Senior Sourcing Specialist

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:  Grade: Professional 311Pay Range: $97,100.00 - $145,600.00Job DescriptionThe Senior Sourcing Specialist is responsible for the procurement of a wide variety of commodities, materials, supplies, and services for WGU, many of which are highly technical and require the application of complex procurement standards and procedures, including negotiation. The Senior Sourcing Specialist employs advanced critical thinking and writing skills in the development and evaluation of the more complex requests for proposals for commodities and services. The Senior Sourcing Specialist identifies varied sources of commodities and services, evaluates bids, awards contracts, and purchase orders, develops standards for new products or services, maintains contact with vendors, and maintains comprehensive descriptions of available products and current prices. The Senior Buyer expedites the ordering and delivery process for commodities or services using automated procurement systems and effective negotiations with vendors. At WGU, our mission is to change lives for the better by creating pathways to opportunity. As a Senior Sourcing Specialist, you will play a critical role in driving value through strategic sourcing, supplier partnerships, and contract negotiations that support enterprise-wide operations.What You’ll Do Lead strategic sourcing events across a variety of spend categories to achieve cost savings and operational efficienciesManage requisitions, purchase orders, and sourcing requests from intake through completionPartner with cross-functional teams, including finance and legal, to support contract negotiations and implementationDevelop and review sourcing specifications for external audiences, ensuring clarity and complianceNegotiate contracts, pricing, and terms to secure best value and service levelsMonitor market conditions and supplier trends to maintain competitive positioningLead forecasting, trend analysis, and sourcing strategies to anticipate business needs What You’ll Bring Strong knowledge of procurement principles, purchasing ethics, and sourcing best practicesExperience managing RFx processes, contracts, and purchase ordersAbility to analyze pricing and cost structures to inform sourcing decisionsStrong negotiation and organizational skills with the ability to influence stakeholdersProficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with purchasing systemsAbility to lead cross-functional sourcing initiatives and manage competing prioritiesStrong decision-making skills with a high level of accountability Bonus Points Experience applying category management strategiesKnowledge of SLA and KPI development and managementAdvanced experience structuring and leading complex negotiations Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree6 years of procurement or other supply chain experiencePreferred Qualifications Master’s DegreeCPSM Professional CertificationExperience in Lieu of EducationEquivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education requirements. Generally, one year of experience is considered equivalent to one year of education, at the discretion of the hiring manager. Work LocationThis is a full-time, in-office position at WGU’s office in Raleigh, NC. Visa SponsorshipWhile we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, WGU is not able to provide visa sponsorship for this role.Job Description Disclaimer: This position description provides the major duties/responsibilities, requirements and working conditions for the position. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current position, however management reserves the right to revise or change as necessary to meet organizational needs. Other responsibilities may be assigned when circumstances require.This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements.Position & Application DetailsFull-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation wit