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Festival Foods

Wisconsin grocer delivering community-focused service

Lead Strategic Sourcing Specialist - IT & Technology

Procurement & SourcingUpdated on Nov 6
Full-timeDe Pere, WI, USANo salary listed

About the Job

Requirements

  • A bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Information Technology, Finance, or a related field is preferred; equivalent combinations of education and relevant professional experience may be considered.
  • A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, category management, or supplier negotiations is required.
  • Significant demonstrated experience sourcing information technology products and services is required.
  • Experience leading complex software, SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, telecommunications, or technology services negotiations is required.
  • Demonstrated success developing category strategies, conducting competitive sourcing events, negotiating agreements, and delivering measurable financial value is required.
  • Experience with software licensing models, technology contract structures, supplier risk considerations, and total cost of ownership analysis is required.
  • Experience working effectively with senior IT leadership and cross-functional business stakeholders is required.
  • Advanced understanding of technology procurement categories, software licensing, subscription models, IT services, and technology supplier markets is required.
  • Ability to develop and execute complex negotiation strategies that balance financial value, service quality, contractual protection, and business requirements is required.
  • Ability to develop sourcing strategies, assess market conditions, evaluate suppliers, and manage category opportunities is required.
  • Strong analytical skills involving spend analysis, pricing comparisons, total cost of ownership, business cases, and savings calculations are required.
  • Working knowledge of commercial contract provisions, licensing agreements, service level commitments, renewal terms, and technology-related risks is required.
  • Ability to establish credibility with technology leaders, executive stakeholders, and supplier representatives is required.
  • Ability to independently lead complex sourcing projects, manage competing priorities, and deliver results within established timelines is required.
  • Strong written and verbal communication, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills are required.
  • Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, manage sensitive negotiations, and escalate risks appropriately is required.
  • Ability to mentor colleagues, provide sourcing guidance, influence decisions, and promote consistent sourcing practices is required.

Responsibilities

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Independently lead assigned technology sourcing initiatives and develop commercial sourcing recommendations.
  • Conduct supplier negotiations within established procurement authority and approved business parameters.
  • Recommend supplier selections, contract structures, sourcing strategies, and financial opportunities.
  • Provide technical sourcing expertise and guidance to other team members.
  • Escalate material risks, policy exceptions, and decisions requiring higher-level approval.

Desired Qualifications

  • Experience supporting large, multi-location, or multi-entity organizations is preferred.

About the Company

Festival Foods

Wisconsin grocer delivering community-focused service

Festival Foods is a Wisconsin-based grocer with 40+ full-service supermarkets. It provides groceries and everyday essentials with a focus on strong customer service and value, supported by extensive associate benefits and programs that aim to empower staff. The stores stock a wide range of products in a traditional grocery format, including fresh departments, household items, and personal care, and they emphasize community involvement in their operations. Unlike many competitors, Festival Foods differentiates itself through its commitment to giving back to Wisconsin communities and treating guests and associates as top priorities. The company’s goal is to serve Wisconsin communities with reliable, friendly service and good value while supporting its employees and local programs.

Company size
1,001-5,000
Company stage
Not listed
Total funding
Not listed
Headquarters
De Pere, WI
Founded
1946

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