Manager Strategic Sourcing, Software and Engineering

$106,000 - $158,000/Yr

Zendesk - Madison, WI

Full-time - Manager

Madison, WI

1,001-5,000 employees

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Manager of Strategic Sourcing at Zendesk will oversee sourcing strategies and execution across software and engineering categories. This role is crucial for maximizing value and minimizing risk through vendor relationships, ensuring the organization has the necessary goods and services for success. The manager will lead complex negotiations, contract reviews, and usage forecasting to support the company's growth objectives.

Responsibilities

• Guide and influence business through key strategic projects to ensure best outcomes aligned to Zendesk growth.
• Develop and maintain accurate forecasts for usage, licenses, and capacity for key commitment-based contracts, including AWS, Google, MongoDB, Snowflake, and others.
• Collaborate with Engineering, IT, and business units to gather data, validate forecasts, and ensure alignment with company needs and future growth.
• Identify trends and potential risks to inform contract negotiations and prevent over-commitment or unnecessary costs.
• Focus on critical vendor management, integration and vendor strategy aligned to business partner vision.
• Support contract renewals that require precise forecasting of usage, licenses and capacity.
• Drive accurate forecasts, optimize contracted volumes and prevent costly overages.
• Develop executive level presentations, analysis and forecast reporting for internal partner communications/updates.
• Influence and advise senior leadership on procurement strategy.
• Conduct market research & analysis, data collection/management, cost modeling, RFx strategy development, RFx creation and management, supplier communications, negotiations, contracting, and supplier performance management.
• Lead and act as escalation for contract negotiations partnering with Legal, Security, IT and the respective business partners.
• Assist in decision-making and provide informed purchase guidance to business partners.
• Support the execution of spend management projects that accomplish key objectives, including savings, process improvement/efficiency, supplier consolidation & management, risk reduction & management, improved transparency & control of expenditures.
• Perform total cost of ownership evaluations, perform supply-market research and conduct pricing audits and impact analysis for continuous cost improvements.

Requirements

• Strong software and engineering strategic negotiation skills
• Proven team player with the ability to build and maintain business partnerships
• Executive level communication and presentation skills
• Highly motivated towards achieving cost savings and operational improvement goals
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise in the functional areas of Technology, product and engineering
• Proven success leading projects that impact multiple functional areas
• Flexibility and influence in working in a high growth, high volume environment

Benefits

• Hybrid work environment
• Competitive salary range of $106,000 - $158,000
• Potential eligibility for bonuses and benefits
• Opportunities for professional development and learning