Senior Manager, Strategic Sourcing - Marketing and Professional Services

Senior Manager, Strategic Sourcing- Marketing and Professional Services College Board -   Finance   Location:   This is a remote role. Candidates who live near CB offices have the   option   of being fully remote or hybrid (Tuesday and Wednesday in office) . All CB employees   are required to   occasionally travel to meet in person for business purposes.   Role Type : This is a full-time position   About the Team     The Strategic Sourcing team is a dynamic, collaborative group that partners with leaders across the organization to drive decisions that maximize value and impact. We combine market insight, strong supplier relationships, and strategic sourcing practices to ensure every dollar we spend   advances   the College Board’s mission. Our work strengthens operations, promotes sustainability, and ensures that the organization’s resources are used thoughtfully and effectively in   service   of students everywhere.     The Strategic Sourcing team at College Board is embarking on an exciting transformation, shifting from transactional procurement to a model centered on strategic engagement. This role will join a team of sourcing leaders dedicated to delivering meaningful, measurable value to the organization, directly supporting our mission and the students we serve.    About   the Opportunity       The  Senior Manager, Strategic Sourcing- Marketing and Shared Services   will lead enterprise-wide procurement initiatives, supplier relationship management, and contract management activities across multiple categories of   spend . In this role, you will develop and implement sourcing strategies, conduct market and supplier research, manage RFI/RFP/RFQ processes, oversee supplier evaluation and selection, and drive contract negotiations.    You will work within the   S trategic Sourcing team and will  be responsible for  developing and executing sourcing strategies for   Marketing and Professional Services   related products and service s   ( e.g.   Advertising & Media Buying, Creative & Content Services, Print & Production Services, Consulting Services, Legal & Advisory Services ) . This role also supports enterprise-wide   AI   Technology initiatives and ensures that the College Board obtains the best value while mitigating risk and  maintaining  compliance with security standards.    You will also partner closely with cross-functional stakeholders including   Engagement and Reach   and Global Policy and External Relations,  as well as partners in Governance Risk and Compliance, Legal, Finance, and suppliers to align sourcing strategies with organizational goals, mitigate risk, manage supplier relationships and ensure compliance with policies and regulations. This role requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to foster supplier and stakeholder partnerships that drive measurable value to  College  Board.    In this role, you will:   Strategic Sourcing & Category Management (70%)     Lead the development and execution of   sourcing strategies to  optimize  spend, reduce risk, and enhance value in alignment with organizational  objectives .    Identify , evaluate, and make recommendations on   selection   of suppliers and   Marketing & Professional Services   related   products and   services.    Understand the current supplier landscape and  identify  opportunities to  consolidate  demand and drive cost savings while  maintaining  service quality.    Proactively update sourcing strategies based on market analysis and risk assessment, aligning with organizational goals and industry trends     Supplier & Contract Management (15%)     Lead supplier  selection , performance management, and relationship development in partnership with internal stakeholders.    Lead negotiations of commercial terms, service-level agreements (SLAs), and licensing models to achieve favorable cost, risk, and performance outcomes.    Partner with Legal,  GRC  and Information Security teams to ensure all security and business term requirements are included in contracts.    Manage ongoing supplier relationships, performance reviews, and escalation processes.    Data & Process Excellence (10%)     Gather and analyze spend data to benchmark and identify opportunities for savings and efficiency.      Create category specific cost models, including TCO analyses, to support data driven sourcing recommendations and track impact against organizational goals and metrics.  Adopt and  leverage  existing Procurement tools and platforms, as well as enterprise AI tools, to deliver value driven insights and recommendations    Cross-Functional Leadership & Collaboration (5%)     Proactively engage with stakeholders to understand their goals and planned initiatives, translating insights into category sourcing strategies that  anticipate  needs, align with enterprise  objectives , and deliver strategic value.    Serve as a trusted advisor to business units on category related procurement and sourcing matters, delivering market insights, improving supplier performance, and ensuring contract and policy compliance.    About You     To qualify for this role, you must have: Bachelor’s degree  required 7+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or supplier management, with at least  4   years focused on   Marketing & Professional   Services    category   ( e.g.   Advertising & Media Buying, Creative & Content Services, Print & Production Services, Consulting Services, Legal & Advisory Services   sourcing Demonstrated experience negotiating high-value, complex technology contracts Familiarity with ERP systems, supplier management systems, and contract lifecycle management tools CPSM, PMP, Lean/Six Sigma, or ISM certification preferred    Strong knowledge of   Marketing & Professional Services   sourcing categories  ( e.g.   Advertising & Media Buying, Creative & Content Services, Print & Production Services, C