Procurement Category Specialist

Position: Procurement Category/Commodity Specialist (Mechanical/Electrical/Electronics)

Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Onsite)

Contract

Job Summary:

The Procurement Category/Commodity Specialist will lead strategic sourcing, supplier management, and cost optimization initiatives across mechanical, electrical, and electronic commodities. This role requires strong analytical capability, deep understanding of cost drivers, and the ability to collaborate with cross functional teams and senior leadership. The ideal candidate brings a blend of technical knowledge, commercial acumen, and proven experience in driving supplier led savings.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management

• Lead RFQ/RFI processes, conduct competitive bid analysis, and finalize pricing based on market benchmarks.

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for assigned commodities, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.

• Evaluate supplier cost structures, negotiate cost reductions, and drive working capital improvements.

• Maintain strong understanding of market operating prices across mechanical, electrical, and electronic commodities.

• Act as the primary liaison between the company and suppliers, ensuring clear communication and performance alignment.

Costing, Analytics & Governance

• Perform detailed cost analysis, including cost drivers and process drivers for commodity parts and sub assemblies.

• Utilize e sourcing tools to create award scenarios and support data driven decision making.

• Report supplier provided savings opportunities to senior leadership and maintain governance dashboards.

• Analyze spend data, identify opportunities, and support continuous improvement initiatives.

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Procurement, Engineering, Plant Buyers, and Operations teams to enable supplier driven savings.

• Interface with senior leadership across regions, both internally and externally.

• Provide technical and commercial insights with minimal engineering supervision.

Operational Excellence

• Ensure compliance with purchasing tools, processes, and best practices.

• Maintain strong documentation and data accuracy using MS Office, PDM/PLM tools, and procurement systems.

• Support program governance, reporting, and performance tracking.

• Travel to supplier or customer sites as required.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Strong negotiation and conflict resolution capabilities.

• In depth understanding of procurement, sourcing, and supplier management practices.

• Strong analytical, costing, and problem solving skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities with minimal supervision.

• Proficiency in MS Office and familiarity with PDM/PLM systems.

• Experience in strategic sourcing, supplier evaluation, and commodity strategy development (minimum 5 years).