GLOBAL SOURCING MANAGER SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, AND JOB REQUIREMENTS

Published: Mar 31, 2025 – The Global Sourcing Manager has extensive experience in global sourcing, supplier management, and international business with a strong focus on the plumbing industry and Asia-based supply chains. This role requires a proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, develop staff, and manage complex projects while anticipating market trends and mitigating supply chain risks. The manager is also highly skilled in negotiation, communication, data analysis, and the use of Microsoft Office applications for strategic sourcing operations.

Essential Hard and Soft Skills for a Standout Global Sourcing Manager Resume
  • Sourcing Strategy
  • Cost Reduction
  • Contract Management
  • Market Analysis
  • Supplier Evaluation
  • Risk Management
  • TCO Analysis
  • Logistics Management
  • Project Management
  • Compliance Management
  • Negotiation Skills
  • Supplier Management
  • Problem Solving
  • Strategic Alignment
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Communication Skills
  • Leadership Skills
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Process Improvement
  • Performance Monitoring

Summary of Global Sourcing Manager Knowledge and Qualifications on Resume

1. BA in Business Administration with 6 years of Experience

  • Background in an analytical, data-driven, or project management role, preferably in supply chain, operations, or finance
  • Exposure or direct management of enterprise spend management tools (Ariba, Coupa, etc.), SAP S4 ERP experience 
  • Experience with annual budget planning and ongoing financial forecasting processes
  • A strong negotiator who understands multiple techniques and practices and can work closely with Legal to execute contract improvements
  • Strategic thinker with a creative approach to solving problems
  • Appreciates building lasting relationships with internal and external partners
  • Outstanding communication (written and verbal).
  • Able to tailor and adapt the approach and style depending on the audience, and have experience working with leadership teams
  • CIPS or a similar professional qualification.
  • Solid experience in navigating global, matrix organizations across geographies and cultures.
  • Proficient Knowledge of SAP and fluent in English
  • Experience in Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or Master Black Belt

2. BA in Industrial Engineering with 5 years of Experience

  • Working experience related to supply chain, manufacturing, and global sourcing within the high-volume consumer electronics industry
  • Experience in packaging materials sourcing with suppliers operating in China
  • Solid NPI management experience
  • A proven track record of quickly learning a new sourcing environment and the ability to understand new technologies
  • Demonstrated capability to apply analytical techniques to problem-solving
  • A strategic thinker and results-oriented
  • Natural leadership competencies influence others through style, personality, and subject expertise rather than organizational design
  • An ability to balance business and technical objectives in decision-making
  • A proven supplier relationship management track record with strong price and contract negotiation skills
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills in Mandarin and English, both written and spoken
  • Ability to effectively work in a multi-cultural global business environment
  • Ability to make sound business decisions in the absence of perfect or complete data

3. BA in International Business with 7 years of Experience

  • Strong critical thinking and communication skills
  • Demonstrates logical, rational, and integrative decisions and arrives at sound conclusions.
  • Initiates decisive, timely action to address important issues.
  • Demonstrates a strong sense of ownership and a commitment to achieving meaningful results.
  • Manages competing priorities in a fast-paced retail environment
  • Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally
  • Independent, strong analytical skills.
  • High attention to detail, high sense of urgency, comfortable with ambiguity, strong sense of curiosity, high influencing and negotiation skills
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal/relationship-building skills
  • Progressive work experience in global sourcing or sourcing-related roles
  • Must have people leadership experience.
  • APICS CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional)
  • ISM CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management)

4. BA in Operations Management with 8 years of Experience

  • Understand and manage suppliers, their related spending, Purchase Price Variance (PPV), and key contractual terms
  • Experience in product or process definition, having taken a product or process from concept to execution within the supply chain
  • Experience in sourcing commodity management, supply chain, logistics, or manufacturing for a hardware and electronics-related company
  • Experience in a commercial sourcing environment - engineering, manufacturing operations experience
  • Experience in sourcing analytics, pricing, PPV, terms, price change verification, etc.
  • Prioritization and timing considerations for key deliverables
  • Alternative solutions and/or materials identification skills, and alternative supplier identification
  • Advanced analytical interpretation and problem-solving skills
  • Strong influence skills and the ability to articulate a process, its inputs, and outputs
  • Experience using statistical analysis and modeling techniques such as regression
  • Experience with BI tools such as Power BI or Tableau
  • Knowledge of SQL, R, or Python
  • Accuracy, attention to detail, and organizational skills
  • Work independently with sometimes high levels of ambiguity

