Sr. Manager, Sourcing

Your Work

In this role, you will:

• Leadership & Strategy
  • Provide leadership for Procurement Operations and the Procurement CoE, guiding people, process, and technology strategies.
  • Drive procurement transformation toward an AI-enabled, digital-first vision.
  • Serve as a procurement integrator, maintaining an end-to-end process view across the organization.
• Operational Excellence & Technology Enablement
  • Manage end-to-end documentation lifecycle for procurement processes and policies, including drafting, release, updates, and version control, ensuring consistency and accessibility across the organization.
  • Manage and oversee all back-office outsourced operations that support procurement.
  • Propose, maintain, and enforce procurement policies and standards.
  • Monitor and optimize procurement processes using automation and AI tools to enhance efficiency and compliance.
  • Develop and track procurement KPIs and performance targets using advanced analytics.
  • Create management scorecards and executive-level reports leveraging predictive insights.
• Transformation & Change Management
  • Procurement Transformation: Develop and execute a comprehensive procurement transformation roadmap aligned with the company’s strategic objectives. Champion initiatives to streamline end-to-end procurement processes, improve productivity, and elevate service quality. Leverage
  • Lead procurement transformation initiatives, including AI adoption and process digitization.
  • Develop and implement communication plans; evaluate effectiveness of messaging.
  • Provide change leadership coaching to procurement management and category managers.
  • Develop training and change management materials for cross-functional deployment.
• Data & Innovation
  • Champion the use of AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics to improve sourcing strategies and operational performance.
  • Drive system and process improvements to enable real-time insights and automation.
  • Provide data analysis and reporting to support strategic decision-making.
• Policy, Compliance & Audit Readiness
  • Define, implement, and enforce procurement policies and procedural standards across the organization. Ensure ongoing compliance with internal company guidelines and all relevant external regulations. 
  • Oversee all audits (internal and external) related to procurement processes and policies, coordinating audit planning, evidence collection, and responses. 
  • Maintain comprehensive documentation and strong internal controls to ensure procurement is always audit-ready and compliant.  Promptly address any audit findings with corrective action plans to strengthen the control environment.
• Reporting & Communication
  • Prepare clear and concise reports, presentations, and executive updates on procurement activities, achievements, and plans. Communicate the progress of key initiatives, policy changes, and performance results to stakeholders at various levels of the organization. 
  • Develop communication materials and forums (such as newsletters or town halls) to keep the broader organization informed about procurement processes, tools, and how-to’s, thereby increasing transparency and user engagement.
• Team Leadership & Development  
  • Build and lead a high-performing procurement team, potentially including procurement operations staff and analysts within the CoE. 
  • Set clear performance goals, provide regular feedback, and cultivate a supportive team culture that values excellence, collaboration, and innovation. Mentor and coach team members to develop their skills and advance their careers – for example, by providing opportunities to take on stretch projects or specialized training. 
  • Lead by example, demonstrating integrity, inclusivity, and a strong work ethic. Recognize successes and address performance issues with fairness and clarity.
  • Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performing team culture.

Your Knowledge & Experience

• Requires a Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience; MBA preferred
• Requires a minimum of 8 years in procurement, operations management, or CoE leadership, with a proven track record of driving transformation projects from conception to implementation 
• Requires a minimum of 3 years of prior management experience
• Prior experience in healthcare, financial services, or other regulated industries preferred
• Deep understanding of end-to-end procurement processes, P2P workflows, shared services, and outsourced operations. Demonstrated success in implementing process improvements that deliver measurable results
• Familiarity with Lean or Six Sigma methodologies is a plus
• Strong knowledge of internal controls, SOX compliance, and ethical procurement practices
• Experienced in maintaining audit readiness and addressing findings promptly
• Proficient in procurement and ERP systems (e.g., Coupa, Oracle, Workday), reporting tools (Excel, BI platforms), and collaboration tools (DocuSign, SharePoint)
• Ability to lead implementation of AI, automation, and emerging technologies
• Proven ability to build and manage high-performing teams, set vision, and foster collaboration
• Skilled in coaching, mentoring, and performance management
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; adept at presenting to senior leadership and influencing stakeholders
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment and deliver strategic initiatives that drive enterprise sourcing objectives

About Blue Shield of California and the Ascendiun Family of Companies

As of January 2025, Blue Shield of California became a subsidiary of Ascendiun. Ascendiun is a nonprofit corporate entity that is the parent to a family of organizations including Blue Shield of California and its subsidiary, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan; Altais, a clinical services company; and Stellarus, a company designed to scale healthcare solutions. Together, these organizations are referred to as the Ascendiun Family of Companies.

At Ascendiun, we believe in a brighter future for healthcare. As the parent to a family of four innovative healthcare companies, we’re reimagining what’s possible. Ascendiun is guided by the goal of transforming a dysfunctional American health care system into one worthy of our family and friends and sustainably affordable for everyone.

To achieve our mission, we foster an environment where all employees can thrive and contribute fully to address the needs of the various communities we serve. We are committed to creating and maintaining a supportive workplace that upholds our values and advances our goals.

Our Values:

• Honest. We hold ourselves to the highest ethical and integrity standards. We build trust by doing what we say we're going to do and by acknowledging and correcting where we fall short.
• Human. We strive to listen and communicate effectively, and showing empathy by understanding others’ perspectives. 
• Courageous. We stand up for what we believe in and are committed to the hard work necessary to achieve our ambitious goals. 

Our Workplace Model:

At Blue Shield of California and the Ascendiun Family of Companies, we believe in fostering a workplace environment that balances purposeful in-person collaboration with flexibility. As we continue to evolve our workplace model, our focus remains on creating spaces where our people can connect with purpose – whether working in the office or through a hybrid approach – by providing clear expectations while respecting the diverse needs of our workforce.

Two Ways of Working:

• Hybrid (Default): Work from a business unit-approved office at least two (2) times per month (for roles below Director-level) or once per week (for Director-level roles and above). Exceptions:

o   Member-facing and approved out-of-state roles remain remote.

o   Employees living more than 50 miles from their assigned offices are expected to work with their managers on a plan for periodic office visits.

o   For employees with medical conditions that may impact their ability to work in-office, we are committed to engaging in an interactive process and providing reasonable accommodations to ensure their work environment is conducive to their success and well-being. 

• On-Site: Work from a business unit-approved office an average of four (4) or more days a week.

Physical Requirements:

Office Environment - roles involving part to full time schedule in Office Environment. Based in our physical offices and work from home office/deskwork - Activity level: Sedentary, frequency most of work day.

Please click here for further physical requirement detail. 

Equal Employment Opportunity:

External hires must pass a background check/drug screen. Qualified applicants with arrest records and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with Federal, State and local laws, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status or disability status and any other classification protected by Federal, State and local laws.