IT Sourcing and Contracts, Senior Manager; US CA, NY, DC

We are UMG, the Universal Music Group. We are the worlds leading music company. In everything we do, we are committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship. We own and operate a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content in more than 60 countries. We identify and develop recording artists and songwriters, and we produce, distribute and promote the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music to delight and entertain fans around the world.

UMGs Sourcing & Contracts team own and facilitate the processes around collecting requirements from the Global Technology Group and other business groups (such as Global Security, Consumer Marketing, eCommerce, Data & Analytics, Royalties, Publishing, HR, and Finance), sourcing vendors, negotiating new contracts and administering existing contracts. Currently, UMG holds several hundred agreements with various providers of professional services and/or technology services/ platforms world-wide.

The bulk of these agreements reside in the US and UK as global, regional or local agreements. The IT Senior Manager, Sourcing & Contracts will be part of the centralized Sourcing and Contract Management team, which is responsible for global leveraging of vendor products and services, and includes sourcing, contract negotiation and associated procurement activities. The scope of the team ensures that the best deals are in place for UMG worldwide and UMG is properly protected in its contractual arrangements.

• Review, revise, benchmark, negotiate, and execute master and associated agreements for the procurement of goods and services (predominantly technology-based), with the ability to manage multi-year high value ($M+) or high visibility agreements.
• Measure progress to meet project deadlines and service level objectives.
• Act as an advisor on potential risk and options throughout the contract re-write process; will be responsible for quality assurance in ensuring that contract documents are accurate, complete and cohesive; and will need to undertake such other administrative and analytical duties as may be required from time to time.
• Engage with external IT vendors, as well as internal IT SMEs/Management, Legal/ Privacy, Risk Management, Finance and Vendor Management Office personnel.
• Provide support throughout the vendor sourcing process, including requirements gathering and the management of sometimes complex RFI/RFPs through to contract execution.
• Manage the acquisition process for products and services via the UMG procurement system, and facilitate resolutions to queries or concerns.
• Ensure adherence to the Procurement Policy, rules of engagement and best practices for sourcing/negotiation process, and standard/ template contracts and contract terms.
• Monitor Sourcing and Contract Management processes, identifying opportunities to:
• Proactively communicate with clients and vendors/providers;
• Effectively contain and reduce costs (Cost Avoidance and Cost Reduction);
• Efficiently create and administer contracts.
• Develop and maintain a broad understanding of sourcing/procurement best practices and the technology industry through the assessment of emerging and changing business and technical needs.

• Self-motivated, proactive, and resourceful; can work independently with minimal supervision, and ability to multi-task/work with multiple UMG resources in parallel in order to facilitate expeditious finalization of contracts.
• Excellent follow-through and attention to detail, especially with respect to contract review and contract/ financial reporting.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office
  365 products, and good knowledge of collaboration and contract management tools, (such as Zoom, , and iCertis/ Docu Sign); and SAP-based procurement tools.
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills, a detailed-oriented team player who deals effectively with co-workers and internal clients at all levels.
• Ability to maintain composure and be respectful with vendors, despite often difficult conversations/…