Director, Vendor Management, Costing and Worldwide Sourcing

Coursera was launched in 2012 by two Stanford Computer Science professors, Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, with a mission to provide universal access to world-class learning. It is now one of the largest online learning platforms in the world, with 162 million registered learners as of September 30, 2024.

Coursera partners with over 350 leading university and industry partners to offer a broad catalog of content and credentials, including courses, Specializations, Professional Certificates, Guided Projects, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Institutions around the world use Coursera to upskill and reskill their employees, citizens, and students in fields such as data science, technology, and business. Coursera became a B Corp in February 2021.

Join us in our mission to create a world where anyone, anywhere can transform their life through access to education. We're seeking talented individuals who share our passion and drive to revolutionize the way the world learns.

We at Coursera are committed to building a globally diverse team and are thrilled to extend employment opportunities to individuals in any country where we have a legal entity. We require candidates to possess eligible working rights and have a compatible timezone overlap with their team to facilitate seamless collaboration. 

Coursera has a commitment to enabling flexibility and workspace choices for employees. Our interviews and onboarding are entirely virtual, providing a smooth and efficient experience for our candidates. As an employee, we enable you to select your main way of working, whether it's from home, one of our offices or hubs, or a co-working space near you.

Job Overview

We are looking for an experienced and strategic Director of Vendor Management, Costing, and Worldwide Sourcing to lead Coursera’s global vendor strategy. This role is crucial to optimizing our vendor partnerships, managing cost structures, and ensuring that we source the highest quality content production services. The Director will be responsible for defining clear inputs and deliverables, conducting competitive bids, synthesizing pricing, and formalizing agreements to reduce contracting timelines from months to weeks.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in global sourcing and vendor management, with the ability to drive efficiencies, ensure adherence to quality standards, and foster strategic partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a robust vendor management strategy aligned with Coursera’s content production and business objectives
• Define detailed content units and inputs for vendors, categorized by difficulty level, and ensure deliverables meet Coursera’s quality standards
• Lead the vendor bidding process, including issuing RFPs, evaluating bids, and negotiating terms to achieve cost-effective procurement without compromising quality
• Collect, analyze, and synthesize vendor pricing information to establish standardized pricing frameworks for production units
• Draft and finalize Master Service Agreements (MSAs) and Statements of Work (SOWs) to streamline the contracting process for content production
• Reduce contracting timelines from months to weeks by implementing efficient workflows and standardized processes
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with global vendors, fostering collaboration to drive quality and cost-effectiveness
• Monitor vendor performance through key performance indicators (KPIs), ensuring adherence to budgets, timelines, and quality standards
• Track market trends and conduct benchmarking to identify opportunities for cost savings, process innovation, and vendor diversification
• Collaborate with legal, finance, project management, and other cross-functional teams to ensure vendor management processes comply with company policies and strategic goals
• Lead and mentor a team of vendor management professionals, providing coaching and development opportunities
• Source vendors globally, leveraging connections in key regions like Asia and India to scale content production efficiently

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or a related field
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in vendor management, procurement, or supply chain management, with at least 5 years in a leadership role
• Demonstrated success in managing global vendor relationships, conducting bids, negotiating contracts, and reducing contracting timelines
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesize complex pricing information and make data-driven decisions
• Expertise in MSAs, SOWs, and other contractual documents related to vendor agreements.
• Experience in international sourcing, particularly in regions like Asia and India
• Exceptional negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects simultaneously
• Proficiency in procurement software and advanced knowledge of MS Office Suite, including Excel
• Strong leadership and team development skills

Preferred Qualifications

MBA or advanced degree preferred

If this opportunity interests you, you might like these courses on Coursera:

Strategic Leadership and Management

Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills

Global Procurement and Sourcing Specialization

Compensation

Coursera offers competitive pay and equitable compensation practices. Our job titles may span more than one career level. This role's targeted hiring base salary range is between $158,400 to $198,000.  The actual base pay is dependent upon many factors, including but not limited to prior work experiences, training/education, transferable skills, business needs, and geographical location. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. This role may also be eligible for variable pay, equity, and benefits.  

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