5. BA in International Business with 10 years of Experience

  • Procurement experience, including proven and deep experience in Marketing procurement portfolio
  • Expert in stakeholder engagement
  • Understanding of the supply market, value chain, and FMCG knowledge. 
  • Knowledge across multiple Marketing portfolios and supply markets.
  • Experience in large-scale project management
  • Demonstrated and proven leadership capabilities to lead transformative initiatives
  • Experience in shaping and leading transformational business process reengineering, with experience driving Change Management initiatives.
  • Knowledge of and passion for sustainability, including social sustainability
  • Ability to work under pressure and in a complex global environment, balancing a broad spectrum of stakeholder requirements
  • Comfortable working in conditions of ambiguity and leading through change
  • Ability to build and evolve mutually beneficial strategic stakeholder relationships from a previous service-based delivery, to grow the Marketing Procurement function’s influence.
  • Able to create and drive the adoption and execution of a shared vision and strategy for change.
  • Ability to interact with senior stakeholders cross-effectively and efficiently functionally to understand their needs and deliver effective, balanced solutions
  • Delivers change whilst managing the interface between “day-to-day” and improvement projects.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills, including creation and delivery of effective presentations

6. BA in Operations Management with 5 years of Experience

  • Proven understanding of the Strategic Sourcing process steps
  • Experience in a Sourcing role for Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals, Aviation, or a similarly regulated industry
  • Supplier performance management, contract negotiation, and cost management experience
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office, solid understanding of ERP systems, and sourcing tools.
  • Proven negotiation and supplier leadership skills with communication skills
  • Analytical capabilities (data analysis and benchmarking research) as well as PowerPoint skills (generate compelling presentations)
  • Basic understanding of Continuous Improvement tools (including Pareto Charts, Flow Diagrams, etc.)
  • Sourcing Experience Managing Finished Medical Devices
  • Experience with Regulatory Systems and Compliance, including Quality Concepts
  • Strong project management and organizational skills, able to lead multiple projects/initiatives at the same time
  • Thrives working in a collaborative, team environment
  • Ability to cultivate and maintain effective business partner relationships through earned respect and trust
  • Results-oriented, “Go getter” demeanor with a strive to learn

7. BA in Supply Chain Management with 6 years of Experience

  • Experience in Engineering, Sourcing, Operations, and Supply Chain, with some lean principles and experience
  • Excellent business/financial acumen, ability to act as a business partner through horizontal teaming
  • Ability to motivate, influence, and drive change collaboratively and effectively.
  • Ability to drive long strategic partnerships with suppliers and demonstrated experience in optimizing supplier base performance, Quality, Fulfillment, Cost, Cash, and Contract
  • Ability to lead cross-functional or geographically dispersed teams, clear thinking, setting up clear directions and priorities for the team
  • Capabilities of assessing category spend base and project management.
  • Experience in working in an international environment and leading cross-functional teams.
  • Understanding of MRO and Capex supply markets.
  • Strong negotiation skills and a result-driven personality.
  • High financial and business acumen, passion, and practical creativity
  • Tenacious and resilient in the pursuit of challenging goals
  • High proficiency in spoken and written English
  • Expert in technology trends, cost breakdown analysis,
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills.

