Karen Alexander Email & Phone Number

Dublin 2, Ie

Santa Clara, California, Us

Commodity Manager for the ERP, BI and analytics domains. Sourced perpetual and cloud-based subscription licenses by closely aligning with various Business Units and Subsidiaries. Creatively negotiated ways to allow for trade-in, trade-up, re-use, or reduction of old unused software for new. Managed a supplier with 26 different products deployed across 3 different stakeholder groups using supplier management tools and meetings. Reduced supplier escalations by creating an internal communication package to keep C-suites informed throughout certain supplier selections. Co-developed a software supplier survey to present cross-supplier quarterly performance to the CIO staff.

Santa Clara, California, Us

Set the sourcing direction for the Client capability to deliver the best cost, quality, availability, technology, and sustainability plans. Lead the Client sourcing team to ensure plans are carried out and kept up to date. With tremendous cost cutting pressures, drove cost savings thru a "lean" PC configuration, monthly should cost negotiations, multi-vendor competitive environment, and supplier optimization strategies. Created the first Client Sourcing Strategy Plan to articulate these strategies and plans. Managed a summer intern through a spend category cleanup project improving preferred supplier utilization by 80%; subsequently, wrote associated documentation to proliferate across sourcing groups.

Santa Clara, California, Us

Managed the hardware, peripherals and support suppliers for the Server commodity. Leveraged the company's purchasing power by renegotiating three separate and disjointed contracts with one supplier into a comprehensive umbrella agreement that drove consistent and best pricing across the company. Led a cross-discipline/organization team through a thorough RFP process to re-evaluate the Server landscape and keep the server solutions best-in-class. Created and presented the first Server Sourcing Plan that aligned with industry and company technology roadmaps, cost reduction targets, and process improvements over a 5-year period creating synergy among 3 user groups. Partnered with engineering stakeholder groups to incorporate supplier engagement dos and don'ts into the product evaluation process in order to maintain purchasing and negotiation leverage.

Santa Clara, California, Us

Sourced and managed suppliers to ensure requirements and key performance indicators were met. Realized significant savings thru the consolidation of old technology and various suppliers into one comprehensive global contract; integrated this new IT supplier thru use of supplier management techniques and performance indicators. Led a team thru an RFP and selection process of the company's first handheld device for use by employees without personal PCs that resulted in a significant ROI. Wrote several IT-related sourcing processes documents to drive procurement standards.