Buyer is responsible for end‑to‑end strategic sourcing, purchasing and category management for IT Software, Hardware, and Telecommunications.
Buyer will support defining and executing category strategies, lead complex sourcing and negotiations, and partner closely with IT, Finance, Legal, and business leaders to optimize cost, reduce risk, and enable technology outcomes at scale.
This role ensures that both sourcing & purchasing activities are processed efficiently, accurately, and in alignment with company policies.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Sourcing
- Own and execute multi‑year sourcing strategies across IT software, hardware, and telecom categories, aligned to enterprise technology roadmaps and financial objectives
- Lead RFPs/RFIs and competitive sourcing events, establishing robust evaluation frameworks that balance cost, capability, risk, and long‑term value
- Partner with IT, Legal, Finance, and business stakeholders to translate technical and operational requirements into effective commercial strategies
- Lead enterprise‑level negotiations , including MSAs, software license and SaaS agreements, hardware purchase and support contracts, telecom services, SOWs, and change orders
- Drive commercial governance for renewals, ensuring early planning, demand validation, and data‑driven decision making to mitigate budget and pricing risk
- Conduct spend, contract, and pricing analysis, develop executive‑ready recommendations, and present sourcing strategies and outcomes to Procurement and IT leadership
Category Management & Value Creation
- Develop and continuously refine category strategies that deliver measurable value through demand management, supplier consolidation, pricing optimization, and alternative sourcing models
- Serve as a trusted advisor and subject‑matter expert for IT sourcing across software, hardware, and telecom, influencing decisions at director and VP levels
- Monitor internal demand signals and external market trends (SaaS pricing models, AI consumption‑based pricing, hardware cycles, telecom market dynamics) and convert insights into actionable initiatives
- Identify and execute pipeline opportunities that improve total cost of ownership (TCO), strengthen contractual protections, and enhance flexibility
Supplier & Performance Management
- Own strategic supplier relationships, driving accountability for cost, service levels, innovation, and contractual compliance
- Lead quarterly and annual business reviews with key suppliers to assess performance, risks, and continuous improvement opportunities
- Manage supplier escalations, dispute resolution, and corrective action plans as needed
- Drive supplier rationalization and entitlement strategies to reduce complexity and maximize leverage
Contract & Governance Management
- Ensure contracts accurately reflect negotiated pricing, commercial terms, deliverables, and risk protections
- Partner with Legal to standardize and improve sourcing and contract lifecycle processes, templates, and governance models
Maintain strong alignment between Procurement, IT, and Legal to support audit readiness and compliance.
Purchasing Tasks:
- Purchase Order Processing:
- Create and process purchase orders (POs) based on approved requisitions and ensure accuracy in details such as quantity, pricing, and delivery terms.
- Submit POs to suppliers and follow up on confirmation and delivery schedules.
- Ensure timely and accurate updates in procurement software or ERP systems.
- Vendor Communication:
- Communicate with suppliers to confirm orders, delivery times, and product availability.
- Resolve any basic issues related to orders, including delivery delays, invoice discrepancies, and item shortages.
- Maintain professional and positive relationships with vendors.
- Invoice Verification:
- Work with the finance and accounts payable teams to verify that supplier invoices match purchase orders and resolve any discrepancies.
- Ensure timely processing of invoices for payment to suppliers.
- Administrative Support:
- Provide general administrative support to the purchasing department, including filing, responding to inquiries, and assisting with supplier documentation.
- Assist with preparing reports on procurement activities such as open orders, delivery schedules, and purchase spend.
- Compliance and Policy Adherence:
- Ensure all purchasing activities comply with company policies and procedures.
- Support the team in ensuring that purchasing follows ethical standards and regulations.
- Continuous Improvement:
- Identify areas where the purchasing process can be streamlined and suggest improvements.
- Participate in training sessions to improve procurement knowledge and skills.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of experience in indirect strategic sourcing or category management within a global, matrixed organization
- Demonstrated experience sourcing IT software, hardware, and telecommunications categories
- MBA or JD preferred; consulting or transformation experience is a plus
- Proven expertise in complex contract negotiations, supplier management, and stakeholder influence
- Experience with sourcing, contracting, and ERP tools (e.g., SAP, Oracle)
Core Competencies
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, including cost modeling, benchmarking, and ROI analysis
- Deep understanding of technology contracts, SaaS and license models, hardware lifecycle economics, and telecom services
- Ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced environment while managing multiple strategic initiatives
- Excellent project management, analytical, and problem‑solving skills
- Strong executive communication, facilitation, and presentation capabilities
- Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
Skills:
- Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
- Basic understanding of procurement processes and terms is preferred.
- Good communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and basic experience with ERP or procurement software is an advantage.
- Ability to work well in a team and manage multiple tasks.
- Good command of spoken and written English
At SanDisk, our vision is to power global innovation and push the boundaries of technology to make what you thought was once impossible, possible.
At our core, SanDisk is a company of problem solvers. People achieve extraordinary things given the right technology. For decades, we’ve been doing just that. Our technology helped people put a man on the moon.
We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest growth organizations in the world. From energizing the most competitive gaming platforms, to enabling systems to make cities safer and cars smarter and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and public cloud, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.
Binge-watch any shows, use social media or shop online lately? You’ll find Western Digital supporting the storage infrastructure behind many of these platforms. And, that flash memory card that captures and preserves your most precious moments? That’s us, too.
We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, storage devices and platforms for business and consumers alike. Our data-centric solutions are comprised of the Western Digital®, G-Technology™, SanDisk® and WD® brands.
Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. It’s You & SanDisk. Together, we’re the next BIG thing in data.
Originally posted on Himalayas