How to hire a director of strategic sourcing

How to hire a director of strategic sourcing, step by step

Here's a step-by-step director of strategic sourcing hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a director of strategic sourcing job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new director of strategic sourcing
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a director of strategic sourcing do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a director of strategic sourcing, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A director of strategic sourcing's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, directors of strategic sourcing from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of directors of strategic sourcing.

   Type of Director Of Strategic Sourcing	Description	Hourly rate
   Director Of Strategic Sourcing	Purchasing managers plan, direct, and coordinate the buying of materials, products, or services for wholesalers, retailers, or organizations. They oversee the work of procurement-related occupations including buyers and purchasing agents.	$32-83
   Supply Manager	A supply manager or supply chain manager is a professional who supervises the import or creation of raw materials that are to be used by the company to form new products. Supply managers are required to coordinate all aspects of the supply chain to ensure that they are efficient and cost-effective... Show more	$32-65
   Supply Chain Consultant	A supply chain consultant specializes in performing research and analysis to develop strategies for optimal services. Typically working in the manufacturing industry, their responsibilities revolve around monitoring the inventory and supply flow of materials, liaising with vendors and suppliers, coordinating with different departments to gather necessary data, identifying strengths and weaknesses in the operations, and suggesting actions on areas needing improvement... Show more	$33-53

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Strategic Sourcing
   • Supply Chain
   • Supplier Performance
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Project Management
   • Cost Reduction
   • Contract Management
   • Supplier Relationships
   • Supplier Management
   • Vendor Management
   • Process Improvement
   • Chain Management
   • Logistics
   • Excellent Interpersonal

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and coordinate consecutive annual RFP's selecting print suppliers to print annual reports and proxy quotations meeting tight deadlines.
   • Lead the synergistic expansion of outsource logistics throughout multiple business acquisitions.
   • Manage entire RFX event lifecycle, including requirements gathering, supplier strategy development, contract negotiations and program implementation.
   • Administer all activities with assign contracts, commodities and customer support areas.
   • Identify options and plan for ERP system implementation, to be execute when fund.
   • Lead team that utilize a consistent and efficient RFI and RFP process to generate significant savings

   More director of strategic sourcing duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the director of strategic sourcing job description is a good way to get more applicants. A director of strategic sourcing salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a director of strategic sourcing in North Dakota may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level director of strategic sourcing. Additionally, a director of strategic sourcing with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average director of strategic sourcing salary

   $109,521yearly

   $52.65 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level director of strategic sourcing salary

   $68,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average director of strategic sourcing salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$142,996	$69
   2	Massachusetts	$136,365	$66
   3	New York	$127,474	$61
   4	Connecticut	$125,865	$61
   5	Washington	$125,243	$60
   6	Michigan	$121,107	$58
   7	New Jersey	$119,567	$57
   8	Maryland	$115,935	$56
   9	Virginia	$109,183	$52
   10	Ohio	$102,031	$49
   11	Texas	$94,719	$46
   12	Arizona	$91,439	$44
   13	Illinois	$90,336	$43
   14	Wisconsin	$90,207	$43
   15	North Carolina	$86,322	$42
   16	Florida	$82,878	$40
   17	Colorado	$80,709	$39
   18	Minnesota	$80,665	$39
   19	Georgia	$78,740	$38

   Average director of strategic sourcing salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$194,075	$93.31	10
   2	The Rockefeller Foundation	$189,990	$91.34
   3	Yelp	$181,802	$87.40
   4	Microsoft	$167,954	$80.75	14
   5	Moderna	$146,583	$70.47
   6	Cradlepoint	$145,572	$69.99
   7	LinkedIn	$143,679	$69.08	4
   8	Micron Technology	$143,067	$68.78
   9	Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego	$140,036	$67.33
   10	Gilead Sciences	$138,443	$66.56	16
   11	Accela	$133,971	$64.41
   12	Safeway	$133,093	$63.99
   13	Gap Inc.	$131,092	$63.02
   14	BRMi	$126,321	$60.73
   15	Oshkosh	$124,487	$59.85
   16	Aspirus	$124,185	$59.70
   17	Magic Leap	$123,357	$59.31
   18	Evenflo	$122,383	$58.84
   19	Johnson & Johnson	$119,420	$57.41	34
   20	REV Group	$118,720	$57.08	2

4. Writing a director of strategic sourcing job description

   A director of strategic sourcing job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a director of strategic sourcing job description:

   Director of strategic sourcing job description example

   • Bachelor of Science in engineering, supply chain management or related field required
   • Previous management experience of five years or more required
   • Experience in strategic sourcing is required
   • Knowledge of the combustion industry, fabrication, welding processes, electrical and mechanical assembly of electronic control systems preferred
   • Must be willing to travel internationally and be away from home for 2-3 week periods.
   • Self-motivated with the ability to effectively operate and or lead procurement departments or business teams.
   • Willingness and ability to travel globally is required.
   • Hands-on, team oriented, honest, loyal leader committed to business improvement processes and individual team member success.
   • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
   • Excellent presentation skills
   • Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work successfully across business disciplines
   • Strong computer skills, familiarity with Microsoft Office, Project Manager and Auto CAD.

   Mental Requirements:

   Must possess strong leadership, analytical thinking, effective communication and interpersonal skills to interact effectively with persons inside and outside of the company. Must have the ability to perform mathematical calculations related to job requirements. Must be able to work under stress. Must be able to handle multiple priorities. Must be able to process paperwork effectively.

   Physical Requirements:

   Must be able to go up and down stairs. Must be able to communicate effectively. Must be able to do unaccompanied travel. Must be able to tolerate shop environment and exposures associated with welding and industrial equipment manufacturing and apply appropriate safety equipment when required. Must not present a risk of injury to self or others while engaged in company duties.

   
   
   Job Posted by ApplicantPro
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right director of strategic sourcing for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with directors of strategic sourcing they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit directors of strategic sourcing who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your director of strategic sourcing job on Zippia to find and recruit director of strategic sourcing candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting directors of strategic sourcing requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new director of strategic sourcing

   Once you've found the director of strategic sourcing candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new director of strategic sourcing. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a director of strategic sourcing?