Strategic Sourcing Principal - Remote Opportunity!

Futures start here. Where first steps, new friendships, and confident learners are born. At KinderCare Learning Companies, the first and only early childhood education provider recognized with theGallup Exceptional Workplace Award, we offer a variety of early education and child care options for families. Whether it's KinderCare Learning Centers, Champions, or Crème de la Crème, we build confidence for kids, families, and the future we share. And we want you to join us in shaping it—in neighborhoods, at work, and in schools nationwide.

At KinderCare Learning Companies, you'll use your skills and expertise to support the work (and fun) that happens in our sites and centers every day. From marketers and strategists to financial analysts and data engineers, and so much more, we're all passionate about crafting a world where children, families, and organizations can thrive.

The Strategic Sourcing Principal plays a significant role in driving procurement value across a portfolio of brands including KinderCare, Champions, Crème de la Crème, and the Corporate Headquarters. This role focuses on strategic sourcing, supplier management, and optimizing supply processes, especially for products and services that support our growth and Centers!

In this managerial level, individual contributor role, you will strategically source products and services used by Centers while managing several critical supplier relationships including our largest supplier that provides food distribution and will partner with the Growth team on their supply processes to ensure efficient delivery of products to new Centers. You'll be responsible for delivering exceptional outcomes in terms of financial benefit and operational improvements while working closely and in alignment with cross functional partners.

Responsibilities:

• Lead strategic sourcing projects including comprehensive category strategies, financial model development in collaboration with team Analysts, develop and run RFP's, define and execute negotiation strategies to deliver maximum benefit and document contracts to ensure delivery of project wins
• Define supplier performance plans to drive accountability, streamline our interactions, continually improve performance and deliver outcomes for key suppliers that provide products and/or services for food distribution, food products, GPO, growth delivery and a portfolio of other strategically sourced product and service suppliers
• Collaborate with the Growth Delivery team to ensure seamless product delivery and scalable expansion for new Centers and acquisitions
• Lead Procurement programs such as New Center kits and summer program products outlining comprehensive supply and order process programs which ensure a flawless execution with minimal administration time
• Own contract lifecycles, crafting contracts from templates, writing business terms, facilitating reviews with experts and partners, and detailing the scope, effort, key wins and risks to acquire approvals and final execution
• Represent Procurement as a trusted advisor and partner, solving issues appropriately and timely and demonstrating the value procurement delivers including measurable savings and improvements across the organization

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience, preferably in business.
• Minimum of 5 years progressive procurement experience which includes both sourcing and supplier management in centralized corporate procurement environment for a multi-unit business. (Procurement solely in a manufacturing operation is not applicable and won't be considered)
• Strong initiative and drive to deliver results, thrives in dynamic environments and proactively overcomes obstacles.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills including the ability to convey sophisticated topics clearly and succinctly
• Skilled in cross functional engagement that reflects curiosity, care, responsiveness, respect and alignment
• Ability to handle multiple diverse priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Sophisticated contract management knowledge, including knowledge of legal terms, writing business terms and identifying risk
• Strong investigation and analytical skills with the ability to research to identify and curate appropriate and pertinent data and synthesize into actionable insights
• Confidence in influencing and making sound business decisions that appropriately engages others and considers key data points
• Attention to detail, impeccable organization and follow through.
• Experience with a Procurement ERP system required with Workday Procurement a plus. Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, especially advanced Excel and PowerPoint