Sourcing Manager Resume Guide
Sourcing Managers are responsible for identifying, evaluating and negotiating with vendors to purchase goods or services. They work closely with internal stakeholders to ensure that the products purchased meet quality standards and specifications, while also ensuring competitive pricing. Additionally, they manage supplier relationships by monitoring performance metrics such as delivery times, cost savings initiatives and product availability.
You have a knack for finding the best quality materials and products, but employers don’t know that yet. To make them aware of your sourcing expertise, you must put together an impressive 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.
Sourcing Manager Resume Sample
Lilian Walker
Sourcing Manager
[email protected]
286-206-1824
linkedin.com/in/lilian-walker
Summary
Amicable and detail-oriented sourcing manager with 6+ years of experience in global supply chain management, procurement and strategic sourcing. Skilled at developing cost savings strategies while maintaining high levels of quality assurance. At XYZ Corporation, successfully reduced costs by 8% through the implementation of a new supplier network and improved delivery times by 20%. Proven track record for driving process improvements that result in increased efficiency and profitability.
Experience
Sourcing Manager, Employer A
Fresno, Jan 2018 – Present
- Coordinated the sourcing process from product development to delivery for up to 20 vendors; improved supply chain efficiency by 15% within 6 months.
- Optimized vendor selection, negotiation and contract management processes while managing all supplier relationships; reduced production costs by $15,000 in one year.
- Mentored a team of 5 junior buyers on international purchasing practices and responsible procurement policies; developed time-saving procedures resulting in an average 10 hour reduction per week spent on purchases processing tasks.
- Substantially increased inventory turns rate through effective forecasting techniques involving data analysis tools such as Excel & Tableau; achieved a 25% increase over 3 quarters period compared to previous years results.
- Streamlined communication between internal departments (Purchasing/Inventory Control) and third party suppliers through regular meetings with key stakeholders, ensuring timely deliveries at competitive prices across 11 countries globally.
Sourcing Manager, Employer B
Tucson, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017
- Demonstrated exemplary negotiation skills to secure competitive pricing agreements for raw materials, resulting in an 11% reduction of overall costs.
- Introduced and implemented new supplier evaluation processes that improved on-time delivery from 80% to 95%.
- Represented the company at trade shows and conferences, building relationships with top suppliers across a variety of industries; secured contracts worth $500K+ over 12 months.
- Spearheaded initiatives to reduce lead times by 30%, decreasing production delays while ensuring quality standards were met or exceeded throughout sourcing operations.
- Effectively managed 10+ supply chain projects simultaneously within budget constraints; saved $125K during a 6 month period through cost control measures taken throughout the process.
Skills
- Supply Chain Management
- Procurement
- Purchasing
- Strategic Sourcing
- Sourcing
- Supply Chain
- Cross Functional Team Leadership
- Process Improvement
- Contract Negotiation
Education
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
Certifications
Certified Sourcing Professional
Institute for Supply Management
May 2017
1. Summary / Objective
A resume summary/objective is the first impression you make on a potential employer. As such, it should be tailored to your specific role as a sourcing manager and highlight the most relevant skills and experience that demonstrate why you are an ideal candidate for this position. For example, mention any specialties in global supply chain management or cost reduction strategies; list certifications related to quality assurance or risk mitigation; and emphasize successes like reducing turnaround time by 30%.
Below are some resume summary examples:
Driven sourcing manager with 10+ years of experience in the purchasing and procurement field. At XYZ, managed a team of 15 buyers responsible for sourcing over $20M worth of supplies from suppliers across multiple countries. Proven track record of identifying cost-saving opportunities through negotiation strategies that increased profits by 12%. Highly organized, motivated professional committed to finding reliable vendors and maintaining strong relationships with them.
Dependable sourcing manager with 7+ years of experience managing and developing global supply chains. Proven track record in evaluating procurement strategies, driving cost reductions, and ensuring on-time delivery. At Company XYZ increased supplier engagement by 15% through effective contract negotiations and improved risk mitigation processes. Seeking to join ABC Technologies as the next Sourcing Manager for their growing business needs.
Passionate sourcing manager with 8+ years of experience leading and developing global supply-chain operations. Skilled in collaborating cross-functionally to drive cost reductions, build contract negotiations, manage vendor relationships and lead OS&H initiatives. At ABC Company, reduced costs by 18% while increasing quality standards across all product lines. Looking to bring my skillset to XYZ Corp as the next Sourcing Manager.
