IBM is seeking highly motivated individuals with prior procurement experience to join our Procurement BPO team of procurement consulting professionals. Our team provides procurement services to IBM’s external clients across all industry segments.
Specifically, we are seeking to fill the role of an Associate Procurement Consultant to support our clients’ procurement and strategic sourcing requirements in indirect spend categories such as: Facilities, MRO, Capital Equipment, Real Estate, Corporate & Professional Services, Information Technology, Marketing, Travel, Logistics, and Contingent Labor. This role requires regular business travel to remote client locations based on project requirements.
The Client Strategic Sourcing Buyer plays a pivotal role in driving end-to-end strategic sourcing for all sourcing categories across India, APAC, the US, and globally. This position supports client agreements by delivering cost savings, supplier optimization, and compliant procurement operations while translating business needs into high-impact sourcing strategies.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Sourcing & Analytics:
Lead sourcing (10-12+ years’ experience required across India/APAC) for all commodities globally, applying the 7-step strategic sourcing process.
Develop commodity-wise analytics, strategies, and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) models to inform vendor selection and recommendations.
Categorize suppliers (preferred, non-preferred, strategic) and provide guidance on tail spend management.
Translate client requirements into actionable sourcing plans, including RFPs, RFIs, market analysis, and procurement bidding processes (with full documentation and compliance for audits).
Roles & Responsibilities
Managing multiple competitive bid events for clients (i.e., Request for Proposal, Request for Quote, Request for Information, Reverse Auctions etc.) within assigned spend categories
Analyzing client’s historical spend data in one or more categories in order to identify sourcing opportunities, support category strategy development, and measure compliance with supplier agreements.
Building and maintaining stakeholder relationships across all levels of the client’s business, procurement, and legal organizations.
Negotiating commercial terms and facilitating contracting processes with the client’s suppliers
Analyzing and documenting cost savings versus historical spend to ensure IBM meets or exceeds contractual savings commitments to our clients
Identifying opportunities to transform the client’s procurement organization and policies, and to support the client in achieving its strategic business objectives
Supporting Global Category Leaders and Category Managers with development of category strategies and developing sourcing project strategies
Collaborating with peer consultants supporting our other clients to share and leverage useful templates, strategies, lessons learned, and case studies
Client Relationship Management: Ability to build rapport with clients and maintain professionalism in communications with all levels of client stakeholders. On-time delivery of high-quality analyses and presentations.
Data Analysis: Ability to utilize procurement and financial data to understand spending trends within a business, and to leverage that information to identify procurement insights that result in process efficiencies or cost savings for the client.
Strategic Thinking: Understanding of the importance of "big picture" thinking and planning. Ability to apply business acumen to focus on key success factors for the organization.
Accuracy and Attention to Detail: Understanding the necessity and value of accuracy and attention to detail; ability to process information with high levels of accuracy.
Dealing with Disorder: Knowledge of tactics and ability to function effectively in the face of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.
Microsoft Office: Strong knowledge and proficiency of Microsoft Office suite. Ability to efficiently and accurately analyze procurement data using Microsoft Excel, and to build client-ready presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint.
Procurement Knowledge: Knowledge of Procurement methods, technologies and processes.
Contract & Negotiation Management:
Negotiate agreement clauses, propose acceptance/non-acceptance to Legal, and finalize drafts.
Manage contract renewals, amendments, payment terms (to corporate standards), and timely supplier payments, resolving delays promptly.
Achieve and record savings targets per client agreements in tools like Excel, with proper documentation.
Supplier & Performance Management:
Build strong supplier relationships in Marketing (US/India focus), Facilities, and Construction; manage assessments, scorecards, performance metrics, cost reductions, and continuous improvements.
Document and track supplier spend, costs, delivery, and quality against commodity strategies.
Handle supplier issues, invoicing, compliance, and performance monitoring.
Procurement Operations & Stakeholder Support
Act as primary contact for stakeholders, requestors, suppliers, and AP; manage POs (creation, release, amendment, closure), MRB activities, queries, and escalations.
Ensure policy compliance, support cross-functional issue resolution, and drive operational excellence through process improvements.
Analyze complex problems to support organizational success; maintain bidding/process records for audits.
Required Skills & Tools:
Analytics: Advanced Excel, Tableau, Cognos; ERP knowledge (Ariba, Coupa, SAP) preferred.
Core Expertise: Strategic Sourcing, Commodity/Supply Chain Management, Procurement Market Analysis, Commercial T&Cs.
Experience: 8-10+ years in sourcing.(US/India/global).
Required Competencies
Problem Solving: Proactively analyze data and implement solutions for complex challenges.
Negotiation & Customer Focus: Achieve win-win outcomes; respond promptly to stakeholders and suppliers.
Communication: Strong verbal (phone interactions) and written skills; build confidential relationships.
Interpersonal: Collaborative with stakeholder management across functions.
Behavioral Attributes:
Results-oriented with positive attitude, planning, and organizational skills.
Curious, self-disciplined learner focused on continuous improvement.
Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Law, or another applicable field.
Prior experience leading end-to-end competitive bids and supplier negotiations.
Candidates must be willing and able to travel to client locations based on business requirements.
10 - 20
