Transamerica

Senior Strategic Procurement Advisor - Corporate Services

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Full time

Job Family

Procurement

About Us 

 

At Transamerica, hard work, innovative thinking, and personal accountability are qualities we honor and reward. We understand the potential of leveraging the talents of a diverse workforce. We embrace an environment where employees enjoy a balance between their careers, families, communities, and personal interests.  

 

Ultimately, we appreciate the uniqueness of a company where talented professionals work collaboratively in a positive environment — one focused on helping people look forward and plan for the best life possible while providing tools and solutions that make it easier to get there. 

     

Who We Are 

 

We believe everyone deserves to live their best life. More than a century ago, we were among the first financial services companies in America to serve everyday people from all walks of life 

Today, we’re part of an international holding company, with millions of customers and thousands of employees worldwide. Our insurance, retirement, and investment solutions help people make the most of what’s important to them. 

We’re empowered by a vast agent network covering North America, with diversity to match. Together with our nonprofit research institute and foundation, we tune in, step up, and are a force for good — for our customers and the communities where we live, work, and play. United in our purpose, we help people create the financial freedom to live life on their terms. 

What We Do 

 

Transamerica is organized into three distinct businesses. These include 1) World Financial Group, including Transamerica Financial Advisors, 2) Protection Solutions and Savings & Investments, comprised of life insurance, annuities, employee benefits, retirement plans, and Transamerica Investment Solutions, and 3) Financial Assets, which includes legacy blocks of long term care, universal life, and variable and fixed annuities. These are supported by Transamerica Corporate, which includes Finance, People and Places, General Counsel, Risk, Internal Audit, Strategy and Development, and Corporate Affairs, which covers Communications, Brand, and Government and Policy Affairs. 

 

Transamerica employs nearly 7,000 people. It’s part of Aegon, an integrated, diversified, international financial services group serving approximately 23.9 million customers worldwide.* For more information, visit transamerica.com.  

Job Description Summary

Operates independently while ensuring procurement is executed in accordance with the established procurement governance framework and divisional objectives. Partners with Sourcing & Supplier Management Lead or Manager of Sourcing & Supplier Management to provide end to end category procurement, commodity sourcing and supplier management support. This includes assess supplier capabilities, sourcing opportunities and provide new supplier implementation support.

Job Description

Responsibilities

  • Own the redline to signature lifecycle by driving issue logs and closure plans; draft, redline, and reconcile master terms, SOWs/work orders, order forms, and amendments with precise change control.

  • Help the business understand risk by translating contracting language to business terms with quantified trade-offs.

  • Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure contracts and supplier agreements support operational efficiency, innovation and scalability.

  • Use market intelligence (benchmarks, supplier stratification, consolidation opportunities and innovation scouting) to shape category strategies and supplier partnerships that improve capabilities and total cost of ownership.

  • Track and report outcomes (savings, avoidance, and broader value creation) in line with department reporting standards.

  • Works independently to execute supplier specific sourcing strategies for medium to high complexity transactions and drive this across functional organizations and business units to affect policies, processes and procedures having an impact on revenue and profitability.

  • Access electronic and paper contract files to determine existence and applicability of a current contract.

  • Creates and administers supplier request for proposals (RFPs)

  • Conducts benchmarking to ensure proposed supplier solutions are competitive to the market

  • Performs market research to understand and document competitive supplier landscape and service capabilities.

  • Ensures project milestones are met and benefits delivered; Resolves supplier issues that arise during implementations, acting as a liaison with Project and Divisional Management

  • Escalates issues as needed to Senior Management; Provides transition support for exiting existing supplier relationships.

  • Participates on local or global cross-functional teams to assist with analyzing procurement spend trends using data derived from available spend data, with the evaluation of sourcing opportunities, with pre-award and post-award procurement activities, such as volume reporting and evaluation of RFP responses, and with reporting and analysis used to develop and implement the selected supplier.

  • Perform program management activities for procurement-owned programs, as applicable to the commodity area. Duties include but are not limited to: processing non-catalog requisitions, researching new suppliers, short-form agreements, renewals, and identifying cost-save opportunities within managed programs.


Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in business administration, operations management, Finance, or other directly applicable field or equivalent education/experience.

  • At least 5 years of experience in category procurement, strategic sourcing, supplier management and contract management.

  • Experience with the supplier identification, selection and negotiation process. Knowledge of supplier management best practices and industry trends.

  • Exceptional written, interpersonal and verbal communication skills requiring a balance of assertiveness, tact and diplomacy; demonstrated ability to lead difficult conversations and collaborate, facilitate, and achieve consensus amongst key stakeholders; Ability to work effectively and cultivate strong relationships across all levels of the organization and with external parties; Ability to work with teams across geographically dispersed locations; Ability to effectively manage ambiguous situations and drive towards clarification; Demonstrated ability to influence others and drive change; Proven analytical and problem-solving skills, with a keen attention to detail; Ability to succeed under pressure, set priorities, and meet deadlines in a rapid-paced environment; Self-motivated with a positive attitude; Strong business acumen and demonstrated ability to put strategic plans into operation; Proven ability to manage multiple projects and support activities within a single job function.


