Strategic Sourcing Manager

Position Summary

The Strategic Sourcing Manager is responsible for development of sourcing strategies, supplier management, and savings initiatives within a defined category or group of categories. This includes supplier relationship management, integration with business needs, and leading/participating in project initiatives that drive change.

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitate the development and maintenance of formal category strategies (as assigned).
• Manage sourcing events to deliver savings and service improvements.
• Facilitate cross-functional sourcing team meetings and support global sourcing council, led by Director.
• Participate in Global Sourcing Council, with representation from key stakeholders, to define business needs, sourcing objectives, and align across the functions. Utilize councils for input to category strategies and agreement on sourcing event supplier awards.
• Manage supplier selection (with input from global category council), supplier qualification, and performance tracking.
• Ensure timely execution of sourcing waves and alignment with procurement operations.
• Maintain accurate contract, pricing, and supplier data (if not delegated to Sourcing Specialists).
• Manage a team of sourcing specialists, who will support the sourcing events and execution with operational planning/buying.
• Identify supply chain risk (materials, suppliers), monitor market related forces, and define actions to mitigate potential issues proactively.
• Maintains supplier scorecards, leads business reviews.

Experience & Core Skills

• Bachelor’s degree (Procurement, Supply Chain, Business, Engineering field).
• 8-10 years in sourcing or procurement, including ownership of mid-size spend categories.
• Strategic sourcing methodology and category strategy development.
• Proven experience running complex RFx’s and contract negotiations.
• Cross-functional collaboration with operations, legal, finance, R&D, commercial.
• Understanding of cost drivers and tracking of global price indices
• Data-driven decision making using spend analysis.
• ERP and eSourcing platform expertise (SAP Ariba, Jaggaer, Oracle, Zycus).
• Communication, Collaboration, and Coordination with internal stakeholders.

Preferred Attributes

• Certification in Supply Management (CPSM from ISM, APICS)
• Deep category knowledge (e.g. metals, chemicals, raw materials in general)
• Demonstrated success in cost savings, supplier consolidation, and innovative outcomes
• Familiarity with TCO modeling, Should-Cost, or Clean Sheet analysis
• Change Management or Lean/Six Sigma certification (e.g. Green Belt)
• Experience in steel or metal mechanic industry