Manager, Strategic Sourcing

Waste Management Inc

Houston, TX

JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Alternative Energy, Analysis Skills, Bid Analysis, Business Services, Category Development, Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), Communication Skills, Contract Negotiation, Copying Machines, Cost Control, Cost Effectiveness Analysis, Cross-Functional, Data Analysis, Electricity, Facilities and Maintenance, Federal Laws and Regulations, Fire Safety, First Aid, Healthcare, Information/Data Security (InfoSec), Interpersonal Skills, Maintenance Services, Market Trend Analysis, Medical Waste, Metrics, Natural Gas, Needs Assessment, Negotiation Skills, Office Equipment, Operational Improvement, Performance Analysis, Performance Reviews, Problem Solving Skills, Process Improvement, Process Management, Product Pricing, Proposal Writing, Purchasing/Procurement, Recycling, Reliability Analysis, Request for Proposals (RFP), Research & Development (R&D), Sales Pipeline, Sourcing Strategy, Strategic Planning, Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), Supply Chain, Sustainability, Team Player, Vehicle Fleets, Vendor/Supplier Evaluation, Vendor/Supplier Management, Vendor/Supplier Relations, Vendor/Supplier Selection, Vendor/Supplier Sourcing, Waste Management, Waste/Garbage/Recycle Collection, Willing to Travel
LOCATION
Houston, TX
POSTED
2 days ago

I. Job Summary Leads the strategic sourcing process for assigned enterprise categories - including but not limited to Uniforms, First Aid, Fire Safety, Facilities Maintenance and Third-Party Services - by developing and implementing category strategies & playbooks, managing supplier relationships, and executing RFx events on behalf of the enterprise. The Manager, Strategic Sourcing does not directly purchase goods or services, but acts as the primary owner of the sourcing process and supplier management for their categories. The chief metrics for sourcing are quality, delivery, and price. The ideal candidate demonstrates exceptional critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and a strong drive to deliver results. Success in this role also requires strong interpersonal skills, the ability to foster effective team collaboration, and a partnership mindset with functional owners and business stakeholders. The Manager is expected to act as a steward of the supply chain within the business, identifying opportunities for improvement in process, cost, or other areas, and ensuring alignment with enterprise objectives.

II. Essential Duties and Responsibilities To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Other minor duties may be assigned.

  • Develops and implements category strategies & playbooks aligned with enterprise objectives, in close collaboration with cross-functional teams.
  • Leads RFx events (RFI, RFP, RFQ) for assigned categories, including bid preparation, evaluation, and supplier selection.
  • Manages supplier relationships, including performance reviews, issue resolution, and ongoing communications, while building strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Analyzes data and market trends-including commodity indices-to inform sourcing decisions, price negotiations, and strategy development, with a focus on quality, delivery, and price.
  • Collaborates with internal stakeholders to understand business needs and ensure alignment of sourcing strategies.
  • Partners with business units and functional owners to identify and drive opportunities for process, cost, or operational improvements, leveraging category expertise and a collaborative approach.
  • Negotiates major contracts and agreements, ensuring value, quality, delivery, and price compliance.
  • Researches and develops a pipeline of qualified suppliers for assigned categories.
  • Designs and applies supplier evaluation techniques to assess quality, reliability, and performance.
  • Tracks and reports on category performance, supplier effectiveness, and cost savings.
  • Maintains technical, analytical, and industry skills by attending training, seminars, and industry events as needed.

III. Supervisory Responsibilities This position does not have direct reports at hire, but may have support roles assigned in the future.

IV. Qualifications The requirements listed below are representative of the qualifications necessary to perform the job.

A. Education and Experience

  • Education: Bachelor's Degree (accredited), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) preferred.
  • Experience: 5 years of relevant work experience (in addition to education requirement), preferably in strategic sourcing or category management for enterprise categories.

B. Certificates, Licenses, Registrations or Other Requirements

  • None required, Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) preferred.

C. Other Knowledge, Skills or Abilities Required

  • Strong critical thinking and analytical skills.
  • Demonstrated intellectual curiosity and drive to deliver results.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a proven ability to build relationships and collaborate across teams and functions.
  • Familiarity with commodity indices, as well as their impact on sourcing and price negotiations.
  • Experience in Uniforms, First Aid, Fire Safety, Facilities Maintenance, Third-Party Services, or similar categories preferred.
  • Six Sigma Training (nice to have).

V. Work Environment Normal setting for this job is: office setting. Ability to travel 5-10% of year.

Office: This job primarily operates in a professional office environment and routinely requires the use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, copy machines, etc.

VI. Benefits

At WM, each eligible employee receives a competitive total compensation package that includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short-term disability. In addition, we offer a stock purchase plan, company matching on a 401(k), and more. Employees also receive paid vacation, holidays, and personal days. Please note that benefits may vary by site.

If this sounds like the opportunity that you have been looking for, please click Apply.

ABOUT WM

WM (WM.com) is North America''s leading provider of comprehensive environmental solutions. Previously known as Waste Management and based in Houston, Texas, WM is driven by commitments to put people first and achieve success with integrity. The company, through its subsidiaries, provides collection, recycling and disposal services to millions of residential, commercial, industrial, medical and municipal customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. With innovative infrastructure and capabilities in recycling, organics and renewable energy, WM provides environmental solutions to and collaborates with its customers in helping them pursue their sustainability goals. WM has the largest disposal network and collection fleet in North America, is the largest recycler of post‑consumer materials and is a leader in beneficial use of landfill gas, with a growing network of renewable natural gas plants and the most landfill gas‑to‑electricity plants in North America. WM's fleet includes more than 12,000 natural gas trucks - the largest heavy‑duty natural gas truck fleet in the industry in North America. Healthcare Solutions provides collection and disposal services of regulated medical waste, as well as secure information destruction services, in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe. To learn more about WM and the company's sustainability progress and solutions, visit Sustainability.WM.com.

Equal Employment Opportunity

For United States: WM is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

For Canada: WM is committed to the principle of equal employment for all applicants and employees, without discrimination on the basis of all grounds protected by applicable human rights legislation. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please notify us if you require accommodation.

Real ID

In order to travel by air or access federal property, federal law requires individuals have a REAL ID or an acceptable alternative. This position may require the successful candidate to travel by air for business reasons or service federal property. Accordingly, successful candidates must have, or be willing to obtain, a REAL ID or TSA‑approved alternative.

About the Company

W

Waste Management Inc

Waste Management is the largest environmental solutions provider in North America, serving more than 21 million municipal, commercial and industrial customers in the U.S. and Canada. We have invested in developing waste solutions for a changing world. Today, this includes not just disposal and recycling, but personal counseling to help customers achieve their green goals, including zero waste.

Waste Management is North America’s largest residential recycler and a renewable energy provider. We recover the naturally occurring gas inside landfills to generate electricity, called landfill-gas-to-energy. Waste Management’s fleet of natural gas trucks is the largest heavy-duty truck fleet of its kind in North America. With the largest network of recycling facilities, transfer stations and landfills in the industry, our entire business can adapt to meet the needs of every distinct customer segment.

As North America’s leading provider of comprehensive waste management services, our mission is to maximize resource value while minimizing impact in order to further both economic and environmental sustainability for all of our stakeholders.

COMPANY SIZE
10,000 employees or more
INDUSTRY
Other/Not Classified
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Paid Sick Days, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401K, Stock Options, Flexible Spending Accounts, Retirement / Pension Plans, Life Insurance
FOUNDED
1968
WEBSITE
https://careers.wm.com/us/en