Preferred Qualifications

  • Procurement experience managing Corporate Services related contracts (e.g. IT, Finance, HR, Legal & Compliance, Market Data, Marketing, Public Affairs, Facilities, Risk, Global Insurance, travel, etc.)

  • MBA, JD, or equivalent combination of advanced education and experience

  • Experience working in a Contracting Lifecycle Management System (CLM)

  • Global perspective and experience working with diverse customers and suppliers; Experience in a shared services environment; Experience in the financial services industry; Experience managing suppliers with global product/service provisioning models; Experience across multi-functional business processes; Experience working with various electronic procurement tools.


Working Conditions

  • Office Environment

  • Occasional Travel <10%

  • Domestic travel may be required as necessary

The Salary for this position generally ranges between $88,000 - $115,000 annually. Please note that the salary range is a good faith estimate for this position and actual starting pay is determined by several factors including qualifications, experience, geography, work location designation (in-office, hybrid, remote) and operational needs. Salary may vary above and below the stated amounts, as permitted by applicable law.

Additionally, this position is typically eligible for an Annual Bonus based on the Company Bonus Plan/Individual Performance and is at the Company’s discretion.

Disclaimer:
Beware of fake job offers!

We’ve been alerted to scammers impersonating Transamerica recruiters, particularly for remote positions. Please note:

  • We will never request personal information such as ID or payment for equipment upfront.

  • Official offers are sent via DocuSign following a verbal offer—not through text or email.


This job description is not a contract of employment nor for any specific job responsibilities. The Company may change, add to, remove, or revoke the terms of this job description at its discretion. Managers may assign other duties and responsibilities as needed. In the event an employee or applicant requests or requires an accommodation to perform job functions, the applicable HR Business Partner should be contacted to evaluate the accommodation request.

What We Offer  

 

For eligible employees, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support both the personal and financial well-being of our employees. 

 

Compensation Benefits 

  • Competitive Pay 

  • Bonus for Eligible Employees 

 

Benefits Package 

  • Pension Plan 

  • 401k Match

  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan

  • Tuition Reimbursement

  • Disability Insurance

  • Medical Insurance

  • Dental Insurance

  • Vision Insurance

  • Employee Discounts

  • Career Training & Development Opportunities

 

Health and Work/Life Balance Benefits 

  • Paid Time Off starting at 160 hours annually for employees in their first year of service.

  • Ten (10) paid holidays per year (typically mirroring the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) holidays).

  • Be Well Company holistic wellness program, which includes Wellness Coaching and Reward Dollars 

  • Parental Leave – fifteen (15) days of paid parental leave per calendar year to eligible employees with at least one year of service at the time of birth, placement of an adopted child, or placement of a foster care child.

  • Adoption Assistance

  • Employee Assistance Program

  • Back-Up Care Program

  • PTO for Volunteer Hours

  • Employee Matching Gifts Program

  • Employee Resource Groups

  • Inclusion and Diversity Programs

  • Employee Recognition Program

  • Referral Bonus Programs

 

Inclusion & Diversity  

  

We believe our commitment to diversity and inclusion creates a work environment filled with exceptional individuals. We’re thrilled to have been recognized for our efforts through the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, Dave Thomas Adoption Friendly Advocate, and several Seramount lists, including the Inclusion Index, 100 Best Companies for Working Parents, Best Companies for Dads, and Top 75 Companies for Executive Women. 

  

To foster a culture of inclusivity throughout our workforce, workplace, and marketplace, Transamerica offers a wide range of diversity and inclusion programs. This includes our company-sponsored, employee-driven Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), which are formed around a shared interest or a common characteristic of diversity. ERGs are open to all employees. They provide a supportive environment to help us better appreciate our similarities and differences and understand how they benefit us all. 

   

Giving Back  

  

We believe our responsibilities extend beyond our corporate walls. That's why we created the Aegon Transamerica Foundation in 1994. Through a mix of financial grants and the volunteer efforts of our employees, the foundation supports nonprofit organizations focused on the things that matter most to our people in the communities where we live and work.     

  

Transamerica’s Parent Company  

 

Aegon acquired the Transamerica business in 1999. Since its start in 1844, Aegon has  grown into an international company serving more than 23.9 million people across the globe.* It offers investment, protection, and retirement solutions, always with a clear purpose: Helping people live their best lives. As a leading global investor and employer, the company seeks to have a positive impact by addressing critical environmental and societal issues, with a focus on climate change and inclusion and diversity.   

* As of December 31, 2023