Title: Strategic Sourcing Manager Location: San Francisco, CA 94158 or New York, NY 10007 Duration :5 Months #89697 Pay Rate : $75-$80/hr Top Responsibilities Strategic Sourcing & Category Strategy: Drive spend optimization and category strategies for Creative, Production, and Experiential Events using market intelligence, spend analysis, and data-driven business cases. Contracting & Agency Management: Lead RFXs and negotiate complex commercial agreements (MSAs, SOWs, rate cards) with creative agencies, venues, staffing, and event logistics vendors. Cost Benchmarking & Operations: Partner with third-party production cost consultants to review bids, benchmark pricing, and ensure maximum ROI on marketing expenditures. Stakeholder & Vendor Management: Build cross-functional relationships, manage end-to-end vendor performance against targets, and lead project implementation and change management plans. Mandatory Requirements Candidates must at least 4 years of direct, hands-on experience in Creative and Production. Candidates must be senior enough to execute end-to-end sourcing, negotiate domain-specific contracts (SOWs, MSAs), and manage stakeholder relationships completely independently from day one. • Experience analyzing spend, assessing supply markets, and identifying sourcing opportunities. • Experience supporting or leading sourcing initiatives, including RFXs and supplier negotiations. • Strong analytical skills with the ability to develop and present business cases and cost/benefit analyses. • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to advise stakeholders and influence decisions. • Ability to take initiative, operate within prescribed parameters, and implement work with minimal guidance. • Experience negotiating with creative, production, or experiential event agencies and vendors. • Familiarity with common commercial models (e.g. firm bid vs cost plus, hourly rate cards, retainer structures) Desired Skills • Experience supporting marketing-related categories specifically Creative/Production and Events. • Experience with supplier performance management and change management. • Strong Excel, data analysis, and presentation skills. • Experience working in a matrixed environment with multiple stakeholder groups. • Familiarity with industry associations such as the ANA, WFA, AICP, or AICE. • Experience with SOW/contract management tools. • Exposure to production cost consultancy or bid review processes for creative/production work.