Strategic Sourcing Specialist - Professional Services

Who are we? Cohere is the leading security-first enterprise AI company. We build cutting-edge foundation AI models and end-to-end products that are designed to solve real-world business problems. We’re training and deploying frontier models for enterprises who are building AI systems. We believe that our work is instrumental to the widespread adoption of AI and we are looking for folks that want to be part of that. We obsess over what we build. Each one of us is responsible for contributing to increasing the capabilities of our models and the value they drive for our customers. Cohere is a team of researchers, engineers, designers, and more, who are all passionate about their craft. We are a global technology company headquartered in Toronto with key offices in London, New York City, San Francisco, Montreal, Paris, Berlin and Seoul. Join us! Why This Role: Cohere seeks a Strategic Sourcing Specialist to support our Professional Services Procurement function. In this role, you will focus on executing Strategic Sourcing activities across key categories as we grow. You will work with teams like FP&A, Accounting, Legal, and business stakeholders to support our procurement operations. This is a great opportunity for a hands-on Procurement professional who enjoys working in a growing environment and helping implement efficient processes. Contract Terms: This is a 12-month fixed-term contract position with the potential for conversion to a permanent role based on business needs and performance. Please note that conversion to a permanent position is not automatic and will be subject to a separate evaluation process and mutual agreement between the candidate and Cohere. This arrangement provides an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your capabilities and contribute to our strategic procurement initiatives while allowing both parties to assess long-term fit. Key Responsibilities: - Manage Procurement & Sourcing activities for Professional Services categories including Consulting, Marketing (events, media, services), Legal, Communications and other external services - Develop and execute strategic sourcing initiatives to optimize costs and service quality - Own the end-to-end Procurement lifecycle from needs assessment to contract execution - Lead and manage the complete RFP/RFQ process from development through vendor evaluation and selection - Develop and implement category management strategies across Professional Services - Conduct comprehensive market research, competitive analysis, and supplier benchmarking - Drive cost optimization initiatives and track savings realization - Analyze spending patterns and identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements - Manage contract lifecycle including renewals, amendments, and terminations - Manage vendor relationships and negotiations for Professional Services providers - Evaluate vendor performance and conduct strategic sourcing initiatives - Ensure compliance with Procurement policy and regulations - Bridge the gap between Procurement and Accounting to ensure proper PO management and payment processes - Maintain robust documentation and internal controls - Collaborate with cross-functional teams (FP&A, Accounting, Legal, business stakeholders) to align Procurement strategies with Business objectives - Prepare reports on Procurement performance, savings, and Vendor Management Qualifications: - Bachelor’s degree in Procurement, Finance, Business or related field - 8-10 years of progressive procurement experience - Proven experience leading Procurement for Professional Services categories - Strong Strategic Sourcing and negotiation skills - Experience managing vendor relationships and contracts - Demonstrated experience in category management and strategic sourcing methodologies - Strong risk assessment and mitigation skills for supplier selection - Ability to conduct market research, benchmarking, RFPs, and competitive analysis - Experience with supplier evaluation, selection, and performance management - Proven track record of cost optimization and savings achievement - Proficiency in procurement software and ERP systems (Omnea preferred) - Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities - Strong communication and interpersonal skills - Ability to influence stakeholders and drive procurement initiatives - Experience with P2P (procure to pay) processes - Professional certification in procurement or supply chain (preferred)