Procurement & Sourcing Operations Analyst, Specialist

Leads procurement and sourcing operations and serves as key contact to evaluate suppliers and vendors.

Mission Statement: Creating strategic third-party value while protecting the interest of Vanguard and our stakeholders.

ESM is a centralized, global organization responsible for managing the enterprise-wide, end-to-end purchasing experience. ESM helps uphold Vanguard’s mission by enabling the company to maximize its third-party supplier relationships through sourcing strategies, performance and risk management activities, and providing accurate and timely payments to our suppliers. With more than 4,000 suppliers supporting Vanguard's, it's critical that we continually identify ways to enhance and derive value from these relationships.

 

The ESM organization was created to proactively identify opportunities with suppliers and capture increased value for Vanguard crew. While cost avoidance and/or savings on individual contracts is valuable, the group also acts to ensure business units select suppliers that closely align with Vanguard's interests (like securing sensitive data or providing best-in-class client service) and fostering strategic relationships with more innovative partners.

About the Role. The Sourcing Lead in Dublin, Ireland will be a team of one to start and will work with other team members, clients and suppliers both in-region and remotely across the globe. They will support, execute and manage third-party supply and demand requests. This includes meeting regularly with key clients and suppliers, understanding their strategic business needs, understanding the suppliers in the market (their current capabilities and roadmaps), collaborating on cost savings/reduction efforts with Financial Planning to clearly link ESM’s value capture back into P&Ls. Regular monthly reporting is required. This role will report directly into the Head of ESM for Vanguard’s International Division, who is located in Vanguard’s London office, and will matrix into a member of the Finance Leadership Team in Dublin.

Core Responsibilities

Transactional Excellence

• Leads and prepares low-medium complexity strategic sourcing transactions, negotiations, and supplier selection (including competitive bidding) for products and services.
• Interfaces with other sourcing teams, business leaders, legal and risk partners for each transaction.
• Manages contracts and relationships for suppliers within categories, including, but not limited to: Technology (including AI), Marketing, Human Resources, and Professional Services and Facilities.
• Communicates project status and issues regularly to stakeholders, including leaders and senior managers.
• Ensures that the contracting team (Contract Advisory) receives documents in good order.
• Ensures the Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) team receives the proper information about each transaction.
• Communicates contract requirements, obligations, and risk exposures to key stakeholders.
• Ensures proper closure of transactions including accurate data and proper handoff to the business lead and supplier.

Category Strategies, including Data Analysis & Presentations

• Performs supply market data analysis and recommends suppliers to the business.
• Identifies and is knowledgeable of industry trends. Ensures category strategies are aligned with the overall business strategy.
• Leverages data analytics and insights into such strategies that are aligned to the businesses funding and forecasting.
• Provides insight regarding best practices and common obstacles based on prior experiences.
• Prepares and presents analysis, findings, and potential solutions. Crafts data into a compelling story with actionable insights.

Stakeholder Management

• Builds and maintains effective relationships. Proactively fosters communication between internal and external stakeholders.
• Drives engagements, resolves issues, and involves stakeholders as needed.
• Proactively identifies, manages, and mitigates risks and any related issues.
• Communicates solutions on key issues to management and stakeholders to obtain their input and buy-in as appropriate.

Procurement - Process Adherence & Goals

• Follows and champions global procurement process adherence. Supports related training efforts.
• Educates key stakeholders about considerations in support of the contract negotiation or supplier management process.
• Ensures application of fair business practices and procurement of products and services at the best execution and price.
• Ensures your individual time management is aligned to ESM’s overall goals and key initiatives.
• Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years related work experience, including supporting contract negotiations and competitive RFQ/RFI/RFPs.       
• Financial Services and/or Technology specific experience preferred.       
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience.      
• Flexible work hours are required to work with stakeholders across regions in different time zones. This is about 10%-20% per week.     
• Strong communication and relationship management skills are required. Ability (and willingness) to escalate proactively.  
• Proven ability to work autonomously is required.      
• Strong data analysis and reporting experience is required.       
• Executive presentation skills are preferred.        
• Experience working with remote teams is preferred.  

Location.

Dublin, Ireland with up to 10% travel expected to other European locations including London.

Work Schedule

Hybrid - Currently Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in the office, with other days as requested.

Special Factors

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

About Vanguard

We are Vanguard. Together, we’re changing the way the world invests.For us, investing doesn’t just end in value. It starts with values. Because when you invest with courage, when you invest with clarity, and when you invest with care, you get so much more in return. We invest with purpose—and that’s how we’ve become a global market leader. Here, we grow by doing the right thing for the people we serve. And so can you.We want to make success accessible to everyone. This is our opportunity. Let’s make it count.

Our core purpose: To take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.