What does it take to be a Strategic Sourcing Consultant?

The procurement profession can be unclear to those even in the consulting world, and their function and capabilities is a mystery for those that work in different areas of an organization. To summarize, the role requires a broad knowledge base of business functions in addition to a wide range of subject matter expertise. Strategic Sourcing professionals need to have a fundamental understanding of an organization's procure to pay model, GL coding, KPI reporting, and more.

In addition, they have to be capable of adapting to a client's organizational culture to foster meaningful strategic partnerships, and category adaptation, product specification interpretation and essentially understand all areas within an organization that procurement interacts with. The job also requires data analytics, the utilization of market intelligence and research, sharp negotiation skills, and the ability to drive value during the contracting process. These skills and expertise requirements are just some of the many that successful strategic sourcing consultants offer, and demonstrate the wide range that is truly necessary for these professionals to be the most effective in their efforts.

These skills and more on the strategic sourcing consulting profession are discussed during the final episode of Source One's Countdown to ISM2017. Throughout the series we've had the opportunity to talk to organizers of the highly anticipated Learning Track, Signature Session presenters, and moderators for the CPO Roundtable session during executive-only sub-conference hosted by Source One, Exec In. Attendees can look forward to meeting members of the Source One team as they share their insights during sessions over the course of ISM, beginning with VP, Operations William Dorn's participation on the panel of Procurement Transformation: Is a GPO right for your organization? on the first day. On Day 2, Source One Senior Data Scientist James Patounas will participate in Procurement 4.0 on the Exec In agenda, and Day 3 will feature Associate Director, Diego De la Garza as the moderator of panel session Emerging Professionals: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

As the series comes to an end, the team is gearing up for the kickoff of ISM2017 this Sunday, May 21. Source One is recognized as Diamond Sponsors of ISM2017 and is looking forward to the annual international event that will welcome more than 2,500 global supply chain professionals. In addition to the sessions we discussed during the Countdown to ISM2017, the schedule includes a variety of exciting sessions and educational presentations that are guaranteed to offer valuable take-aways for every attendee at every level.