Strategic Sourcing Lead, Professional Services

OpenAI

. Own and continuously evolve the Professional Services category strategy and execution roadmap .

Posted 9/29/2026full-timeSan Francisco • California • United StatesSenior💰 $234,000 - $260,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates extensive experience in strategic sourcing and category management, particularly in Professional Services, with a strong focus on negotiation, stakeholder engagement, and process improvement. Proficient in leveraging AI to enhance sourcing workflows while ensuring compliance and governance.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Strategic SourcingProfessional Services Category ManagementComplex NegotiationsAI-Driven Workflow RedesignFinancial and Analytical Fluency

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Strategic SourcingCategory ManagementNegotiationSupplier GovernanceContract ManagementData AnalysisMarket AnalysisRisk ManagementPerformance GovernanceCost Avoidance

Soft Skills

Influencing StakeholdersStructured ThinkingClear CommunicationCollaborationAccountability

Tools & Technologies

AI ToolsReporting SoftwareContract Management SystemsSpend Analysis ToolsSupplier Management Platforms

Industry Keywords

Professional ServicesConsultingAdvisory ServicesManaged ServicesProject-Based Work

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Own and continuously evolve the Professional Services category strategy and execution roadmap
Set priorities based on business needs, operating goals, market insight, and risk considerations
Own multiple complex sourcing workstreams end to end
Lead strategic negotiations and manage a high-throughput portfolio of services engagements
Build trusted partnerships with senior stakeholders and clarify tradeoffs
Lead complex negotiations and design commercial structures, including master services agreements, statements of work, milestone- and outcome-based pricing, rate cards, acceptance criteria, change controls, audit rights, and termination protections
Build scalable category mechanisms, including intake and tiering, category plans, preferred-partner models, supplier segmentation, negotiation playbooks, approval pathways, and escalation mechanisms
Strengthen the supplier ecosystem through competitive sourcing, consolidation, performance governance, business reviews, and value-realization plans
Partner with Finance and Accounting to improve spend visibility, forecasting, approval discipline, invoice-to-contract alignment, accounting treatment, and auditability
Partner with Legal, People, and Extended Workforce to distinguish professional services from contingent labor and reduce co-employment, scope, intellectual-property, and delivery risk
Produce executive-ready reporting on pipeline health, savings and cost avoidance, cycle time, supplier performance, renewal exposure, risk, forecast accuracy, and realized business value
Drive reliable execution through documentation, clean data, timely approvals, and process improvements
Use AI to redesign sourcing workflows, including intake, market and supplier analysis, negotiation preparation, contract and spend analysis, documentation, reporting, and decision support

Requirements

What you’ll need

8+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or category management, with significant depth in Professional Services
Experience owning Professional Services category strategy and sourcing end to end, from intake and competitive sourcing through contracting, governance, renewals, and long-term supplier strategy
Experience leading complex, high-stakes services negotiations
Understanding of consulting, advisory, managed services, and project-based work
Understanding of boundaries between professional services, contingent labor, and full-time hiring
Experience building or improving category operating mechanisms, including intake, tiering, preferred-partner models, playbooks, reporting, or supplier governance
Demonstrated experience using AI to redesign sourcing workflows while preserving human review and controls
Ability to influence senior stakeholders through trust, structured thinking, sound judgment, and clear communication of tradeoffs
Strong financial and analytical fluency
Ability to operate through ambiguity, rapid change, and limited structure
Hands-on ownership, accountability, humility, and team-first collaboration

Benefits

Comp & perks

Equity
Performance-related bonus(es) for eligible employees
Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts
Pre-tax accounts for Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and commuter expenses (parking and transit)
401(k) retirement plan with employer match
Paid parental leave (up to 24 weeks for birth parents and 20 weeks for non-birthing parents)
Paid medical and caregiver leave (up to 8 weeks)
Flexible PTO for exempt employees and up to 15 days annually for non-exempt employees
13+ paid company holidays
Multiple paid coordinated company office closures throughout the year for focus and recharge
Paid sick or safe time (1 hour per 30 hours worked, or more, as required by applicable state or local law)
Mental health and wellness support
Employer-paid basic life and disability coverage
Annual learning and development stipend
Daily meals in offices
Meal delivery credits as eligible
Relocation support for eligible employees
Additional taxable fringe benefits, such as charitable donation matching and wellness stipends, may also be provided
Immigration and sponsorship support may be provided based on individual circumstances