Principal Officer (Strategy & Implementation Management)

Job Posting Organization:
The organization is the largest nonprofit dedicated to fighting poverty, disease, and inequity globally. Founded on the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives, the foundation emphasizes diversity among its employees to reflect the populations it serves. It offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, generous paid time off, family leave, retirement contributions, and opportunities for employee engagement. The foundation is committed to fostering a supportive work environment for personal and professional growth.

Job Overview:
The Principal Officer (Strategy & Implementation Management) will be a key member of the Strategic Sourcing & Procurement (SS&P) team within the Global Financial & Accounting Services (GFAS) department. This role involves strategic sourcing, category management, vendor management, and ensuring compliance with procurement policies. The officer will design and implement category management frameworks, develop stakeholder engagement strategies, and act as a change catalyst to enhance sourcing practices across the foundation. The position requires collaboration with various departments to manage vendor procurement processes and negotiate contracts, ensuring that sourcing is recognized as a strategic partner within the organization. The ideal candidate will possess strong strategic sourcing experience and excellent communication skills, particularly with senior leadership, and will be expected to manage multiple responsibilities effectively while delivering high-quality work.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Define and operationalize the category management framework for consulting and professional services across the foundation’s program spend.
• Develop and execute a multi-year category strategy aligned with SS&P’s long-term objectives and the foundation’s mission.
• Build adoption strategies for sourcing practices in a non-mandated environment, demonstrating value to drive voluntary engagement.
• Partner with the Foundation Strategy Office to develop internal and external engagement strategies and prioritize the maturity roadmap.
• Act as a champion of change, orchestrating transformation across diverse partners to embed sourcing as a strategic enabler.
• Build consensus and secure executive sponsorship through data-driven insights and clear value articulation.
• Educate and advise senior leaders on the Source-to-Contract process, positioning sourcing as a trusted advisor.
• Partner with the Program Sourcing Partner to execute engagement plans, including negotiating large complex vendor agreements.
• Leverage spend analytics and market intelligence to identify opportunities and influence key decisions. 1
• Define and track key performance indicators to measure adoption, efficiency, and value creation, reporting results to senior management. 1
• Anticipate market and industry trends to proactively adapt sourcing strategies.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience combined with a minimum of 10+ years of procurement experience, specifically in sourcing and procurement with strong negotiating, contracting, and category management expertise.
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise in management consulting categories, ideally in global health and strategy.
• Solid understanding of procurement systems such as Coupa, D&B, DocuSign, Concur, and Dynamics.
• Analytical and data-focused approach that can provide actionable insights via dashboards.
• Comfortable using AI tools for procurement processes.
• Strong service excellence, detail orientation, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in vendor discovery and contract negotiation across corporate services.
• Strong customer service mentality and project management skills.
• Experience in collaborating with legal teams to execute and negotiate vendor contracts. 1
• Ability to present to various audiences, from individual teams to executive levels, with clear and concise communication.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree is required, with a preference for fields related to business, finance, or procurement. Equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of a degree, particularly if it includes substantial procurement and sourcing experience.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in procurement, with a strong emphasis on strategic sourcing and category management. Experience in management consulting and familiarity with global health strategies will be advantageous. The role requires a proven track record of negotiating complex vendor agreements and managing vendor relationships effectively.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is essential due to the nature of the role and the need for effective communication with diverse stakeholders. Additional language skills may be beneficial but are not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
This is a 2-year Limited Term Employment position based in Seattle, WA. Relocation support will be provided for candidates who need to move to Seattle for the role. The salary range for this position is between $154,200 to $231,400 USD, with higher ranges for candidates in Seattle and Washington D.C. The organization emphasizes a balance between competitive pay and its mission-driven focus. New hires typically start between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range, depending on their skills and experience. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.