Strategic Sourcing Manager

At the MBTA, we envision a thriving region enabled by a best-in-class transit system. Our mission is to serve the public by providing safe, reliable, and accessible transportation. MBTA’s core values are built around safety, service, equity, and sustainability and each employee that works for the MBTA performs their roles based on our vision, mission, and values. This includes attendance, participation, and contribution in local safety committee meetings as needed.

Job Summary

The Strategic Sourcing Manager will work with MBTA departmental leadership to influence and strategically source a wide range of spend by leading strategic sourcing initiatives, negotiating favorable commercial terms with new and existing suppliers, developing strategies to optimize spending, driving transformation efforts, clarifying supplier scopes of work, and creating complex contracts and agreements that support the goals and objectives of the MBTA. This role leads multiple projects simultaneously and requires the ability to establish collaborative relationships with stakeholders across the MBTA.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Leads multiple strategic, high-impact, cross-departmental sourcing projects for a diverse range of spend categories, with individual contract amounts up to $1 billion.
• Conducts successful supplier negotiations focused on total cost/value of ownership and ensures all business terms are clearly outlined in supplier agreements and contracts.
• Understands and supports business goals by designing and leading sourcing and contracting processes that deliver exceptional total value while enhancing organizational capability and overall performance.
• Facilitates senior-level management through a structured proposal review and evaluation process, including conflict resolution as needed, resulting in consensus, best value decisions and comprehensive documentation.
• Provides expertise in scope development to ensure requirements are appropriately defined in procurements and contracts.
• Conducts financial analysis, analyzes supply markets, identifies sourcing value levers, creates and executes competitive RFx (RFIs/RFRs/RFPs) and leads evaluations and supplier negotiations.
• Builds strong relationships with key stakeholders across the Authority to agree on business goals and key requirements and remove obstacles for the sourcing team.
• Ensures compliance to procurement policies and applicable regulations.
• Incorporates Supplier Diversity and/or Disadvantaged Business Enterprise practices into procurement activities.
• Identifies and leads continuous improvement initiatives within procurement organization and with other departments.
• Supports senior management in driving overall procurement strategy, policies, and procedures.
• Performs all other duties and projects that may be assigned.
  
  
  

Supervision

• None
  
  
  

Minimum Requirements & Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
• Five (5) years of experience in procurement, and/or category management experience.
• One (1) year of supervisory, managerial, and/or leadership experience in people management or large projects
• Experience leading multiple strategic, high-impact, cross-departmental sourcing projects for a diverse range of spend categories, with individual contract amounts up to $1 billion.
• Proven expertise in facilitating senior-level stakeholders through a structured proposal review and evaluation process, including conflict resolution as needed, resulting in consensus, best value decisions and comprehensive documentation.
• Demonstrated experience designing and conducting end-to-end procurement processes including strategy development, requests for information (RFI), requests for proposals (RFP), selection team evaluation, best and final offers (BAFO), and contract negotiation.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate highly complex contracts and establish favorable terms and conditions with new and existing suppliers, driving cost savings and enhanced value for the organization.
• Ability to work with departmental leaders to design, develop, and document effective scope of work statements that result in effective procurements, quality contracts, and favorable business impact.
• Strong networking skills with the ability to build and maintain supportive internal relationships, across all management levels, throughout the organization and its suppliers.
• Proficient in supplier management techniques to optimize supplier partnerships and ensure quality services – able to ensure strong working relationships, monitor performance, and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Effective analytical, problem solving, financial, planning, and project management skills.
• Advanced knowledge of sourcing and procurement best practices, benchmarking methodologies, performance metrics, lean management, internal controls, and procurement auditing.
• Excellent presentation skills including meetings facilitation and presentations.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).
• Advanced Excel skills.
  
