What are the responsibilities and job description for the MRO Sourcing Specialist position at Confidential?
About the role:
The Strategic Sourcing Expert – Consumables is responsible for developing and executing category strategies for Maintenance, Repair & Operations (MRO), tooling, PPE, and safe workwear across manufacturing and operational footprint.
The role drives cost optimization, supply continuity, supplier innovation, and risk mitigation, while ensuring compliance with safety, quality, sustainability, and regulatory standards in a food and nutrition manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and implement end-to-end category strategies for consumables (MRO, PPE, tooling, workwear) aligned with group’s global procurement objectives.
- Deliver measurable value through cost savings, demand management, specification harmonization, and supplier consolidation.
- Lead should-cost analyses, total cost of ownership (TCO) modeling, and benchmarking initiatives.
- Identify, qualify, and manage strategic suppliers and regional partners to ensure continuity of supply and competitive advantage.
- Lead RFPs, RFQs, and contract negotiations, including pricing structures, SLAs, safety standards, and service levels.
- Act as a trusted procurement partner to plant engineering, maintenance, EHS, operations, and quality teams.
- Drive alignment between local site needs and regional/global sourcing strategies.
Requirements:
- University degree (Bachelor’s or Master’s) or equivalent professional experience.
4-7 years of experience in:
- Strategic sourcing or category management experience
- Logistics sourcing, fleet sourcing, or heavy equipment categories
- Experience with RFQs/RFPs, negotiations, and contract management
- Experience managing or sourcing vehicle fleets or logistics assets
- Strong understanding of maintenance, uptime, and operational requirements
- Exposure to TCO-driven decision-making
- Strong exposure to road transport and time-critical logistics; air freight experience is a plus.
- Experience in industrial safety & PPE / industrial supplies, food logistics, FMCG, or similarly operationally intensive environments is highly desirable
- Solid understanding of transportation markets, pricing mechanisms, and cost drivers
- Strong analytical and stakeholder communication skills
- Comfortable working in international, matrix-driven organizations
- Fluent in English or another language (e.g. Spanish, French, German) is an advantage
- Execution-oriented with a strong operational mindset
- Structured, pragmatic, and resilient in fast-paced environments
- Curious and motivated to deepen transportation and logistics expertise in an aviation context
What We Offer
We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to the business. The salary range for the Greater Chicago Area and or New York City Metro Area is $120,000 to $170,000, plus individuals may be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. Individual salaries within those ranges are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, qualifications, skills, location and applicable employment laws. In addition, our Total Rewards package includes medical, vision and dental coverage, 401(k), and a wide range of paid time off options.
Salary : $120,000 - $170,000