Lead Strategic Sourcing Specialist - IT & Technology

Job Summary

The Lead Strategic Sourcing Specialist, IT & Technology is responsible for leading complex strategic sourcing initiatives and supplier negotiations across enterprise information technology and technology-related categories.

This position serves as the primary strategic sourcing subject matter expert for technology procurement, partnering with Information Technology leadership and key business stakeholders to develop category strategies, evaluate suppliers, negotiate competitive agreements, manage commercial risk, and deliver measurable financial and operational value.

The role supports enterprise technology transformation, including software, hardware, cloud services, telecommunications, cybersecurity, infrastructure, managed services, and technology consulting engagements.

As a lead-level individual contributor, this position independently manages highly complex sourcing initiatives, provides technical and commercial sourcing guidance to other Strategic Sourcing Specialists, and supports consistent sourcing practices across the enterprise.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

IT & Technology Strategic Sourcing

• Lead enterprise strategic sourcing activities for assigned IT and technology categories, including software, SaaS, cloud services, hardware, infrastructure, telecommunications, cybersecurity, managed services, and professional technology services.
• Develop and execute category sourcing strategies aligned with enterprise technology roadmaps, business requirements, financial objectives, and risk considerations.
• Work closely with IT leadership to understand technology requirements, anticipated investments, contract renewals, implementation schedules, and supplier dependencies.
• Lead competitive sourcing processes, including requests for information, proposals, and quotations, supplier evaluations, bid analysis, and recommendations.
• Evaluate total cost of ownership, supplier capabilities, implementation costs, licensing models, service requirements, and long-term commercial implications.
• Identify opportunities to consolidate suppliers, leverage enterprise purchasing volume, standardize technology agreements, and reduce duplicative expenditures.
• Support sourcing requirements for major technology implementations, enterprise applications, and digital transformation initiatives.

Complex Contract Negotiations & Commercial Management

• Lead complex supplier negotiations involving pricing, licensing, subscriptions, maintenance, support, professional services, and multi-year technology agreements.
• Negotiate commercial terms related to renewals, price escalations, service levels, performance commitments, termination rights, and supplier accountability.
• Coordinate with Legal, Information Security, Privacy, and other relevant stakeholders to address contractual risks involving data protection, confidentiality, cybersecurity, intellectual property, and business continuity.
• Evaluate software licensing structures, usage rights, subscription metrics, renewal provisions, and other technology-specific commercial considerations.
• Develop negotiation strategies supported by market intelligence, competitive benchmarks, historical spend, and business requirements.
• Coordinate contract review, approval, execution, and documentation in accordance with enterprise procurement governance.
• Proactively manage technology contract renewal timelines to preserve negotiation leverage and minimize unfavorable automatic renewals.

Category Management & Supplier Relationships

• Develop and maintain strategic category plans for assigned technology spend.
• Monitor technology market developments, pricing trends, supplier capabilities, and emerging sourcing opportunities.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with strategic technology suppliers and internal business partners.
• Evaluate supplier performance, contractual compliance, service levels, and commercial commitments, identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Identify supplier concentration risks, service dependencies, and opportunities for improved contract structures or alternative sourcing arrangements.
• Support supplier performance reviews, issue resolution, and corrective action initiatives.
• Maintain visibility into technology sourcing pipelines, upcoming renewals, and major supplier commitments.

Financial Value & Enterprise Harmonization

• Identify and deliver cost savings, cost avoidance, supplier consolidation, and enterprise harmonization opportunities.
• Analyze technology expenditures across operating companies to identify overlapping applications, licensing inefficiencies, fragmented contracts, and opportunities to improve purchasing leverage.
• Develop financial analyses, business cases, total cost of ownership comparisons, and sourcing recommendations.
• Track and document negotiated savings and other financial benefits in accordance with established procurement reporting standards.
• Validate savings assumptions and financial outcomes with appropriate business and financial stakeholders.
• Support annual planning and budgeting by providing supplier cost information, contract commitments, market insights, and renewal forecasts.

