Specialist, Production Procurement

Who We Are…

When we say, “the stuff dreams are made of,” we’re not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD’s vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what’s next…

From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.

Your New Role

The Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Strategic Sourcing Specialist for Content Production Procurement supports category strategy development and associated initiatives for all Content Production subcategories for the company. Content Production represents over $3B in third party spend across WBD’s 30+ brands and is a key contributor to business success and revenue growth.

This role is responsible for leading and supporting Production procurement projects and developing complex analysis within WBD Procurement and should have prior experience in procurement. Example procurement projects this role may support and lead are deal execution for production payroll services and production accounting solutions, development and expansion of the production deal directory, etc.

The role works with the Head of Production & Content Supply Chain Procurement, the lead of Production Procurement, and business stakeholders to implement sourcing strategies and manage supplier relationships. He/she/they practices formalized sourcing best practices and abiding by standards and procedures. This position is charged with being resourceful, conducting marketplace and project specific information gathering and synthesis, monitoring supplier performance, and ensuring continuous improvement.

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Strategic Sourcing Specialist for Production Procurement will report to the Director, Production Procurement.

Your Role Accountabilities

Category Management

Conducts analysis of market conditions to proactively manage changes in the marketplace & develop project plans to address such issues. Obtains relevant information for developing new commodity strategies, considering the entire supply chain, information and economic considerations. Identifies key internal customers and stakeholders, and interfaces with them to understand current and future business requirements. Compiles and synthesizes both business requirements and external market conditions to develop optimal commodity strategy with full understanding of potential shortfalls and risk mitigation plans. Develops initial hypothesis of key savings drivers for commodity across multiple levers – price, cost, demand and process. Develops and compiles required Request for Information (RFI), Request for Quotation (RFQ) or Request for Proposal (RFP) to facilitate development of sourcing strategy. Develops commodity strategy recommendations in a persuasive fashion and leads implementation of sourcing strategy (sole source or short-list negotiations, leverage added scope, competitive bidding, eSourcing tools, catalogs, reverse auctions, etc.). Partner with Supplier Diversity efforts to creatively include MWBE in supplier selection process and creatively grow existing MWBE spend. Contributes to environmentally friendly purchase efforts to support WBD Environmental Purchase Guidelines.

Supplier Selection / Management

Conducts comprehensive supplier analysis (strategic direction, financial health/risk due diligence, market position/power, capabilities & capacity, resiliency). Monitors supplier relationship programs that cut across multiple business divisions to ensure service levels are being met. Identifies key performance indicators (perfect order, growth drivers, production constraints, investment strategies) to drive business value for both parties and to seek out and find emerging business improvement opportunities. Conducts periodic supplier meeting to address performance. Leverages WBD’s Supplier Diversity Program and Sustainability partners to include diverse and environmentally friendly vendors in supplier selection processes.

Sourcing-driven Project Management

Identifies opportunities where project management expertise needs to be implemented and works to ensure that those involved in key projects are managing them optimally. Demonstrates consistent success in meeting or exceeding goals, timelines, and expectations for multiple projects that may be occurring simultaneously.

Financial, Cost, Spend Analysis. Cost Savings Reporting

• Can apply various types of financial analyses to address Strategic Sourcing challenges.
• Conceives and develops complex analytical & pricing models to address Strategic Sourcing challenges, including spend baseline development, bid evaluation and savings calculations. Can develop detailed analyses of financial statements and business unit cost structures.
• Develops tracking mechanisms, monitors compliance and creates usage/leakage reports.
• Leverages Sourcing Tools & Process team and spend management tool during opportunity assessment to conduct market research and determine baseline spend and associated cost.
• Breaks paradigms to look at financial/analytical problems in new ways.

Negotiations, Contract Creation & Management

• Develops and conducts negotiations strategies to maximize value to WM across price, service and quality elements.
• Has the necessary business acumen to be thoroughly conversant in the intent and rationale behind contract provisions from a business as well as legal perspective, and acts as a liaison between the contracting parties, WBD Legal, and management.
• Recognizes differences in requirements and strategies across business units and coaches others to use that understanding to optimize WBD protection/advantages.
• Develops and implements simplified processes which facilitate timely, effective contracts (makes it easy to do the right thing).
• Prepares written reports and presentations on contract administration activities for management within Procurement

Qualifications & Experience

• 2-4 years strategy, operations and sourcing experience in a sophisticated sourcing environment with demonstrated stakeholder and vendor management experience.
• Experience in the Media & Entertainment industry with exposure to film, television, and live production is strongly preferred, especially in production finance & accounting and/or physical production.
• Understanding and experience of the film and television budgeting processes and software are a plus.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management or a technical major is required.
• Professional accreditation in sourcing / procurement preferred.
• Functional Skills.
• Proficiency in developing complex RFPs and conducting complex bid analysis.
• Application of Strategic Sourcing best practices.
• Advanced analytical and critical thinking skills
• Cross-function & Cross-divisional collaboration & understanding is essential
• Experience working across geographies

Behavioral Skills

• Initiative: self-motivated, works independently, minimal direction needed.
• Relationship Building: gaining trust, service orientation, customer focus.
• Planning & Organization: strong project leader, emphasis on execution, creative problem-solving, multi-tasking & managing multiple priorities.
• Communication: clear, concise communicator with attention to detail, ability to translate complex messages into commonly understood terms.
• Influencing others: without authority, persuasion, ability to see multiple perspectives.
• Demonstrates and practices a high degree of professional integrity and ethical responsibility in all business activities.
• Flexible, team player with high energy.
• Must be able to maintain confidential information.

How We Get Things Done…

This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/ along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.

Championing Inclusion at WBD

Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of our society and the world around us. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, and genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or any other category protected by law.

If you’re a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.

In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles in locations where legally required. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, skill set, experience, and/or performance. Base pay is just one component of Warner Bros. Discovery’s total compensation package for employees. Pay Range: $54,600.00 – $101,400.00 salary per year. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and sick time and vacation.

If you’re a qualified candidate with an arrest or conviction record, please know that your application will be considered in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

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