Sourcing Manager

Summary

The company is looking for a high-energy; results oriented category sourcing manager (CSM) to assume responsibility for sourcing and managing our worldwide shipping supply portfolio. Our CSM’s are involved in all phases of sourcing requiring the skills necessary to identify cost saving opportunities, create competitive environments, creatively negotiate, generate contracts and manage delivery of optimal solutions.

We are looking for the following highly developed skills:

Demonstrated commodity management expertise;
Proven negotiation and facilitation skills;
Analytical, data driven approach with an attention to detail;
Excellent communication skills (written and verbal);
Understanding of quality systems and processes;
Packing industry category expertise; and
Project Management Skills

We are a fast moving organization where high achieving, self directed individuals thrive. If you consider yourself creative cost saver, great negotiator and superb supplier manager, this position will allow you to exercise those skills to the fullest.

General Activities

Provide input to plans and strategies for a business unit, department, or project to satisfy internal client.
Make recommendations or provide input to the determination of financial goals of a business unit or department.
Identify ways to reduce costs.
Take action to reduce costs that are focused on creating greater efficiencies, economies of scale or better quality resources for a project team, department, or business unit.
Coordinate work efforts of others to ensure integration and completion of work against expectations.
Determine priorities for one's area of accountability to create clarity about focus and enable work to be completed efficiently.
Ensure priorities are handled effectively by modifying plans and actions in your own area of accountability.
Manage a project against a plan and objectives to ensure commitments are met by monitoring, assessing, and resolving variances in budget, timing or quality of work.

Function Specific Activities

Influence suppliers’ manufacturing processes, technology decisions and policies in ways that are mutually beneficial and sustainable for both organizations by leveraging the volume of Amazon.
Renegotiate, renew and discontinue supplier contracts.
Analyze industry trends and evolving technology to proactively identify supply base issues to minimize risk, protect continuity of supply, and exploit emerging opportunities that benefit Amazon.
Evaluate supplier core competencies and competitive positioning using industry cost models.
Review and approve a comprehensive list of suppliers for bid processes developed by analyzing the industry to understand trends and competitive positioning in order to ensure system activation of the best possible supply base.
Develop a negotiation strategy that delivers against business objectives and achieves sustainable relationships with suppliers.
Implement supplier agreements/contracts by working with cross-functional stakeholders and suppliers to reach agreement on contract terms and conditions.
Provide product and service expertise to geographic associates to build network participation and expertise.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's Degree
Master’s Degree preferred

Related Work Experience

At least 5 years of demonstrable shipping supply and packaging commodity management experience.

Technical Knowledge

Familiarity with Oracle Financial Applications, other third party information systems and ability to learn proprietary systems.

Key Competencies

Bias for Action: Evaluates, acts and communicates in internet time. Decisive, makes timely practical, effective decisions. Takes initiative without being asked.
Negotiations: Ability to influence and negotiate the optimal arrangement for Amazon with external suppliers.
Persuasive: Demonstrates healthy and productive influencing ability. Gains the respect and confidence of others. Builds constructive and effective relationships.
Open Communication: Willingness to ask and honestly answer the tough questions. Treat other’s opinions with respect. Fosters open communications and candid discussions. Share information that helps other do their job well. Keeps other in the loop.
Managers Systems and Processes: Effectively uses systems and processes to measure, monitor, manage, and impact performance. Improves processes and builds scalability.

Function Specific Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Advancing the Customer Relationship: Ability to facilitate and accelerate the business relationship based upon an understanding of the customer. Includes the ability to actively listen and engage in conversation with customers to uncover relevant information, resources and solutions.
Contract Procedures: Knowledge of contract procedures, negotiations and Amazon approval processes. Ability to understand and interpret customer contracts.
Data Analysis/Interpretation: Ability to convert general data and findings into applied, specific information and suggestions that add value to business planning.
Financial Analysis Knowledge: Knowledge and application of the principles of financial analysis and capital project justification (e.g., life cost analysis, internal rate of return, net present value, economic profit, economic value added).
Forecasting Knowledge: Knowledge of and ability to make projections into the future (volume, financial statements, economic data, consumer preference, headcount, etc.) and use these projections to help plan future operations.
Legal Limitations: Knowledge of local legal limitations when developing programs/merchandise/properties.
Project Management: Ability to manage projects to ensure successful delivery (on time, within budget, meeting agreed upon success criteria) to establish clear goals and accountabilities. Also includes the ability to develop project plans, allocate resources, identify potential issues/risks and develop contingency plans.
Supplier/Vendor Agreements/Contracts: Knowledge of the legal terminology and language related to supplier and/or vendor agreements and contracts.
Third-Party Capabilities: Knowledge of the capabilities of relevant contracted vendors/suppliers/agencies.
Vendor Management: The ability to evaluate and ensure that vendor performance meets or exceeds defined performance standards and adheres to overall company policies and procedures.