The Role: As the Strategic Sourcing Specialist, you will lead category strategy, supplier sourcing, and contracting activities across key product and service categories. This role will collaborate with engineering, quality, production and finance teams to deliver sustainable cost savings, ensure supply continuity, and drive procurement process improvements. The successful candidate will analyze market trends, conduct competitive sourcing events, negotiate contracts, and manage supplier performance to support business growth and operational excellence. Your Responsibilities: Intelligence studies to identify supplier trends, cost drivers, and risk factors Maintain supplier qualification and ongoing performance management (e.g., scorecards, audits) Collaborate with internal team-engineering, legal, quality assurance, and operations—to ensure alignment with sourcing decisions Identify supply chain risks; develop and execute mitigation and continuity plans to manage supply disruptions and escalation issues Drive continuous cost-optimization, process improvement, and performance metrics tracking Identify, evaluate and qualify new suppliers. Help find second sources for any single sourced items Issue and maintain blanket purchase orders for commodities Other duties as assigned Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field; advanced degrees preferred Proven experience (5–7 years) in sourcing or procurement, preferably in strategic sourcing and category management Industry-specific expertise (manufacturing) 2-3 years proven ETO or MTO manufacturing environment experience Strong negotiation skills; ability to secure favorable commercial terms and supply agreements Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems and advanced Excel for spend and data analysis and reporting Analytical mindset for data-driven decision-making Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities for stakeholder management Organizational and time management skills to handle multiple sourcing projects Strong ethical judgment and strategic orientation Procurement/Supply Chain credentials: CPSM, CIPS, CPIM, ISM CSP or equivalent preferred Payrate: $75,000 - $85,000