Strategic Sourcing Specialist
Strategic Sourcing Specialist
Location: Remote (U.S.)
Travel: Approximately 20-30% travel required (onsite visits every 40 days to suppliers, manufacturing facilities, and internal stakeholders)
Position Summary
Our client is seeking a highly motivated Strategic Sourcing Specialist to support sourcing initiatives across key manufacturing categories, including metals, electrical components, and manufactured parts/components. This role will be responsible for developing sourcing strategies, negotiating supplier agreements, driving cost reduction initiatives, managing supplier performance, and ensuring continuity of supply across a complex manufacturing environment.
The ideal candidate will bring strong experience sourcing direct materials within a manufacturing setting, possess exceptional negotiation skills, and have hands-on experience utilizing ERP systems such as Oracle and/or SAP.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute strategic sourcing strategies for metals, electrical components, and other manufacturing-related categories.
- Lead supplier identification, qualification, selection, and ongoing relationship management.
- Conduct RFQs, RFPs, bid analysis, and contract negotiations to secure optimal pricing, quality, and service levels.
- Drive year-over-year cost savings initiatives while maintaining quality and delivery performance.
- Partner closely with Operations, Production Planning, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to align sourcing activities with business objectives.
- Analyze spend data, supplier performance metrics, market trends, and supply risks to proactively identify opportunities and mitigate disruptions.
- Negotiate long-term agreements, pricing structures, and commercial terms with suppliers.
- Support supplier development initiatives and performance improvement programs.
- Monitor supplier KPIs, including quality, on-time delivery, responsiveness, and cost competitiveness.
- Ensure sourcing practices comply with company policies, regulatory requirements, and ethical procurement standards.
- Utilize ERP systems to manage supplier data, purchase transactions, reporting, and sourcing analytics.
- Travel to supplier locations and company sites approximately every 40 days to support relationship management, audits, and sourcing projects.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, Engineering, or a related field.
- 3+ years of strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain experience within a manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated experience sourcing direct materials, including:
- Metals
- Electrical components
- Manufacturing components and assemblies
- Strong supplier negotiation and contract management experience.
- Experience conducting supplier evaluations, spend analysis, and sourcing events.
- Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to manage multiple sourcing projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
- Willingness and ability to travel approximately every 40 days.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with both Oracle ERP and SAP systems.
- Professional certifications such as CPSM, CPM, CSCP, or APICS.
- Experience supporting multi-site manufacturing operations.
- Knowledge of commodity market analysis, supplier risk management, and cost modeling.
- Experience driving measurable cost savings and process improvement initiatives.
FAQs
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