Strategic Sourcing Analyst, Specialist IT Category

***Are you the person who sees beyond the contract and recognizes the opportunity to drive innovation, optimize spend, and influence enterprise technology strategy?*** ***We're looking for a strategic sourcing professional who thrives in complex negotiations, understands the rapidly evolving technology landscape, and knows how to turn supplier partnerships into business value. In this role, you'll lead high impact sourcing initiatives across IT Infrastructure helping shape the future of how our technology teams operate and scale.*** **Core Responsibilities** - Serves as a subject matter expert in managing high complexity strategic sourcing transactions, negotiations, and supplier selection for IT infrastructure services. Manages relationships for suppliers within category. Executes category strategy to drive maximum value. - Performs supply market data analysis and recommends suppliers and vendors to the business. Identifies and is knowledgeable of industry trends and category strategies to recommend linkages to business needs. Coaches team members on supply and market analysis. - Drives engagements, resolves escalated and complex issues and involves stakeholders as needed. Interfaces with other sourcing operations teams, business leaders and legal & risk partners for each transaction. - Interprets and communicates contract requirements, obligations, and risk exposures to key stakeholders, including sourcing professionals and business leaders. Performs regular performance monitoring and reviews of key suppliers. - Champions sourcing process compliance. Educates key stakeholders about commercial, legal, policy and other considerations in support of the negation process. - Ensures supplier and contract data is submitted and current into the management systems and databases. - Monitors market dynamics that impact materials/services availability and/or pricing. - Partners with internal clients to identify sourcing needs, develop buyer/market profiles, identify marketplace trends, and define acceptable service levels. **Qualifications and Skills** - 3+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, supplier management, or procurement - Previous IT/SAAS sourcing background required, specifically in infrastructure (hardware, software and/or networking) - Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field - Strong communication, analytical thinking, and commercial acumen with demonstrated ability to manage high-complexity deals and cross-functional collaboration - Proficiency with sourcing and procurement systems such as Sirion Labs, Globality, Oracle and ServiceNow - Preferred certifications include CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management), CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional), or CIPS certification - Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment, with a focus on driving business value and risk mitigation **Special Factors** **Sponsorship** Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position. **About Vanguard** At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission—we're on a mission. To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best. **How We Work** Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.