What does a senior sourcing manager do?
A senior sourcing manager is an individual who manages a team that is responsible for identifying necessary products and services that support the daily operations of an organization. Senior sourcing managers are required to manage the overall sourcing strategy of the organization and conduct research to understand its operations needs and requirements. They must build relationships with vendors and key suppliers so that they can negotiate on pricing and control costs. Senior sourcing managers must also propose a yearly budget that depends on the organization's sourcing needs.
Senior sourcing manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior sourcing manager resumes:
- Manage and lead identified team through all sourcing activities including RFP development and analysis, auctioning, consortium buying, etc.
- Manage OEM purchase FG & new product device introduction.
- Manage domestic material suppliers, service providers and MRO vendors.
- Lead selection process for reverse auction and on-line RFx technology by service providers.
- Execute RFP for manage print services resulting in refresh of 2100 MFD's while saving $240K.
- Manage all aspects of RFQ, price/cost analysis, negotiation and award of contracts to vendors worldwide.
- Manage entire RFX event lifecycle, including requirements gathering, supplier strategy development, contract negotiations and program implementation.
- Consult with sales and clients on new projects and RFQ's.
- Design CRM and metrics to help clearly define success of team.
- Assist Sr. Recruiters with daily management of candidate process and flow in the ATS
- Manage LinkedIn job postings to target the most qualify candidates; using search filters, postings, InMails.
- Work with Brassring as an ATS to maintain record of candidates and push them through the hiring process.
- Result in a $10MM + cost savings, improve logistics models and expand platform exposure across the country.
- Initiate an indexing methodology with key commodities and align with business teams to allow for pass through pricing to customers.
- Outsource warehousing management services for inbound and outbound logistics.
Senior sourcing manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Senior Sourcing Managers are proficient in Strategic Sourcing, Project Management, and Category Strategies. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Decisionmaking skills, and Math skills.
We break down the percentage of Senior Sourcing Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Strategic Sourcing, 9%
Led a strategic sourcing initiative to procure a COTS application and implementation services from supply market analysis through contract execution.
- Project Management, 8%
Managed team of nine professionals performing global outsourcing & supplier management, global supplier contracting and project management activities.
- Category Strategies, 5%
Develop and maintain assigned category strategies and related line of business relationship management.
- Supplier Performance, 5%
Managed and monitored supplier performance and quality control activities.
- Supplier Relationships, 4%
Cultivated partnerships by optimizing management integration between vendors, operations through effectively communicating and formalizing customer/supplier relationship processes.
- Supplier Management, 4%
Subject Matter Expert with regards to material negotiations and supplier management in support of both national-branded and private/licensed branded merchandise.
"strategic sourcing," "project management," and "category strategies" are among the most common skills that senior sourcing managers use at work. You can find even more senior sourcing manager responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a senior sourcing manager to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "when evaluating suppliers, purchasing managers and buyers and purchasing agents must analyze their options and choose a supplier with the best combination of price, quality, delivery, or service." Senior sourcing managers often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "reconciled erp data for budget planning and monitoring operational costs related to process improvements. "
Decisionmaking skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling senior sourcing manager duties is decisionmaking skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "purchasing managers and buyers and purchasing agents must have the ability to make informed and timely decisions, choosing products that they think will sell." According to a senior sourcing manager resume, here's how senior sourcing managers can utilize decisionmaking skills in their job responsibilities: "led the make-buy decisionmaking process and supply chain definition for all new components, sub-assemblies and assemblies of new products. "
Math skills. This is an important skill for senior sourcing managers to perform their duties. For an example of how senior sourcing manager responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "purchasing managers and buyers and purchasing agents must possess math skills." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a senior sourcing manager: "implemented six sigma(tm) methods, tqm, lean manufacturing and quantitative methods to reduce waste and defects. ".
Negotiating skills. For certain senior sourcing manager responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "negotiating skills." The day-to-day duties of a senior sourcing manager rely on this skill, as "purchasing managers and buyers and purchasing agents often must negotiate the terms of a contract with a supplier." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what senior sourcing managers do: "led sourcing strategy and execution from supplier selection process to negotiating contract pricing and terms. "
The three companies that hire the most senior sourcing managers are:
- Pwc66 senior sourcing managers jobs
- Rubrik23 senior sourcing managers jobs
- Edwards Lifesciences21 senior sourcing managers jobs
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Compare different senior sourcing managers
Senior sourcing manager vs. Director, procurement
The responsibilities of a procurement director revolve around ensuring the efficient and smooth flow of supplies within the company, developing procurement strategies for optimal services and operations, assessing risks, and overseeing the implementation of new policies and regulations in the company. It is essential to coordinate with analysts to identify areas with potential opportunities or those needing improvements. Moreover, a director, procurement may directly communicate with stakeholders or higher-ranking officials, participate in recruiting new members of the workforce, and create programs for profit growth and significant results.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between senior sourcing managers and director, procurement. For instance, senior sourcing manager responsibilities require skills such as "project management," "category strategies," "supplier selection," and "internal stakeholders." Whereas a director, procurement is skilled in "continuous improvement," "customer service," "procurement strategies," and "oversight." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Directors, procurement earn the highest salaries when working in the technology industry, with an average yearly salary of $148,169. On the other hand, senior sourcing managers are paid more in the telecommunication industry with an average salary of $116,692.directors, procurement tend to reach similar levels of education than senior sourcing managers. In fact, directors, procurement are 0.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Senior sourcing manager vs. Contracts director
A contract director is primarily in charge of developing and negotiating contracts with clients and partners, ensuring adherence to the company's policies and regulations. Their responsibilities typically revolve around performing extensive research and analysis to foresee potential advantages and disadvantages, coordinating with analysts and other experts, monitoring the progress of operations to ensure contract compliance of both parties, and overseeing the development of proposals within the organization. Furthermore, as a contract director, it is essential to lead and encourage the team to reach goals, all while implementing the mission and vision of the company.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real senior sourcing manager resumes. While senior sourcing manager responsibilities can utilize skills like "category strategies," "supplier performance," "supplier relationships," and "supplier management," contracts directors use skills like "oversight," "contract terms," "contract administration," and "medicaid."
Contracts directors earn a lower average salary than senior sourcing managers. But contracts directors earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $87,719. Additionally, senior sourcing managers earn the highest salaries in the telecommunication with average pay of $116,692 annually.contracts directors earn similar levels of education than senior sourcing managers in general. They're 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior sourcing manager vs. Supply chain director
A supply chain director is primarily in charge of the overall supply chain operations in a company. Their responsibilities revolve around devising strategies to improve processes, creating business plans and sales forecasts, delegating tasks, coordinating and selecting suppliers and vendors, creating new supply chain policies when necessary, and spearheading the inventory and delivery processes. There are also instances when a supply chain director must report to higher-ranking officials, produce progress reports, and craft presentations. Furthermore, as a director, it is essential to lead the workforce while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from senior sourcing manager resumes include skills like "project management," "category strategies," "supplier selection," and "internal stakeholders," whereas a supply chain director is more likely to list skills in "supply chain," "chain operations," "continuous improvement," and "chain management. "
Supply chain directors earn the best pay in the hospitality industry, where they command an average salary of $134,920. Senior sourcing managers earn the highest pay from the telecommunication industry, with an average salary of $116,692.Most supply chain directors achieve a similar degree level compared to senior sourcing managers. For example, they're 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior sourcing manager vs. Manager of purchasing & materials
Types of senior sourcing manager
Updated January 8, 2025
