Procurement Professional

Overview

Aquent, in partnership with a leading organization in its sector, is seeking a highly skilled and dynamic professional to drive critical strategic initiatives. This is an unparalleled opportunity to make a significant impact by shaping the future operational landscape of a large enterprise, directly influencing efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and long-term strategic growth through expert sourcing and negotiation.

To be considered for this role, you must:

• Be authorized to work in the United States
• Not require sponsorship of any kind for the duration of the assignment
• Be able to work on a W-2 basis.  C2C or 1099 is not permitted for this position

About the Role

Step into a pivotal role where you will lead large-scale outsourcing evaluations, sourcing, commercial negotiations, and supplier selection initiatives. As the primary commercial and sourcing lead, you will be instrumental in developing outsourcing strategies, managing end-to-end competitive procurement processes, and evaluating business and financial impacts. Your expertise will be crucial in negotiating complex commercial agreements and supporting executive decision-making from contract execution through transition planning. This role is designed for an experienced individual who thrives on operating independently while coordinating seamlessly across diverse internal teams including HR, Procurement, Finance, Legal, IT, Security, Risk, and Executive Leadership. You will be at the forefront of identifying optimal outsourcing partners, delivering measurable cost and operational improvements, mitigating risks, and establishing commercially advantageous agreements that support the organization’s long-term objectives.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and manage comprehensive RFI, RFP, and BAFO processes, building sourcing project plans and workstreams.
• Create supplier instructions and response requirements, managing bidder communications and clarification processes.
• Coordinate proposal evaluations, facilitate supplier presentations and solution workshops, and lead reference checks and due diligence activities.
• Manage the supplier down-selection process and maintain procurement project governance and reporting, delivering supplier pricing templates, evaluation scorecards, governance materials, executive recommendations, and supplier comparison analyses.
• Provide analytical support for outsourcing opportunities, including baselining current-state labor and operating costs, conducting Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis, and developing outsourcing business cases.
• Analyze supplier financial proposals, evaluate transformation investments and one-time costs, model transition costs, and quantify cost savings opportunities.
• Assess productivity improvements and service enhancements, develop ROI and payback analyses, and create executive-level financial summaries.
• Serve as the primary commercial negotiator, defining negotiation strategies, leading pricing negotiations, and negotiating rate cards, fee structures, service credits, performance mechanisms, and benchmarking provisions.
• Negotiate gain-share and incentive structures, address transition and transformation commitments, and manage renewal and termination provisions, supporting contract redlining and issue resolution.
• Operate confidently with senior executives, build consensus across diverse stakeholder groups, facilitate steering committee meetings, and present findings and recommendations.
• Manage disagreements, drive decisions, influence stakeholders through data-driven analyses, and provide regular status updates and executive communications.
• Establish sourcing governance structures, maintain project plans and milestones, manage risks, issues, and dependencies, and coordinate cross-functional workstreams.
• Facilitate decision-making forums, maintain action logs and executive reporting, and drive accountability across internal stakeholders.
• Support transition readiness activities, including planning assumptions, knowledge transfer requirements, service migration planning, risk mitigation, resource transition considerations, separation and change management impacts, and future-state governance recommendations.

Required Qualifications

• 4+ years of professional services procurement experience with a minimum of 2+ years focused on outsourcing.
• Demonstrated experience running end-to-end sourcing events (RFXs), conducting financial analysis for business case proposals, and negotiating with suppliers.
• Proven experience leading large-scale outsourcing, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), or workforce services sourcing initiatives.
• Experience negotiating multi-million-dollar outsourcing agreements.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, including assertiveness, courage, confidence, and the ability to influence others.
• Strong business analysis and relationship management skills to drive and implement sourcing programs and services aligned with business partner strategies.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment, collating and acting upon feedback from all levels within the business and sourcing environments.
• Expertise in Strategic Sourcing, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Financial Modeling, Commercial Negotiation, and Supplier Management.
• Proficiency in Business Case Development, Executive Communication, Stakeholder Management, Project Management, and Risk Management.
• Exceptional executive presence and confidence, with a high degree of assertiveness and influence.
• Courage to challenge assumptions and drive decisions, coupled with strong relationship management capabilities.
• Excellent facilitation skills and the ability to operate effectively in ambiguous environments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

About Aquent Talent:

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world’s biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. 

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We’re about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.

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