Sr. Associate Manager, Strategic Sourcing and Partnerships

Who is Taco Bell?

Taco Bell was born and raised in California and has been around since 1962. We went from selling everyone’s favorite Crunchy Tacos on the West Coast to a global brand with 8,200+ restaurants, 350 franchise organizations, that serve 42+ million fans each week around the globe. We’re not only the largest Mexican-inspired quick service brand (QSR) in the world, we’re also part of the biggest restaurant group in the world: Yum! Brands. 

Much of our fan love and authentic connection with our communities are rooted in being rebels with a cause. From ensuring we use high quality, sustainable ingredients to elevating restaurant technology in ways that hasn’t been done before… we will continue to be inclusive, bold, challenge the status quo and push industry boundaries.   

We’re a company that celebrates and advocates for different, has bold self-expression, strives for a better future, and brings the fun while we’re at it. We fuel our culture with real people who bring unique experiences. We inspire and enable our teams and the world to Live Más.

At Taco Bell, we’re Cultural Rebels. Want to join in on the passion-fueled fun? Learn more about the career below. 

About the Job:

The Sr. Associate Manager of Strategic Sourcing is responsible for leading sourcing strategies, supporting supplier negotiations, and overseeing vendor management lifecycle across key spend technology services. This role is critical in evaluating, transitioning, and managing third-party providers to ensure performance, cost efficiency, and service quality. The role requires strong communication and influence with key stakeholders, cross-functional collaboration. 

The Day-to-Day:

• Manage strategic sourcing for technology services ensuring minimal service disruption from onboarding, transition to steady state.
• Oversee the sourcing lifecycle, including RFP creation, vendor evaluation, negotiation, onboarding, and ramp-up.
• Monitor and manage Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to ensure vendor performance.
• Conduct governance reviews, and regular performance assessments to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Act as the escalation point for vendor performance issues, managing resolution and corrective actions.
• Ensure service providers align with internal standards, regulatory requirements, and ISO 18295 best practices where applicable.
• Provide cost analysis, sourcing insights, and budget planning support.
• Partner with IT, procurement, legal, compliance, and finance teams to align sourcing and vendor strategies with organizational goals.
• Communicate effectively and influence key stakeholders at all levels to ensure alignment, buy-in, and successful execution of sourcing initiatives. 

Is This You?

Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain, Information Technology, or related field. 
• 5+ years of progressive experience in Business Analysis, strategic sourcing, and external partner management.  
• Experience in managing governance structures in an IT field. 
• Proven ability to build strong partnerships with external vendors and drive value through collaborative relationships.
• Strong contract negotiation skills, with the ability to lead complex vendor relationships and drive value. 
• Deep understanding of SLA structures, performance monitoring, and vendor compliance frameworks. 
• Demonstrated ability to build trust, influence decisions, and align cross-functional teams. 

Preferred: