Manager of Strategic Sourcing, Software and Engineering

The Global Strategic Sourcing team helps maximize value and minimize risk through Zendesk’s vendor relationships and ensures the organization has the goods and services needed for success. As Manager of Strategic Sourcing, you will play a key role during the sourcing strategy and execution across software and engineering categories.

What You Will Do

Strategic Guidance & Influence: Guide and influence business and senior leadership through key strategic projects and procurement strategy, focusing on critical vendor management, integration, and informed purchase guidance aligned to Zendesk growth and partner vision. Forecasting & Data Alignment: Develop, maintain, and validate accurate forecasts for usage, licenses, and capacity for key contracts.

Why It Might Be a Fit

5+ years of experience sourcing for a tech or software company, Strong software and engineering strategic negotiation skills, Proven team player and ability to build and maintain business partnerships, Executive level communication and presentation skills, Highly motivated towards achieving cost savings and operational improvement goals

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience sourcing for a tech or software company
• Strong software and engineering strategic negotiation skills
• Proven team player and 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
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise in AI infrastructure, including RAG frameworks, AI gateways, and consumption-based pricing models
• Understanding of how AI and automation are reshaping the competitive landscape for software and professional services vendors
• Proven ability to integrate commercial strategy with a technical ecosystem, specifically leveraging hyperscaler routes for negotiating better terms and model portability
• Experience negotiating with vendors offering revenue-based pricing models and managing data usage agreements that involve AI/LLM usage, such as API renewals

Benefits

• bonus
• benefits
• related incentives