Manager Strategic Sourcing - Furniture, Fixture and Store Equipment

Ready to Make an impact?

The Strategic Sourcing Manager leads the strategic sourcing, negotiation, contracting and supplier management for a complex portfolio of furniture, fixtures, equipment, working with contractors and construction consultants in support of our grocery retail and RSC locations. The purpose of the position is to create value for our retail locations, reduce total cost, provide safe (food safety and health & safety) equipment, and leverage world-class negotiation and sourcing strategies, tools and processes, and mitigate risk through contract development for non-merchandise goods and services acquired by Sobeys. 

Here’s where you’ll be focusing:

Own management of indirect spend across designated lines of business:

• Develop trust-based relationships with grocery retail department stakeholders
• Supports Construction & Merchandising teams from inception of store fixture layout to store openings. 
• Strong knowledge of retail indirect categories such as refrigeration, fixtures, millwork, food production equipment, waste management equipment, etc.
• Cultivate systemic understanding of department goals, objectives, and requirements
• Understand and effectively interact with the departments on the components of their business and how it operates successfully.
• Provide insights and market perspectives to the departments to support and enable their businesses as they grow.
• Collaborate with suppliers and business to drive process improvements and demand management.

Assess, track and drive category analysis across designated lines of business:

• Conduct category market assessment and analysis.
• Develop baseline cost for categories including total cost analysis, technical specifications, and historical cost trends.
• Document department needs related to goods or services needed to successfully support their business objectives.
• Identify viable sources of supply capable of meeting those requirements and perform necessary due diligence including supplier facility visits.

Lead category sourcing process for designated lines of business:

• Develop sourcing strategy, evaluate key levers and coordinate to gain buy in from key stakeholders on the approach.
• Conduct the strategic sourcing process including, RFQs, RFIs, and RFPs
• Lead and conduct the negotiations with suppliers 
• Develop a decision matrix to drive objective business recommendation to departments and stakeholders
• Drive and implement the signed agreements for sourcing decisions
• Interface with Finance and departments to ensure compliance and savings flow though
• Monitor industry trends and developments and update category strategy as needed
   

What you have to offer:

• An Undergraduate Degree and a minimum of 8 years of business experience in a purchasing, merchandising or retail environment
• Strong retail furniture, fixture and equipment sourcing experience and understanding of Canadian vendor landscape (prefer grocery retail)
• Excellent communication skills and ability to build meaningful team relationships to drive results
• Experience leading procurement for relevant functions
• Deep understanding of strategic cost imperatives
• Ability to formulate savings initiatives
• Ability to formulate operating plans to meet cost targets
• Ability to build strategic relationships with designated functional leadership
• Ability to develop top talent within strategic sourcing organization