Assistant Manager, Procurement

Job description

As a global leader in cybersecurity, CrowdStrike protects the people, processes and technologies that drive modern organizations. Since 2011, our mission hasn’t changed — we’re here to stop breaches, and we’ve redefined modern security with the world’s most advanced AI-native platform. We work on large scale distributed systems, processing almost 3 trillion events per day and this traffic is growing daily. Our customers span all industries, and they count on CrowdStrike to keep their businesses running, their communities safe and their lives moving forward. We're proud to work for a mission-driven company leveraging AI to transform the way we work. CrowdStrikers drive their careers through flexibility and autonomy while also being expected to contribute to a culture of responsible AI adoption, experimentation, and innovation. We use an AI-first mindset as a force multiplier to proactively and continuously accelerate execution, build expertise, uncover insights, and solve complex problems. We’re always looking to add talented CrowdStrikers to the team who have limitless passion, a relentless focus on innovation and a fanatical commitment to our customers, our community and each other. Ready to join a mission that matters? The future of cybersecurity starts with you. About the Role: We are seeking an experienced TAssistant Manager, Procurement to join our procurement organization. This role combines hands-on procurement execution with team leadership responsibilities in our dynamic SaaS environment. The successful candidate will manage and develop a team of buyers while actively contributing to strategic sourcing initiatives, stakeholder management, and operational excellence. What You'll Do: • Hands-on Procurement Execution: Personally manage high-value, complex sourcing projects while leading strategic negotiations with key suppliers and vendors. Execute complete Procure-to-Pay lifecycle for critical categories and handle escalated procurement issues and vendor relationship challenges. Serve as subject matter expert for complex procurement scenarios requiring senior-level intervention and strategic decision-making. Ensure compliance with procurement policies and procedures, drive automation initiatives, and lead digital transformation projects. Monitor and optimize procurement metrics and KPIs while establishing benchmarks for operational excellence. • Advanced Category Management: Develop comprehensive category strategies across Data Centre, Consulting, Marketing & Software. Conduct market analysis, develop supplier relationship strategies, and lead vendor summits and strategic supplier reviews for Global suppliers. • Commodity Management & Strategic Analysis: Extensive experience in commodity management with demonstrated expertise in conducting comprehensive market benchmarking studies and competitive pricing analysis across multiple spend categories. Proven ability to perform detailed spend analysis, identifying cost optimization opportunities and developing data-driven procurement strategies. Strong track record of collaborating with department heads to build comprehensive commodity strategies that align with business objectives, including demand forecasting, supplier diversification, and total cost of ownership modeling. Experience in establishing and maintaining market intelligence frameworks to support strategic decision-making and long-term category planning. • Contract & Risk Management: Oversee complex contract negotiations and risk assessments while ensuring compliance with legal requirements and corporate governance. Manage vendor performance and relationship escalations, develop contract templates and negotiation playbooks, and lead vendor risk management and business continuity planning initiatives. • Team Leadership & Management: Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 3-5 Buyers conducting performance reviews, setting goals, and providing career development guidance. Foster a collaborative team environment while promoting best practices, managing workload distribution, and driving team performance metrics. Take responsibility for recruiting, onboarding, and training new team members while ensuring continuous improvement initiatives across the team. • Strategic Leadership & Presentations: Create and deliver executive presentations to senior leadership, presenting procurement strategies, market insights, and performance dashboards. Lead quarterly business reviews and annual procurement planning sessions while communicating complex procurement concepts to non-procurement stakeholders. Represent the procurement function in cross-functional leadership meetings and serve as the primary liaison between procurement and executive leadership. • Stakeholder Leadership: Partner with department heads and senior leaders across the organization to facilitate procurement advisory sessions with business stakeholders. Lead cross-functional projects and transformation initiatives while serving as the escalation point for procurement-related issues requiring senior management attention. What You'll Need: Education & Leadership Experience:  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or related field with 6-8 years of procurement experience including 3-4 years in management or leadership roles. • Must demonstrate a proven track record of managing and developing high-performing teams with extensive experience in SaaS/technology industry procurement. Technical & Systems Expertise:  • Expert-level proficiency in procurement platforms such as SAP Ariba, Coupa, or Oracle Procurement with advanced data a