Strategic Sourcing Sr Advisor Job Chicago area,Illinois USA,Business

At HCSC, our employees are the cornerstone of our business and the foundation to our success. We empower employees with curated development plans that foster growth and promote rewarding, fulfilling careers.

Join HCSC and be part of a purpose-driven company that will invest in your professional development.

As a key member of the Procurement organization, the Strategic Sourcing Senior Advisor is responsible for developing and executing category strategies for Professional Services with a primary focus on IT Consulting, IT Managed Services, IT Outsourcing, and related technology-enabled services. This role serves as a trusted advisor to business and technology leaders, driving sourcing decisions that balance cost, quality, supplier performance, innovation, and risk.

This position does not support the procurement of IT hardware or software. The Senior Advisor will lead complex sourcing initiatives, commercial negotiations, category management activities, and supplier relationship strategies for critical enterprise spend categories. The role requires strong business acumen, financial analysis capabilities, executive stakeholder management, and the ability to identify opportunities for cost reduction, cost avoidance, supplier consolidation, and value creation.

Success in this role will be measured by the ability to influence business outcomes, deliver measurable savings, optimize supplier performance, and support enterprise strategic objectives. As an Advisor you will gain a vast knowledge of the inner workings and operations for one of the largest healthcare plans in North America. Successful candidates should have a strong desire to learn about the healthcare industry.

Key Responsibilities

Lead strategic sourcing activities including RFPs, RFIs, market assessments, supplier evaluations, and category management initiatives.

Partner with business and technology stakeholders to define requirements, develop sourcing strategies, and align procurement activities with business objectives.

Conduct internal and external market research, financial analysis, supplier benchmarking, total cost of ownership (TCO) assessments, and pricing evaluations to support sourcing recommendations.

Independently analyze industry trends, supplier capabilities, market dynamics, and category risks to develop actionable sourcing strategies.

Lead complex commercial negotiations including contracts, Statements of Work (SOWs), rate cards, service-level agreements, pricing structures, and other commercial terms.

Develop and execute supplier management strategies focused on performance, risk mitigation, innovation, and value realization.

Build and maintain relationships with executive stakeholders while managing escalations and competing business priorities.

Identify and drive cost reduction, cost avoidance, demand management, and supplier optimization opportunities across the category portfolio.

Manage multiple sourcing initiatives simultaneously while ensuring project timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder expectations are achieved.

Prepare and deliver executive-level presentations, business cases, sourcing recommendations, and negotiation strategies.

Actively participate in savings initiatives and contribute to category roadmaps, supplier rationalization efforts, and long-term procurement strategies.

Required Job Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience
8+ years progressive experience in procurement, supplier management, category management
Proficient at MS Excel, Word, Outlook, and Power Point
Strategic and innovative thinker able to influence and advise the business areas
Strong executive presence with outstanding interpersonal, verbal, written communication, and presentation skills
Critical thinking, analytical skills and business acumen
Conflict resolution skills
Consistent thought leadership

Preferred Job Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, Engineering or a related field
MBA or Masters Degree
Experience sourcing and negotiating IT Professional Services, including IT Consulting, IT Managed Services, IT Outsourcing and Staff Augmentation engagements
Experience negotiating complex commercial agreements, including Master Services Agreements (MSAs), Statements of Work (SOWs), resource pricing models and supplier rate cards
Experience developing business cases and performing financial analysis to support sourcing strategies, supplier selection and investment decisions
Experience conducting supplier benchmarking, cost modeling, and total cost of ownership analyses to identify savings and value creation opportunities
Knowledge of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and technology-enables service delivery models
Knowledge of e-Procurement systems and tools; experience utilizing Procure-to-Pay and Contracting modules or similar procurement systems
Advanced Excel and data analysis capabilities with the ability to translate complex data into actionable business recommendations

This is a Flex (Hybrid) role: 3 days in office; 2…