Strategic Sourcing and Vendor Manager
athene · West Des Moines, Iowa ·
- Employment
- Contract
- Category
- Management
- Experience
- 5+ years
We are driven to do more. More for our customers and the financial professionals who offer our products. If you are driven to do more and love the challenge of pursuing more, Athene is your kind of company. You will find we offer more than the basics to create an inclusive and dynamic work environment at our various locations.
Purpose:
The Strategic Sourcing and Vendor Manager will lead sourcing and vendor management strategies across critical technology and professional services categories, including software and SaaS, public and private cloud services, software licensing, staff augmentation, and managed services. This role will partner across the organization to negotiate complex agreements, optimize spend, manage supplier risk and performance, and build strategic vendor relationships that deliver sustainable business value.At Athene, you’ll have the opportunity to operate at scale in a fast-moving organization focused on growth and innovation. Our strategic relationship with Apollo provides access to broader capabilities and insights, while our BEAM values encourage employees to collaborate, act like owners, challenge conventional thinking, and make things happen.
Accountabilities:
Key Deliverables
Develop and execute strategic sourcing and category strategies across technology and professional services, including software, SaaS, cloud infrastructure and hyperscale services such as AWS, Oracle, IT services, staff augmentation, and managed services.
Lead complex sourcing initiatives from market assessment and RFx development through supplier evaluation, negotiation, contracting, and implementation, balancing commercial value, service quality, and technology risk with long-term business objectives.
Negotiate complex agreements, pricing, commercial terms, and service levels while effectively distinguishing and prioritizing legal, commercial, operational, and relationship risks in partnership with Legal, Finance, IT, Human Capital, and other stakeholders.
Build strategic supplier relationships and establish effective vendor governance through KPIs, SLAs, business reviews, performance management, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Analyze spend, market dynamics, supplier capabilities, and emerging technologies to identify cost optimization opportunities, inform sourcing decisions, and provide actionable recommendations to business and executive stakeholders.
Drive innovation and continuous improvement across sourcing and vendor management, including thoughtful use of AI, automation, analytics, and procurement technology to streamline routine work, strengthen insights, and enable greater focus on strategic activities.
Qualifications and Experience:
What You Need to Bring
5+ years of procurement and strategic sourcing experience, including IT software, SaaS, software licensing, cloud services, IT services, or professional services, or relevant experience.
Demonstrated success leading complex strategic sourcing initiatives, including developing scopes of work, managing RFx processes, evaluating suppliers, negotiating commercial terms, contracting, and delivering measurable business value.
Strong judgment and negotiation skills, with the ability to assess legal, commercial, operational, and relationship considerations and influence decisions with senior executives (CIO, CTO, COO) and other cross-functional stakeholders.
Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to interpret spend and market data, identify opportunities, adapt to changing priorities, and move from analysis to action with sound judgment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and experience in crafting summaries, presentations, and leading meetings with senior executives on strategic priorities.
Understanding of cloud infrastructure, PaaS, SaaS, software licensing, and technology procurement models; experience with sourcing and contract-management software such as Levelpath, Oracle E-Business Suite, DocuSign, or similar tools is a plus.
AI fluency and experience applying tools such as Claude, ChatGPT, or similar technologies to research, analysis, contract review, or workflow efficiency is preferred.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, or a related field, or equivalent experience; advanced degree preferred.
Drive. Discipline. Confidence. Focus. Commitment. Learn more about working at Athene.
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Athene is committed to inclusion and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.