VP, Technology Sourcing

Department/Group Description:

The Enterprise Sourcing team serves as a strategic enabler for the company, driving excellence in category management, supplier relationship management, and strategic sourcing. Collaborating closely with business and functional leaders across the enterprise, the team ensures informed supplier selection and skillfully negotiates agreements that maximize value while safeguarding against risk.

 

We are seeking an experienced Sourcing executive with deep experience and a proven track record in driving meaningful third party savings and strategic supplier relationships in the Technology category, inclusive of hardware, software, infrastructure, IT professional services and telecomm.

 

The VP of Technology Sourcing will lead a team in collaborating with both technology and business executives across the enterprise (including our Entertainment, Sports and Experiences businesses globally) to define and drive the sourcing strategy for technology spend, inclusive of the hardware, software and infrastructure to support all of our business (e.g., streaming, broadcast and cable, content distribution, theme parks, resorts, cruises, consumer productions, production).  The Vice President shall lead creation of a rolling 5-year plan for pursuing savings and and other value-added opportunities in these categories. The Vice President shall form and manage relationships with key suppliers, including supporting negotiation of contracts and resolving potential disputes. The Vice President shall also develop deep, trusted-advisor relationships with key executives, with a focus on helping those executives realize their business objectives via supply base management and optimization.

Responsibilities of the Role:

• Sourcing strategy creation and implementation within Technology:  Responsible for developing and implementing sourcing category strategies and project plans, aligned with Disney’s business objectives and Technology strategies
  • Build strong parternships with business and functional stakeholders in Technology at Disney. Collaboratively develop thoughtful category strategies for each type of Technlogy spend (e.g., hardware, software, infrastructure) aligned to our evolving technology strategies and needs
  • Establish bold cost-take-out goals and drive cost-saving initiatives and continuous improvement projects within each category to achieve them
  • Develop a multi-year sourcing projects plan to deliver cost savings, support innovation and ensure continuity of service.  Be highly effective at aligning Sourcing timelines to Technology roadmaps to provide flexibility for change while ensuring continuity of service
  • Stay abreast of Technology trends and supplier strategies to effectively support Technology and business partners, identify cost savings opportunities and drive innovation via  new sourcing models and Technology products and services 
  • Monitor key metrics to track actual performance versus plan and identify additional opportunities for cost savings and other value adds

• Key Supplier Negotiations and Relationship Management:
  • For key suppliers, define  negotiation strategies (in partnership with technology stakeholders, and lead a team of negotiators in securing  optimal terms, including price, quality, and delivery term. Serve as a point of executive escalation in negotiation as needed.
  • Establish supplier segmentation and champion supplier relations beyond metrics with most strategic suppliers, driving innovation, quality, and risk reduction.  Oversee proactive assessments of the market for risk and integrate insights into supplier relationship management strategies.

• Sourcing Operations Transformation:  Support SVP of Enterprise Sourcing in their leadership of transformation across operating model, organization optimization and digitization of the function.
  • Support efforts to identify opportunities to streamline processes and advance systems, data and operational automation to deliver efficiencies, support guided buying and drive third party spend savings. 
  • Partner closely with the Procure-to-Pay organization to ensure seamless handoffs and compliance with enterprise buying processes from end-to-end

• Team Leadership: Lead and manage team, including providing guidance, training, and support to ensure high performance
  • Recruit and develop the right talent into the team, instilling a culture of collaboration, accountability and ownership
  • Provide clear expectations and meaningful feedback against goals
  • Evolve the skills of the team as Sourcing transforms

Minimum Hiring Requirements

• College degree in Business, Finance, or Technology or related field

• 12+ years in Technology Sourcing, including senior leadership experience,  within a large multinational corporation with multiple lines of business

• Significant experience in category management and cost-take-out initiatives in all Technology categories (hardware, software, infrastructure) with depth of knowledge of products, services and suppliers

• Effective change agent – able to drive meaningful change through collaboration and influence. 

• Strong planning and implementation capabilities with focus on ensuring long lead times for change in technology are considered

• Effective change agent – able to drive meaningful change through collaboration and influence. 

• Action oriented and results-focused: sets specific and measurable goals for team and holds self/team accountable to delivery.  Comfortable working in support of agile Technology work environments.

• Strong stakeholder engagement skills.  Effective collaborator with proven success acting as a strategic partner to business, functional and finance stakeholders. Experience working across multiple tech teams of a large multinational corporation

• Highly effective at supplier segmentation and top tier supplier relationship management.

• Excellent people manager

• Strong understanding of best practices in Sourcing policies, processes and risk management within Technology category

• Strong negotiation skills

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

Preferred Hiring Requirements

• M.B.A.

• Experience with Technology sourcing for direct-to-consumer and/or travel/leisure businesses

• Active member of industry sourcing consortiums / best practice forums

The hiring range for this position in Burbank, CA is $259,600 to $348,100 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.