Skilled sourcing manager with over 10 years of experience in the international supply chain and logistics industry. Proven track record of delivering cost savings, streamlining procurement processes, managing vendor relationships and minimizing risk exposure for numerous Fortune 500 companies. Seeking to join ABC Corp as a sourcing manager to utilize strategic skillset to reduce costs while driving process efficiencies.
Detail-oriented sourcing manager with 5+ years of experience managing global supply chains and driving cost savings. At XYZ, led the development of a new vendor onboarding process that reduced supplier selection time by 50%. Successfully negotiated contracts worth $10M in annualized costs for ABC Corp. Proven track record in identifying best-in-class suppliers while maintaining quality standards and meeting deadlines.
Diligent sourcing manager with 8+ years of experience in managing vendor relations, supply chain management and procurement processes. At XYZ, managed the sourcing and purchasing for 40 products across 3 different countries. Implemented a cost-saving strategy that reduced expenses by 25%. Skilled in identifying market trends to increase supplier competitiveness while maintaining quality standards and service levels.
Well-rounded sourcing manager with 8+ years of experience in developing and implementing cost-effective strategies for sourcing materials, services, and suppliers. Skilled at negotiating prices to bring maximum value to the company while maintaining high standards of quality. At ABC Textiles Inc., reduced production costs by 15% through effective supplier negotiations.
Hard-working sourcing manager with 7+ years of experience managing global supplier relationships and optimizing the process for sourcing materials. Skilled in strategic planning, cost reduction initiatives, contract negotiations, and vendor management. Seeking to leverage expertise towards ABC’s mission of driving innovation through superior supply chain efficiency.
2. Experience / Employment
The employment (or experience) section is where you discuss your work history. It should be written in reverse chronological order, which means that the most recent job is listed first.
When writing this section, stick to bullet points primarily; it makes it easier for the reader to take in what you want them to know about your experience quickly and efficiently. When making each point, provide detail on what tasks were completed and any results achieved as a result of those tasks.
For example, instead of saying “Sourced new suppliers,” you could say “Identified 10+ potential suppliers through online research and market analysis resulting in cost savings of 15% across all purchased materials.”
To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:
Other general verbs you can use are:
- Achieved
- Advised
- Assessed
- Compiled
- Coordinated
- Demonstrated
- Developed
- Expedited
- Facilitated
- Formulated
- Improved
- Introduced
- Mentored
- Optimized
- Participated
- Prepared
- Presented
- Reduced
- Reorganized
- Represented
- Revised
- Spearheaded
- Streamlined
- Structured
- Utilized
Below are some example bullet points:
- Advised the senior management team on the sourcing of $2 million worth of materials for production, resulting in a 15% reduction in cost.
- Developed strategic relationships with 25 suppliers and negotiated long-term contracts that yielded an average annual savings of 20%.
- Assessed supplier performance against quality, safety and environmental standards; identified weak links and removed them from vendor list over 6 months period to reduce risks associated with substandard products/services.
- Independently conducted market research analysis to identify new sources of supply at competitive prices; successfully reduced costs by 10% within first year without compromising product quality or delivery timescales.
- Reduced lead time between ordering & receiving goods by 45%, leading to more efficient inventory control systems across the business and improved customer service levels overall.
- Formulated and executed sourcing strategies to identify cost-effective suppliers, resulting in a savings of $2M annually.
- Achieved targeted on-time delivery rates of 95% by establishing strong relationships with over 70 vendors across the globe.
- Revised existing supply contracts for better terms & conditions, leading to an average reduction in supplier costs by 20%.
- Improved vendor selection process through robust evaluation criteria and thorough background checks; qualified 35 new suppliers within 6 months period that met company standards for quality and service expectations.
- Successfully handled 150+ procurement transactions per month while maintaining accurate records of all purchases, invoices and receipts from approved vendors.
- Facilitated the sourcing of goods and services from more than 150 suppliers, reducing costs by 10% and increasing supply chain efficiency.
- Prepared detailed cost estimates for prospective vendors based on current market prices; successfully identified potential savings opportunities in excess of $1 million over a two-year period.
- Reorganized vendor contracts to ensure compliance with company guidelines while maintaining excellent relations with all stakeholders; decreased contractual disputes by 40%.
- Efficiently managed supplier performance metrics such as delivery times, quality control standards, pricing agreements and payment terms across multiple projects concurrently.
