consulting, vendor management, risk management, and/or procurement.
• Proven experience sourcing, procuring, negotiating, or supporting vendor engagements involving emerging digital asset technologies, distributed ledger infrastructure, or related technology services.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and develop category management plans that maximize value and mitigate risks while meeting stakeholder requirements.
• Consistent track record of building effective working relationships with senior business partners, internal stakeholders, and supplier counterparts.
• Self-starter with the ability to manage multiple projects and thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with minimal direction.
• Strong negotiation skills and a solid understanding of contract law and risk requirements.
• Expertise in sourcing policy, procedures, and processes.
• Flexible and adaptable in managing and implementing change, understanding its impact on teams, business partners, and vendors.
• Ability to lead multiple projects and work effectively in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.
• Aptitude for applying organizational change management and consulting skills/knowledge.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong research and analytical skills.
• Strong interpersonal, problem-solving, conflict resolution, facilitation, and negotiation skills.
• Proficiency in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Nice to Have Qualifications

• Familiarity with emerging digital asset market structures, advanced custody models, distributed ledger technologies, and evolving regulatory landscapes.
• Experience in supply chain management, technology, or related financial services.

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.