8. BA in Logistics and Transportation with 7 years of Experience

  • Directly relevant work experience in Procurement.
  • Work experience would pertain directly to Services Procurement (Consulting, HR Benefits, software, Translations, Legal Services, etc.)
  • Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret spend and cost data, research market trends, identify standard methodologies, and manage supporting contract development activities
  • Strong analytical skills and the ability to derive 2nd level insights from unstructured data
  • Excellent communication and influencing skills
  • General financial skills and knowledge, including an understanding of the Total Cost of Ownership
  • Ability to adapt quickly and make an impact in a rapid procurement organization
  • Proficiency with Microsoft applications: including advanced-level PowerPoint and Excel, intermediate-level Word and Project
  • An ability to think globally and work with an internationally culturally diverse team
  • Passion for the NIKE brand and having C.P.M., CPSM, or a related certification
  • Experience with an e-sourcing platform (Ariba experience) and Enterprise Contract Management (ECM) tools
  • Supply market knowledge, Supply market research, and analysis
  • Ability to influence without direct authority.

9. BA in Economics with 6 years of Experience

  • Have Domestic/international supplier management, supply chain, procurement, or operations experience.
  • Experience leading the implementation of new processes, systems, metrics, and tools in a procurement/supply chain organization.
  • Ability to interpret financial data and apply it to decision making including pricing and costing analysis.
  • Basic understanding of material handling automation.
  • Experience developing and managing contract documents, including RFPs, change order controls, purchase orders, and invoicing, coupled with procurement negotiation, supplier management, and contract management experience.
  • Ability to think strategically and execute tactically.
  • Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and the ability to influence, negotiate, and develop relationships at all levels of the organization.
  • Ability to dive deep into understanding the business, projects, solution designs, technology innovations, and opportunities
  • Be able to utilize data and metrics to develop business cases and support recommendations.
  • Ability to multitask and prioritize in a complex, fast-paced environment.
  • Excellent interpersonal, business acumen, communication, and supplier relations skills.
  • Strong in selling ideas and concepts
  • Strong in project and time management for complex global projects

10. BA in International Business with 9 years of Experience

  • Proven negotiating and communication skills, team leadership/management skills, and project leadership experience
  • Demonstrated staff management and development skills
  • Strong analytical skills, international business experience
  • Plumbing industry knowledge and experience
  • Extensive Understanding of the existing plumbing manufacturing supply base and supply chains
  • Work experience in managing Asia-based suppliers
  • Considerable knowledge of sources of supply, markets, price, and commodity trends, with the ability to accurately predict/anticipate marketplace events and develop action plans that anticipate/prevent implementation challenges
  • Intermediate to advanced level presentation and spreadsheet skills
  • Skilled at effectively interfacing with employees at all levels in the organization
  • Proven ability to provide leadership through influence
  • Able to facilitate dynamic, cross-functional groups as well as manage multiple projects successfully
  • Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office computer systems and applications
  • Experience in supply chain operations and/or management

11. BA in Logistics and Transportation with 10 years of Experience

  • Detailed knowledge of logistics (all modes and customs), supply market, supplier capabilities, and competitor activity, and encouraged trends at a geographic/global level.
  • Proven capability of applying supplier management techniques to deliver added new value benefits in addition to contracted benefits.
  • Experience in the successful development of sophisticated, multi-country contracts and agreements.
  • Detailed understanding of financial evaluation and interpretation of the supplier’s records and their key cost and business drivers.
  • Full understanding of the category total cost model, cost drivers, and all factors needed to ensure a robust agreement for BAT (including specification and testing requirements).
  • Logistics and/or Operations experience, either gained working within the function and/or as a specialist logistics lead within procurement, demonstrating three years of experience, preferably (whole or part) in an end market.
  • Knowledge of the processes, timelines, and constraints for the development and delivery of new products.
  • Experience in managing global projects and programs to improve performance and deliver service.
  • Professional knowledge of procurement principles, including high-order negotiation skills.
  • Sound knowledge of corporate regulations and legislation to manage the creation of effective group contracts.
  • Experience in sourcing at an above-market/geographic level
  • Understands the dynamics of sourcing management at a global level.
  • Understands cost drivers for contract logistics and all transportation modes.
Relevant Information
Branch Sales Manager Skills, Experience, and Job Requirements
Sourcing Category Manager Skills, Experience, and Job Requirements
Commercial Lines Manager Skills, Experience, and Job Requirements
Customer Supply Chain Manager Skills, Experience, and Job Requirements