Procurement Manager, Technology

As a Procurement Manager at Zscaler, you will oversee the procurement process for software spend, including SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS applications. Your role involves negotiating contracts, guiding sourcing events, conducting cost analyses, and establishing vendor management strategies. You will also play a critical role in managing multiple projects and engaging with various stakeholders, ensuring the effective execution of procurement strategies.

To qualify for the Procurement Manager role at Zscaler, you'll need a Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, or a related field, along with at least 5 years of experience in strategic sourcing within the technology sector. Familiarity with procurement solutions like Coupa and experience with contracts ranging from $25K to $10M+ are essential for success in this role.

Critical skills for a Procurement Manager at Zscaler include strong negotiation capabilities, excellent project management, and the ability to analyze costs effectively. Additionally, proficiency in procurement processes like Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) and contract lifecycle management is vital. Bringing a collaborative spirit and cultural awareness to work with diverse teams is also crucial.

Yes, the Procurement Manager role at Zscaler offers the flexibility to work in a hybrid capacity, allowing you to contribute from both our San Jose office or a remote location. This flexibility is made to accommodate the needs of our employees while promoting a collaborative work environment.

The salary range for the Procurement Manager position at Zscaler is between $91,000 and $130,000 USD. This range is reflective of various factors, including your experience, skills, and educational background. Keep in mind that this base pay does not include possible commissions or bonuses.

When answering this question, focus on specific projects where you successfully implemented strategic sourcing strategies. Highlight your role in negotiations, cost analysis, and how you managed vendor relationships to optimize the procurement process.

Demonstrate your organizational skills by explaining how you assess project urgency, stakeholder impact, and resource availability. Provide examples of tools or methods you use to track progress and ensure timely delivery.

Discuss your negotiation strategies, such as preparing by gathering relevant data, understanding the vendor’s position, and employing win-win tactics. Share a successful negotiation story to illustrate your point.

Outline your approach to maintaining compliance, including regular audits, training for team members, and developing clear procurement guidelines. Mention how you keep abreast of any changes in policy or regulations.

Share your methods for building and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers. Emphasize communication, performance monitoring, and conflict resolution strategies that you've implemented in past roles.

Identify a challenging situation you encountered, explaining the context, your analysis, and the steps you took to resolve it. Discuss the outcome and any lessons learned that you can apply in future scenarios.

Explain your systematic approach to conducting cost analysis. Mention tools or software you utilize, the metrics you consider important, and how you apply this analysis to inform strategic decisions.

Provide a specific example that highlights your ability to work with diverse teams across different departments. Emphasize how collaboration led to improved outcomes in procurement initiatives.

Discuss your process for identifying performance issues and the steps you take to address them, such as conducting reviews, providing feedback, and if necessary, considering alternative suppliers.

Share a few tools you are accustomed to and explain how they enhance your procurement processes. Mention how you evaluate new software to ensure they meet organizational needs.