Strategic Sourcing Manager Resume Guide
Strategic Sourcing Managers are responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies to support the organization’s objectives. They analyze market trends, identify potential sources of supply, negotiate contracts with vendors, manage supplier relationships and oversee procurement processes in order to maximize value while minimizing risk.
Your knowledge of supply chain management and sourcing strategies is invaluable to any business. But hiring managers won’t know how experienced you are unless you present yourself in the best light possible – through a well-crafted resume.
This guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a top-notch resume. We first show you a complete example and then break down what each resume section should look like.
Table of Contents
The guide is divided into sections for your convenience. You can read it from beginning to end or use the table of contents below to jump to a specific part.
Strategic Sourcing Manager Resume Sample
Erick Nikolaus
Strategic Sourcing Manager
[email protected]
546-361-9625
linkedin.com/in/erick-nikolaus
Summary
Amicable and strategic-minded sourcing manager with extensive knowledge of global supply markets and a proven track record in delivering cost savings initiatives. Skilled at developing long-term relationships between vendors, suppliers and customers to ensure mutually beneficial solutions. At XYZ Inc., saved the company $5 million through improved negotiating strategies while maintaining quality standards. Experienced in leading cross-functional teams to achieve sourcing objectives within tight deadlines.
Experience
Strategic Sourcing Manager, Employer A
Tacoma, Jan 2018 – Present
- Developed and implemented strategic sourcing plans for key products, resulting in a cost reduction of 10% year-on-year.
- Independently sourced new suppliers to meet the needs of various projects; identified over 20 quality options across different categories within 6 months.
- Implemented an automated process for supplier data management that reduced paperwork by 30%.
- Collaborated with cross functional teams to ensure timely delivery of all purchased materials while keeping costs low; led team negotiations and achieved savings exceeding $5,000 annually on average purchases from top vendors.
- Assessed vendor performance regularly against SLAs to maintain high standards of service levels; improved overall customer satisfaction ratings by 14%.
Strategic Sourcing Manager, Employer B
Yonkers, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017
- Mentored 3 junior sourcing specialists in strategic supplier negotiations, cost modeling and data analysis; resulting in a 12% decrease of departmental expenses.
- Streamlined the procurement process by creating end-to-end tracking systems for all purchase orders, leading to an increase of efficiency by 25%.
- Budgeted over $5 million annually for materials needed across multiple departments while consistently meeting tight deadlines and staying within pre-approved spend limits.
- Reliably sourced suppliers with high quality standards at competitive prices through comprehensive market research, vendor selection & evaluation techniques that saved an additional 10% on annual supply costs compared to industry averages.
- Introduced innovative approaches such as electronic reverse auctions which successfully reduced product costs without compromising quality or delivery timelines; achieved a reduction rate of 18%.
Skills
- Supply Chain Management
- Procurement
- Strategic Sourcing
- Purchasing
- Process Improvement
- Supply Chain
- Contract Negotiation
- Cross Functional Team Leadership
- Supply Management
Education
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
Certifications
Certified Professional in Strategic Sourcing (CPSS)
Inst
May 2017
1. Summary / Objective
Your resume summary should be a concise, yet compelling introduction to your professional background. As a strategic sourcing manager, you can use this space to highlight the successes and achievements that make you stand out in the field. For example, mention how many years of experience you have in procurement or supply chain management; any certifications or awards earned; and specific examples of cost savings initiatives implemented at past companies. This will give employers an idea of why they should consider hiring you for their team.
Below are some resume summary examples:
Enthusiastic strategic sourcing manager with 10+ years of expertise in supply chain management and procurement. Passionate about providing cost-effective solutions to difficult sourcing challenges while improving organizational efficiency. At previous roles, achieved a reduction in material costs by 17% through effective negotiation and supplier selection strategies. Seeking to apply my skills at ABC Company to drive continuous improvement initiatives for the benefit of the company’s bottom line.