  
  

Substitutions Include

• A High School Diploma or GED with an additional seven (7) years of directly related experience substitutes for the Bachelor’s degree requirement.
• An Associate’s degree from an accredited institution with an additional three (3) years of directly related experience substitutes for the Bachelor’s degree requirement.
• A Master’s degree in a related subject substitutes for two (2) years of general experience.
• A nationally recognized certification, or statewide/professional certification in a related field substitutes for one year of experience
  
  
  

Preferred Experience And Skills

• Bachelor’s degree preferably in Supply Chain, Engineering, or Business
• Master's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Law degree, or other advanced degree in related field from an accredited institution.
• Experience leading procurement efforts according to 801 CMR 21.00, FTA 4220.1F, and/or MGL Chapter 30 Section 39M.
• Lean Six Sigma certification or experience.
• Experience incorporating Supplier Diversity, Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, and/or small business requirements into procurement processes.
• Experience supporting audit requests and preparing audit responses.
• Experience designing and documenting procurement procedures.
• Understanding of information security, insurance, and/or construction practices and principles
  
  
  

Job Conditions:

• Ability to effectively read, comprehend, communicate, and respond to instructions, orders, signs, notices, inquiries, etc. in English
• Ability to provide internal and external customers with courteous and professional experiences
• Ability to work effectively independently and as part of a team (or supervise, if required)
• Ability to uphold the rights and interests of the MBTA while building and maintaining effective relationships with employees and co-workers
• Ability to adhere to rules, regulations, collective bargaining agreements (if applicable), and policies of the MBTA, including the EEO, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, and anti-retaliation policies
• Have a satisfactory work record for the two (2) years immediately prior to the closing date of this posting (unless if recent graduate), including overall employment, job performance, discipline, and safety records (infractions and/or offenses occurring after the closing of the posting and before the filling of a vacancy may preclude a candidate from consideration for selection)
• Ability to pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, comprehensive background screening, and medical Clinic screening, potentially including a physical examination and drug and alcohol screenings
• Ability to work all shifts and / or locations assigned, directed, or necessary for this position, including (for some transit / operations roles) up to twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week as necessary to accommodate severe weather conditions, emergencies, or any other circumstances that may potentially impact service or the safety of service
  
  
  

Disclaimers and Definitions:

• General Disclaimer: The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe a summary, general nature, and complexity of typical job functions and do not represent an exhaustive list of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities required of staff assigned to this position.
• Application Deadlines: Applicants should apply as soon as possible, as the MBTA may stop considering applicants after a sufficiently large applicant pool is established.
• Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here-in are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. See job description for role-specific requirements.
• Work Eligibility: Although the MBTA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, all employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer and on an unrestricted basis (the MBTA does not sponsor non-US citizens). However, if you have an unrestricted work authorization, or sponsored by a separate entity, you are welcome to apply for open positions. International students taking part in CPT / STEM / OPT programs through a university are eligible for internships and co-ops with the MBTA. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to complete a Form I-9 to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the U.S.
• Interviews: Candidates should ensure they arrive on time, are prepared, can remain for the duration, and if remote, are in a quiet place without distraction, for the interview. Candidates who do not attend their interview without advance authorization, including an email confirmation of a rescheduled time/date from Human Resources, will be considered a no-show and disqualified from consideration for the position. Related to rescheduling, on a one-time basis, and due to something emergent, you may be allowed to reschedule the interview. In addition, Human Resources may require documentation supporting the request. However, should you need to reschedule, you will need to contact your Recruiter directly by email.
• Safety Sensitive Positions: Employees working in this classification will be subject to periodic physical examinations plus random drug and alcohol testing.
• On-call or 24/7 Positions: Employees working in this classification must be available to respond to page / text / call and report to work as determined by assigned department or the Authority.
• Essential / Emergency Staff: During declared "states of emergency," employees working in this classification are required to report to work for their assigned work hours or as directed by management.
• ADA Accommodations: The MBTA makes reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If you require an accommodation during this process, please contact the MBTA's ADA Unit at 617-222-5751 or hradaaa@mbta.com .
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: The MBTA is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer . For terms, descriptions, and definitions related to diversity, equity, inclusion, veteran status, and immediate family members that you may find on the application form, please visit mbta.com/careers-app-definitions .