- Structured regular meetings between purchasing staff members and key suppliers to review existing processes & identify areas for improvement; improved lead times by 20% within 3 months after implementation.
- Participated in the sourcing of over 100 products for multiple suppliers, reducing total procurement costs by 10% across all departments.
- Compiled and analyzed data from various sources to evaluate pricing trends and identify cost-effective solutions that improved operational efficiency.
- Expedited the decision-making process through timely negotiations with vendors, resulting in a reduction of average delivery time by 15%.
- Consistently monitored supplier performance metrics such as quality assurance, on-time delivery rates and customer satisfaction scores; achieved an overall score of 95% or higher for each category within 6 months.
- Utilized effective communication techniques when collaborating with internal stakeholders to ensure accurate purchase orders were placed according to deadlines and budget constraints set forth by upper management.
3. Skills
Even though two organizations are hiring for the same role, the skillset they want an ideal candidate to possess could differ significantly. For instance, one may be on the lookout for an individual with strong negotiation skills, while the other may be looking for someone who is proficient in using certain software.
For this reason, it’s essential to tailor your resume to each job you are applying for – and that includes the skills section. You should include any relevant keywords from the job posting so that applicant tracking systems can easily pick them up; otherwise, your resume won’t make it past these automated filters.
You should also provide details about how you have used those particular skills in previous roles (if applicable). This will help employers understand why they need to hire you specifically for their position.
Below is a list of common skills & terms:
- Account Management
- Analysis
- Apparel
- Business Development
- Business Process Improvement
- Business Strategy
- Change Management
- Continuous Improvement
- Contract Management
- Contract Negotiation
- Cross Functional Team Leadership
- Data Analysis
- Fashion
- Forecasting
- Global Sourcing
- Lean Manufacturing
- Logistics
- MRP
- Manufacturing
- Materials Management
- Merchandising
- Operations Management
- Outsourcing
- Pricing
- Process Improvement
- Procurement
- Product Development
- Program Management
- Project Planning
- Purchasing
- Recruiting
- SAP
- Six Sigma
- Sourcing
- Spend Analysis
- Strategic Sourcing
- Strategy
- Supplier Development
- Supplier Negotiation
- Supply Chain
- Supply Chain Management
- Supply Management
- Team Leadership
- Teamwork
- Time Management
- Trend Analysis
- Vendor Management
4. Education
Including an education section on your resume will depend on how far along you are in your career. If you graduated recently and have little to no work experience, mention it below your resume objective. However, if you have been working as a sourcing manager for some time now with many accomplishments to showcase, omitting the education section is perfectly fine.
If an education section is included, try to mention courses related to the role of sourcing manager that demonstrate relevant skills or knowledge such as supply chain management or procurement processes.
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
5. Certifications
Certifications are a great way to show potential employers that you have the necessary skills and knowledge required for the job. Having certifications in your field of expertise can demonstrate that you are committed to staying up-to-date with industry trends and developments, as well as being able to apply what you learn in practice.
Including any relevant certifications on your resume is an excellent way to showcase your qualifications and make yourself stand out from other applicants.
Certified Sourcing Professional
Institute for Supply Management
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 Lilian Walker, this would be Lilian-Walker-resume.pdf or Lilian-Walker-resume.docx.
7. Cover Letter
Writing a cover letter is an opportunity to showcase your personality and capabilities in a more creative way than what’s presented on a resume. It should be made up of 2 to 4 paragraphs, allowing you the space to explain why you’re an ideal candidate for the position.
Cover letters are not always required when applying for jobs, but they do provide employers with additional insights about who you are as a professional. Submitting one can make all the difference between getting noticed or being overlooked by recruiters.
Below is an example cover letter:
Dear Malcolm,
I am writing to apply for the Sourcing Manager position at XYZ Corporation. With more than 10 years of experience in sourcing and procurement, I am confident I can be an asset to your team.
In my current role as Sourcing Manager at ABC Corporation, I manage a team of five buyers and have responsibility for all aspects of sourcing and procurement for our organization. I have developed strong relationships with vendors that have resulted in cost savings and increased efficiencies. In addition, I have implemented several process improvements that have streamlined our operations.
I am knowledgeable about international trade regulations and have experience managing imports/exports. I am also proficient in using SAP Ariba and Oracle systems. My analytical skills are excellent, as evidenced by my ability to develop creative solutions to complex problems.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my skills and experience can benefit your organization. Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Lilian