Sr Strategic Sourcing Specialist

.This role is a 6+ month contract and hybrid to downtown Chicago.WORK TO BE PERFORMED:Procurement of goods and services:Manage the communication process with vendors, including what information should be communicated, when and by whom, to ensure that appropriate leverage is preserved.Work closely with stakeholders (IT, business, vendor management) to lead major sourcing programs.Identify cost-optimization opportunities across the company/globe and present a concise business case/plan to stakeholders.Identify and evaluate the best options for solutions, which may include acquisition of IT products, outsourcing or insourcing, or other alternatives such as co-creation, joint ventures, brokering vendor partnerships or potential IT acquisitions.Engage the business to understand business drivers, demand, risk appetite and sustainability factors that influence the development and maintenance of the IT sourcing strategy.Provide proactive, high-value procurement and contract negotiation consultation to the business through thorough understanding of the business needs.Lead the negotiation strategy and negotiation team for IT contracts.Manage purchase order process to ensure timely delivery of all required IT items.Qualifications:Bachelor's degree in business management, supply chain, information technology or a related field, or an equivalent combination of experience, skills, training and education.Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), Certified Professional in Supplier Diversity (CPSD), Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) qualification or Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS) is a plus.IT sourcing and/or procurement and/or vendor management experience.Other functional experience particularly in IT, business strategy, business analysis or finance is an advantage.Strong ability to translate stakeholder requirements into IT sourcing practices and business outcomes.Experience managing vendor interactions.