Seasoned strategic sourcing manager with 8+ years of experience in procurement, vendor management, and cost optimization. Proven track record for leading global teams in the successful execution of large-scale projects. At XYZ Corporation, successfully sourced materials from over 50 different suppliers to reduce overall costs by 10%. Skilled at developing relationships with key stakeholders and leveraging market intelligence to secure best value deals.
Well-rounded strategic sourcing manager with 10+ years of experience creating and implementing supplier management strategies in the manufacturing industry. Proven track record of reducing overall costs by 30% while improving quality standards and delivery timelines. Seeking to join ABC Company as a leader in their supply-chain division, leveraging my expertise in cost savings initiatives to create an efficient system that meets customer requirements.
Energetic and experienced strategic sourcing manager with a proven track record of delivering cost savings and improved efficiency through innovative solutions. At XYZ, developed an efficient process to identify new suppliers for 10 products which resulted in reducing the average total costs by 25%. Experienced project leader able to build relationships across multiple stakeholders while achieving objectives on time and within budget.
Diligent Strategic Sourcing Manager with 8+ years of experience in driving cost savings and value-adding strategies for multi-million dollar procurements. Successfully negotiated more than $30M worth of contracts across different departments at XYZ Corporation. Specialize in creating optimized sourcing plans, conducting market research, and leveraging supplier networks to maximize ROI while minimizing risk exposure.
Detail-oriented and results-driven Strategic Sourcing Manager with 8+ years of experience in managing complex sourcing projects. Proven track record of reducing costs by up to 20% through effective negotiation and supplier selection strategies. Seeking to leverage knowledge base, strategic thinking, and strong communication skills at ABC Corp to drive value for the organization’s stakeholders.
Talented Strategic Sourcing Manager with 7+ years of experience in the procurement, logistics and supply chain industry. Proven track record of successfully managing complex sourcing projects while developing key supplier relationships to achieve cost savings. Seeking to join ABC Corp as a Strategic Sourcing Manager and leverage my expertise to drive success across global operations.
Skilled Strategic Sourcing Manager with 10+ years of experience in cost optimization and supplier management. Proven track record of creating strategic sourcing plans to reduce costs, increase quality, and improve delivery times for a variety of products. Looking to join ABC Corp as the next Strategic Sourcing Manager and help them achieve their ambitious goals.
2. Experience / Employment
In the experience section, you should provide details on your employment history. It’s best to write this section in reverse chronological order, meaning the most recent job is listed first.
When writing out what you did at each role, stick to bullet points and be sure to include quantifiable results. For example, instead of saying “Negotiated contracts,” you could say “Successfully negotiated 10+ vendor contracts for raw materials with an average savings of 15% year-over-year.”
To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:
- Negotiated
- Analyzed
- Managed
- Implemented
- Streamlined
- Monitored
- Researched
- Collaborated
- Developed
- Optimized
- Forecasted
- Budgeted
- Executed
- Facilitated
- Assessed
Other general verbs you can use are:
- Achieved
- Advised
- Compiled
- Coordinated
- Demonstrated
- Expedited
- Formulated
- Improved
- Introduced
- Mentored
- Participated
- Prepared
- Presented
- Reduced
- Reorganized
- Represented
- Revised
- Spearheaded
- Structured
- Utilized
Below are some example bullet points:
- Forecasted and tracked supplier performance metrics, achieving a 10% reduction in supply chain costs within the first 3 months.
- Coordinated purchasing activities with stakeholders to ensure that all orders were fulfilled on time; reduced delivery delays by 23%.
- Prepared detailed reports for executive management outlining strategic sourcing initiatives, cost savings opportunities and vendor compliance updates.
- Participated in negotiations with suppliers to secure favorable contracts while maintaining high-quality standards; saved $150K+ over 12 months by leveraging competitive pricing strategies.
- Effectively communicated procurement policies and procedures to internal teams; achieved an 80% adoption rate of new processes among staff members across multiple departments within 2 weeks of implementation.
- Researched and analyzed global markets for potential suppliers, identifying high-quality vendors that offered the most competitive prices; reduced procurement costs by 10% within one year.
- Managed supplier relationships to ensure best service levels while negotiating contracts with over 50 new suppliers, resulting in an increase of 25% in procurement savings.
- Demonstrated strong negotiation skills when establishing pricing agreements and monitored performance metrics to identify areas of improvement across all supply chain operations.
- Presented comprehensive reports on key sourcing activities including cost analysis, inventory control measures and vendor evaluation; identified opportunities for process improvements which resulted in a 15% reduction in lead times overall.
- Efficiently coordinated purchase orders between internal teams, external vendors and transportation providers ensuring timely delivery of raw materials at the lowest possible cost structure per unit item purchased.
- Formulated and implemented strategic sourcing plans to achieve cost savings of 10% while increasing quality standards.
- Consistently monitored supplier performance and negotiated contracts with vendors in order to maximize supply chain efficiency.
- Revised purchasing processes, improved forecasting techniques, and streamlined procurement logistics resulting in a 27% reduction in operational costs over the last 2 years; reduced lead time by 45%.
- Represented the organization at industry forums, conferences, seminars & trade shows for networking opportunities as well as knowledge sharing on best practices within the field of Strategic Sourcing Management.
- Achieved ISO 9001 certification from an external auditor after successfully implementing comprehensive workplace safety procedures throughout all branches of production operations.
- Utilized best practices in strategic sourcing to negotiate contracts with vendors that led to a 14% cost savings on supplies.
- Compiled and analyzed market data, identified new potential suppliers and created bid packages for purchase of materials worth over $8 million annually.
- Meticulously monitored supplier performance against agreed-upon terms; delivered real-time insights into supply chain operations while ensuring quality control standards were met or exceeded at all times.
- Spearheaded successful initiatives that streamlined procurement processes, enabling the organization to reduce its lead time by 25%.
- Analyzed complex pricing models, negotiated favorable payment terms and ensured timely delivery of goods from various international sources as per budget constraints.
- Structured and managed the entire strategic sourcing process for over 100 vendors across multiple industries, reducing operational costs by 15%.
- Resourcefully identified and implemented cost-saving opportunities throughout supply chain operations, resulting in a savings of $5 million annually.
- Executed high-volume purchasing strategies to maintain inventory levels while optimizing pricing; enabled access to new products from international suppliers and improved quality ratings by 10%.
- Monitored supplier performance against established goals and expectations, ensuring that all contracts were renewed on time with favorable terms/conditions as needed.
- Reduced procurement cycle times significantly through implementation of automated tracking processes; decreased lead times by 25% within 3 months of roll out.
- Negotiated pricing agreements with over 50 vendors and suppliers, resulting in a 25% reduction of total cost for strategic sourcing.
- Optimized the supply chain process through efficient collaboration between procurement teams and vendors; successfully saved $15K in operational costs every month.
- Facilitated supplier evaluation activities to identify high-performance partners while maintaining competitive market rates; improved vendor selection by 30%.
- Reorganized the entire purchasing system to streamline material flow management, increasing customer satisfaction scores by 10%.
- Proficiently utilized SAP software tools to manage inventory levels and generate purchase orders accurately & timely with 0 errors reported during audits.
- Confidently sourced and negotiated contracts with over 50 new suppliers, resulting in a 10% cost reduction on materials and services.
- Advised senior management team on strategic sourcing initiatives that drove savings of $5M across the organization’s supply chain operations.
- Improved vendor selection process by introducing more stringent criteria for supplier assessment; reduced product lead times by 25%.
- Expedited order fulfillment process through streamlining supply chain logistics; decreased delivery time from 2 weeks to 4 days without compromising quality standards or customer service levels.
3. Skills
Skill requirements will differ from employer to employer – this can easily be determined via the job advert. Organization ABC may be looking for a strategic sourcing manager with experience in supplier negotiation, while Organization XYZ is seeking someone who has expertise in cost reduction.
