Sourcing Specialist, Environment

McKinsey is seeking a Sourcing Specialist for its Environment team in Philadelphia, PA. The role involves developing carbon abatement strategies through market-based solutions, leading sourcing operations, and collaborating with various stakeholders. Candidates should have a university degree, 5+ years of experience in environmental commodities, and expertise in sourcing and category management. The position focuses on fostering supplier partnerships and driving innovation to achieve sustainability goals.
You will work in one of our North America offices and will work as a member of our expanding Environment Sustainable Procurement team to help develop the firm's carbon abatement strategies via procuring market-based solutions such as carbon credits and sustainable aviation fuel. You will help lead the sourcing strategies / purchasing operations that successfully deliver on the firm's environmental sustainability goals.

Optimize is the procurement capability of the firm creating leading solutions and experiences across our supplier ecosystem, enabling colleagues and the firm to live our purpose confidently.

We are structured as seven categories (Real Estate, Travel, External Workers, HR/Benefits, Learning, External Client Capabilities, Events, and Environment) and seven functions (Purchasing, Risk, Sustainable Procurement, Operations, Tech Enablement Solutions and Strategic Planning).

The Sourcing Specialist, Environment will work and collaborate closely with a wide range of stakeholders both within and outside of the firm - sustainability leaders, scientists, carbon removal and sustainable aviation fuel suppliers, and internal operations.

Your role will involve developing and executing against strategic plans, working in cross-functional teams, fostering high-impact supplier partnerships, and driving innovation and efficiency across the procurement process.

You will help build out the firm's carbon abatement supplier portfolio (including SAF, carbon credits, and renewable energy certificates) and optimize quality, cost, and diversity across the portfolio while meeting strategic goals and mitigating risk.

You will lead large, long-term and/or complex transactions, including determining which suppliers to engage and what criteria to use in the evaluation and selection process of all purchases. You must have expertise in global climate change treaties (e.g., Paris Climate Agreement) and national climate policies, technologies, and environmental interventions to effectively manage and reduce the Firm's carbon footprint. The role requires monitoring changes in legislation, policy and accounting guidance (i.e., SBTi, GHGP, IATA) to identify potential impacts on the firm's short term and long term decarbonization targets. You will also be responsible for building a network of internal and external stakeholders to achieve the firm's carbon reduction targets.

You'll be joining us at an exciting time as we are currently shaping our 'Make responsible buying easy' transformation and evolving our sourcing practice and have set an ambitious environmental strategy to execute against.
• University degree; MBA or advanced degree preferred
• 5+ years of relevant experience in environmental commodities, in sectors such as carbon offsets, SAF, or renewable energy (PPAs, RECs)
• 2+ years of relevant experience in sourcing and/or category management, including creating and implementing category strategies, vetting new suppliers, developing, and engaging with suppliers
• Experience in a sourcing position conducting vendor assessments, business case development, and negotiations
• Awareness of trends related to SAF, carbon removals (tech- and nature-based), and broader environment-related purchases
• Excellent attention to detail (including reviewing contracts) and passion for engaging suppliers to further environmental goals
• Collaborative style and ability to adapt and incorporate input from various teams
• High energy and responsive, with a focus on quality
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, dynamic, and often ambiguous environment