Strategic Sourcing Specialist
Permanent - Full TimeJob Overview
We’re looking for a Strategic Sourcing Specialist to join our team in APAC. In this role, you’ll be responsible for building, managing, and optimizing the global network of external partners and suppliers we rely on to deliver high-quality work for our clients.
You’ll spot capability gaps, proactively source new partners, and improve how we work with them. You’ll be the bridge between internal teams and our external partners, ensuring smooth collaboration from pitch to delivery.
If you have 6+ years of experience, a strong operational mindset, and the ability to think strategically about how networks can drive value, this role offers real ownership and impact.
Responsibilities
Project Delivery Support
- Partner with internal teams to match project needs with the right external resources.
- Assess partner availability, budget, and suitability for each request.
- Coordinate timelines and handoffs with Project Managers.
- Support both direct project execution and broader capacity planning.
- Take ownership of complex or high-volume sourcing requests.
Pre-Sales Support
- Collaborate with sales teams to propose tailored solutions using our network.
- Deliver fast, accurate cost estimates and feasibility checks.
- Oversee end-to-end partner onboarding: contracts, legal documentation, tool access, and training.
- Build and maintain a central library of partner services, capabilities, and rate cards for reuse in proposals.
Network Management
- Develop and nurture strong relationships with research-enabling suppliers.
- Proactively identify and vet new partners via LinkedIn, industry networks, and referrals.
- Monitor partner performance and consolidate feedback from internal stakeholders.
- Spot capability gaps in the current network and onboard new partners to address them.
- Educate partners on key requirements, including data privacy and operational expectations.
Business Enablement
- Train and support new team members on how to effectively engage with the network.
- Create scalable sales enablement materials (e.g., partner profiles, capability overviews, rate guides).
- Anticipate future business needs and build network capacity in advance.
Financial Administration
- Own reporting and performance tracking for your assigned network.
- Ensure purchase orders are raised, approved, and tracked correctly.
- Partner with Finance to improve cost visibility and reporting processes.
- Proactively identify opportunities for rate negotiations and cost efficiencies.
Qualifications
- 6+ years in a relevant role, ideally within an agency, research, or marketing services environment.
- Bachelor's degree in marketing, Languages, Mathematics, or related field.
- Deep knowledge of the tools and platforms required to execute key responsibilities, with a proven ability to translate that expertise into scalable best practices and team standards.
- Skilled at making complex technical concepts simple and accessible; able to transfer knowledge clearly and comprehensively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Possesses the technical grounding to constructively challenge experts and engage in informed, solution-oriented discussions across relevant domains.
- Solid grasp of core market research principles, particularly as they relate to this role’s day-to-day responsibilities.
- Understands how market research drives business value and can articulate its strategic role in organizational decision-making.
- Up to date on common research methodologies and marketing activation solutions; knows what’s available, what works, and how to apply it.