It’s important to tailor the skills section of your resume to each job that you are applying for; this will help ensure that it passes through applicant tracking systems (computer programs used by many companies these days). The ATS scans resumes for certain keywords before passing them on to a human.
In addition to listing key skills here, you can also discuss them further in other areas such as the summary or experience sections.
Below is a list of common skills & terms:
- 5S
- Account Management
- Analysis
- Business Analysis
- Business Development
- Business Process Improvement
- Business Strategy
- Change Management
- Continuous Improvement
- Contract Management
- Contract Negotiation
- Cross Functional Team Leadership
- Data Analysis
- E Procurement
- ERP
- Engineering
- Financial Analysis
- Forecasting
- Global Sourcing
- Inventory Control
- Kaizen
- Lean Manufacturing
- Logistics
- Logistics Management
- MRP
- Manufacturing
- Materials Management
- Operations Management
- Outsourcing
- Pricing
- Process Improvement
- Procurement
- Product Development
- Product Management
- Program Management
- Project Planning
- Purchasing
- SAP
- Six Sigma
- Sourcing
- Spend Analysis
- Strategic Sourcing
- Strategy
- Supplier Development
- Supplier Evaluation
- Supplier Negotiation
- Supply Chain
- Supply Chain Management
- Supply Chain Optimization
- Supply Management
- Team Leadership
- Teamwork
- Time Management
- Value Stream Mapping
- Vendor Management
4. Education
Mentioning an education section on your resume will depend on how long you have been in the field. If you are a recent graduate with little to no work experience, include this information below your resume objective. However, if you have years of relevant work experience and accomplishments that speak for themselves, leaving out an education section is perfectly fine.
If including an education section, make sure to mention courses and subjects related to strategic sourcing management as well as any certifications or qualifications you may possess.
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
5. Certifications
Certifications demonstrate to a potential employer that you have achieved a certain level of proficiency in your field. It also shows that you are committed to staying up-to-date with the latest industry trends and developments.
Including certifications on your resume is an excellent way to show employers that you are knowledgeable, dedicated, and qualified for the job they’re offering. Be sure to list any relevant certifications so hiring managers can easily see what qualifications you possess.
Certified Professional in Strategic Sourcing (CPSS)
Inst
May 2017
6. Contact Info
Your name should be the first thing a reader sees when viewing your resume, so ensure its positioning is prominent. Your phone number should be written in the most commonly used format in your country/city/state, and your email address should be professional.
You can also choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other online platforms relevant to your industry.
Finally, name your resume file appropriately to help hiring managers; for Erick Nikolaus, this would be Erick-Nikolaus-resume.pdf or Erick-Nikolaus-resume.docx.
7. Cover Letter
Writing a cover letter is a great way to make your job application stand out from the crowd. It’s an opportunity for you to explain in more detail why you are the ideal person for the role and how your skills can benefit their company.
Cover letters are typically made up of 2-4 paragraphs that provide additional information about yourself, such as what inspired you to apply for this position or any relevant experience that isn’t already mentioned on your resume. Although not always required, taking time to write one could be beneficial in helping land a job interview or even securing employment.
Below is an example cover letter:
Dear Vanessa,
I am writing in response to your posting for a Strategic Sourcing Manager. With more than 10 years of experience managing sourcing and procurement projects, I am confident I will be an asset to your organization.
In my current role as Strategic Sourcing Manager at [company name], I have led numerous successful projects that have resulted in significant cost savings for the company. I have a proven track record of developing and implementing strategies that reduce spending, improve quality, and increase efficiency. My strong negotiation skills have also helped me secure favorable terms with suppliers.
I am also experienced in managing teams of buyers and analysts. I am adept at leading by example and motivating team members to achieve results. In addition, I have developed excellent communication skills that allow me to effectively manage stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
I believe my skills and experience make me the perfect candidate for this position, and I look forward to contributing to the success of your organization. Please find attached a copy of my resume for your review. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at [phone number] or [email address]. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Erick