Technology Risk & Procurement Governance

• Ensure technology sourcing activities follow enterprise procurement policies, sourcing procedures, contract approval requirements, and delegated authorities.
• Identify and address supplier and contractual risks related to cybersecurity, data handling, supplier continuity, implementation dependencies, and contractual obligations.
• Maintain accurate sourcing documentation, supplier evaluations, negotiation records, and contract information.
• Support appropriate due diligence and governance requirements for significant technology purchases and agreements.
• Escalate material commercial, supplier, or contractual risks to the Manager, Strategic Sourcing and appropriate business leaders.

Lead-Level Expertise & Team Collaboration

• Serve as a senior individual contributor and sourcing resource for highly complex or high-value technology initiatives.
• Provide guidance, mentoring, and knowledge sharing to Strategic Sourcing Specialists regarding sourcing methodology, negotiation approaches, supplier evaluation, and contract strategy.
• Support the Manager, Strategic Sourcing in developing consistent sourcing practices, templates, tools, and processes.
• Collaborate with other sourcing specialists on enterprise initiatives requiring technology-related expertise.
• Provide recommendations and insights to Indirect Procurement leadership regarding technology category risks, opportunities, and strategic priorities.
• Independently manage multiple complex sourcing projects while maintaining accountability for timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder communication.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Information Technology, Finance, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent combinations of education and relevant professional experience may be considered.

Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, category management, or supplier negotiations.
• Significant demonstrated experience sourcing information technology products and services.
• Experience leading complex software, SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, telecommunications, or technology services negotiations.
• Demonstrated success developing category strategies, conducting competitive sourcing events, negotiating agreements, and delivering measurable financial value.
• Experience with software licensing models, technology contract structures, supplier risk considerations, and total cost of ownership analysis.
• Experience working effectively with senior IT leadership and cross-functional business stakeholders.
• Experience supporting large, multi-location, or multi-entity organizations preferred.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Technology Sourcing Expertise: Advanced understanding of technology procurement categories, software licensing, subscription models, IT services, and technology supplier markets.
• Strategic Negotiation: Strong ability to develop and execute complex negotiation strategies that balance financial value, service quality, contractual protection, and business requirements.
• Category Management: Ability to develop sourcing strategies, assess market conditions, evaluate suppliers, and manage category opportunities.
• Financial Analysis: Strong analytical skills involving spend analysis, pricing comparisons, total cost of ownership, business cases, and savings calculations.
• Contract Knowledge: Working knowledge of commercial contract provisions, licensing agreements, service level commitments, renewal terms, and technology-related risks.
• Business Partnership: Ability to establish credibility with technology leaders, executive stakeholders, and supplier representatives.
• Project Leadership: Ability to independently lead complex sourcing projects, manage competing priorities, and deliver results within established timelines.
• Communication & Influence: Strong written and verbal communication, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Professional Judgment: Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, manage sensitive negotiations, and escalate risks appropriately.
• Leadership Without Direct Authority: Ability to mentor colleagues, provide sourcing guidance, influence decisions, and promote consistent sourcing practices.

Decision-Making Authority

• Independently leads assigned technology sourcing initiatives and develops commercial sourcing recommendations.
• Conducts supplier negotiations within established procurement authority and approved business parameters.
• Recommends supplier selections, contract structures, sourcing strategies, and financial opportunities.
• Provides technical sourcing expertise and guidance to other team members.
• Escalates material risks, policy exceptions, and decisions requiring higher-level approval.
• Does not have direct personnel management responsibilities or independent authority to establish enterprise procurement policy.

Work Environment

This position operates primarily in a professional office environment with enterprise-wide responsibilities. Occasional travel may be required for business meetings, supplier negotiations, technology initiatives, and stakeholder engagement. Flexibility beyond normal business hours may occasionally be necessary to support critical sourcing activities.

Additional Requirements – Internal Candidates:

• Store/Facility Teammates: minimum of six months employment with Schnucks preferred.
• Store Support Center Teammates: minimum of one year employment with Schnucks preferred.
• Must be in good standing (not on a performance improvement plan or active discipline).
• If invited for an interview, must have manager approval based on performance.

Schnucks is an Equal Opportunity Employer.