Strategic Sourcing & Vendor Management Specialist

The Strategic Sourcing & Vendor Management Specialist will lead strategic sourcing initiatives and manages vendor relationships of moderate to high complexity to drive optimal value, performance, and risk outcomes. Responsible for executing category strategies, conducting sourcing events, negotiating contracts, and overseeing vendor performance to ensure alignment with business objectives.

Enterprise Supply Management is your strategic partner for all your supplier needs. You can count on us to bring you a seamless purchasing experience from start to finish and to deliver scalable value across Vanguard.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing (Primary Focus – ~75%)

• Leads complex sourcing engagements, including supplier identification, evaluation, selection, and negotiations.
• Conducts supply market analysis and leverages industry trends to inform category strategies and sourcing decisions.
• Partners with business stakeholders, legal, and risk to execute sourcing initiatives and resolve escalations.
• Negotiates and interprets contract terms, ensuring risk mitigation and clear communication of obligations.
• Ensures adherence to sourcing governance, policies, and procedures; educates stakeholders on sourcing best practices.
• Maintains sourcing and contract data in enterprise systems to support reporting and transparency.

Vendor Management (Secondary Focus – ~25%)

• Manages relationships with key vendors, serving as a primary point of contact for performance and issue resolution.
• Monitors vendor performance against contractual commitments and service expectations; recommends improvements as needed.
• Performs vendor analysis, pricing evaluations, and invoice reviews to ensure value realization and contract compliance.
• Supports development and execution of RFPs, including proposal evaluation and vendor selection.
• Resolves vendor-related issues and contributes to continuous improvement of vendor management practices.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or vendor management.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience required; advanced degree preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in:
  • Strategic sourcing and supplier negotiations
  • Contract development and risk management
  • Supplier and market analysis
  • Vendor performance management

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Effective negotiation and contract management capabilities
• Ability to influence and collaborate across cross-functional teams
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Understanding of procurement governance, risk, and compliance frameworks

Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Business Acumen
• Relationship Management
• Decision Making
• Risk Awareness

Additional Information

• Experience in HR, Benefits, Talent, or IT categories preferred
• Experience working in a complex, matrixed organization

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.