Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing - Marketing - job 7 of 24

As a Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing at Visa, you will oversee the Media, Digital, Marketing Technologies, and Events & Sponsorships categories. Your key responsibilities will include developing and implementing sourcing strategies, managing agency relationships, interpreting spend data for cost-saving opportunities, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and leading a team of sourcing professionals.

To excel in the Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing role at Visa, candidates should possess extensive experience in marketing procurement, exceptional leadership capabilities, and proven track record of achieving cost savings. A deep understanding of negotiation in complex environments along with the ability to make data-driven decisions is essential.

The Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing at Visa collaborates closely with various teams including marketing, finance, and even legal departments. This partnership ensures sourcing strategies meet business requirements and align with broader company objectives, driving seamless execution across the organization.

The Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing role at Visa is a hybrid position with in-office expectations determined by your Hiring Manager. Candidates should be prepared for a blend of in-office and remote work to ensure optimal productivity and collaboration.

As a Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing at Visa, you will have numerous opportunities for professional development. You will lead and mentor a team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, allowing for personal and professional growth as you navigate the complexities of sourcing in the marketing category.

When answering this question, highlight specific examples of successful sourcing strategies you've developed in previous roles, emphasizing your understanding of market trends, vendor relations, and the impact these strategies had on organizational goals.

Discuss your negotiation tactics, emphasizing effective communication, understanding supplier needs, and highlighting past negotiation scenarios where you achieved favorable terms while maintaining a positive supplier relationship.

Share specific metrics or KPIs you consider vital in assessing supplier performance, such as cost savings, compliance with contracts, delivery timelines, and quality of service. Providing examples from past experiences will enhance your response.

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to explain a specific situation where you identified inefficiencies within a sourcing process, the steps you took to improve it, and the measurable outcomes that resulted from your actions.

Discuss your familiarity with corporate policies and your approach to integrating compliance checks within sourcing processes. You can mention your experience working with legal teams to mitigate risks associated with vendor contracts.

Explain how you leverage data analysis to identify trends, track spending, and inform your decision-making process. Providing examples of data analysis tools or methodologies you've employed will add depth to your answer.

Talk about your communication and relationship-building skills that support cross-functional collaboration. Highlight any experiences where collaboration led to successful sourcing strategies or projects.

Articulate your leadership philosophy, focusing on how you mentor and develop your team. Emphasize the importance of fostering a supportive environment that encourages innovation and continuous improvement.

Share your methodology for identifying potential risks in the supply chain, how you navigate those challenges, and the strategies you implement to mitigate risks and ensure continuity of supply.

Discuss your experience setting and managing budgets, ensuring cost-effectiveness in procurement while meeting marketing goals. Reinforce your ability to track expenditures and achieve savings through strategic sourcing.