IT Services Procurement Mgr - 90344132 - Philadelphia

Job Summary

This individual-contributor position requires SME-level technical knowledge in end-to-end strategic sourcing concepts and activities including conducting spend analytics, market analysis, demand analysis, RFx, contract negotiation and implementation, and ongoing strategic supplier management.   The primary category for this position is indirect professional services, specifically IT hardware, software, and professional services

This senior-level position is accountable for cost-effective life-cycle management of critical or strategic commercial categories or groups of categories and associated subcontracting.  Responsible for managing key commercial relationships; developing and implementing subcontracting types and strategies; seeking out qualified supplier firms, performing subcontractor qualifications; negotiations, award and administration of IT and/or Professional Services contracts within the appropriate ERP and related systems.  Must be able to negotiate complex contract terms and conditions and understand technical scopes of work in detail.  This position applies Subject Matter Expert (SME) knowledge of the ERP system and in Federal and other Procurement Regulations and negotiates complex terms and conditions associated and identifies potentials risks with assigned Purchase Orders or Contracts and independently seeks guidance from management-level Procurement personnel or the Law Department. This position is responsible to analyze commercial data to identify target categories to recommend for strategy development.

Essential Functions

• Provides Sourcing Specialists and Buyers with guidance, direction, motivation and training.
• Works closely with departmental peers across functional areas to build procurement influence.
• Leverages best practices and makes decisions based on the best interests of the internal customers and Amtrak.
• Negotiates commitments with suppliers to ensure Amtrak requirements are met.
• Provides strategic sourcing for Amtrak business units, including leading strategic sourcing initiatives, spend analytics, market analysis, demand analysis, solicitation, negotiating contracts, and management of the resulting follow-on commercial activity and relationships.
• Serves as a vital interface to business units and management as a recognized Subject Matter Expert (SME) with stakeholders of all levels for assigned commercial category on a regular basis and maintains the appropriate service levels such as sourcing project cycle time and as a recognized source of expertise for the sourcing function.
• Executes strategic sourcing projects and manage category life cycle using the Amtrak Sourcing Management Process, including advanced level sourcing tools and team building skills, and applicable ERP and other systems to obtain the best commercial solutions for Amtrak in view of total Cost of Ownership and the applicable regulatory, grant and other flow down requirements
• Utilizes SME-level knowledge in the ERP system to problem-solve for stakeholders or suppliers. Leads or coordinates with IT, Accounts Payable, Procurement Management, and/or other Procurement/Supply Chain functions to find the best practices on utilizing the ERP system for specific commodity needs as well as overall use. Strategically identifies root causes and opportunities to enhance the system or improve business processes to result in long-term impact to the company.
• Responsible for pre-award activities & post award administration, including chairing pre-bid and category kickoff meetings, risk analysis, negotiating terms and conditions, payment terms, liquidated damages and incentive fees.  Also, performs post-award cost analysis, evaluations, and change and claim management
• Negotiates complex contracts involving variable costs structures and non-standard Terms and Conditions; interacts with customers both internal and external to provide a high level of collaboration; and assists business units in finalizing Statements of Work from a commercial perspective. Prepares and administers Purchase Orders and contracts that are financially and legally sound to ensure enforcement of contractual requirements and Amtrak’s policies and procedures in concert with Federal Procurement Regulations and/or the Uniform Commercial Code whichever is applicable.
• Maintains and manages suppliers with focus on total cost improvements while maintaining the highest code of ethics and conduct.
• Initiate, develop, and maintain effective working relationship with the IT team members
• Support and facilitate competitive RFx activity primarily in the software and professional services within the Information Technology category.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Effectively works in a fast-paced environment with frequently changing priorities and high volume of RFPs.
• Ability to multi-task and handle day-to-day management of a variety of procurement activities. Adopts hands-on approach as necessary.
• Results-oriented and metrics driven.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Embraces learning new tasks, both complex and simple, to maintain effectiveness in this position.
• Strong expertise in business acumen, financial and analytical acumen, written and verbal communication, presentation skills, and implementation and execution.
• SME in project management or strategic sourcing and in ERP system and Procure-to-Pay processes
• Written and verbal communication skills sufficient to prepare, negotiate and review contracts, bids, proposals and vendor agreements for legal terms/conditions and acceptability of items to specifications.  Able to identify risks in contractual terms, perform risk analysis, evaluate all levers that can be utilized in negotiation, and present recommendations with pros and cons for the consideration of management and the Law Department.
• Must be very proficient and efficient in the use of the Microsoft suite of tools including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and ERP systems such as Ariba and SAP.
• Self-starter with good analytical skills and common sense to problem solving.
• Demonstrate ability to learn new tasks, both complex and simple, in order to maintain effectiveness in position.
• Must be detailed oriented and disciplined to ensure project completion and effective follow-through.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in business administration or related field, and 7 years of experience in purchase or materials planning or related fields. Equivalent combination of training, education and relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Experience and ability to work with senior level management in supply chain, inventory management, and procurement program problem resolution. Proven ability to influence.
• Must possess SME-level knowledge of procure-to-pay processes, strategic sourcing management processes, types of procurement contracts, commodity pricing, quality standards, sources of supply (including diversity suppliers), statements of work, negotiation techniques, value analysis and other cost savings methods.
• SME knowledge of the category including rate trends, multipliers, market trends, quality standards, and supplier sources (including minority firms).
• SME-level experience in strategic sourcing.
• Proven track record of SME-level in Sourcing Management Processes or project management, ERP systems and leadership in improving business processes and delivering measurable results. Experience in developing metrics and reporting associated with procurement performance.
• Effectively works under a matrix management structure.
• Ability to analyze and execute strategic options and their direct potentials and indirect impact on the organization. Ability to effectively use common tools such as Microsoft Excel to perform such analyses including the use of intermediate to advanced functions.
• Must be able to work and communicate effectively in writing and verbally with all levels of the company and suppliers. Able to develop and deliver presentations using common tools such as Microsoft PowerPoint.
• Prior satisfactory job performance.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with frequently changing priorities and high volume of RFx activities.
• Ability to lead cross-functional tasks or project, develop and/or provide training, and mentor Sourcing Specialists and Buyers.
• Demonstrated IT category management expertise in one or more of the following: Cloud, Hosting, SaaS Agreements, Digital, Hardware, Software License Agreements.
• High level of experience in IT and Professional Services Procurements, market expertise and extensive supplier management skills.
• Solid knowledge of IT-industry in general including global software, hardware, professional service, and telecom/network services.
• Experience with technology-specific legal considerations such as: Software-as-a-Service, hosted application, PaaS, IaaS agreement types, Hosting environments (on prem, third party), Third party security and infrastructure.

Preferred Qualifications

• 9+ years of relevant experience with 3+ years of IT Procurement experience.
• Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM)
• Experience with ERP systems, specifically Ariba and/or SAP.
• Understanding of key legal considerations pertaining to software, including: Trademark/Intellectual property rights; Data use, data ownership, data transfer issues; Remedies, including indemnification; Limitations of Liability (LOL) and related, common customer carve-outs.
• Significant knowledge of supply chain, inventory management, commodity management, and supplier management.
• Project management experience.
• Proven record of accomplishment of improving business processes and delivering measurable results.

Work Enviroment:

• Work is performed in an office enviroment
• Other duties as assigned
• Work schedule is in office 4 days with 1 day remote.