What are the responsibilities and job description for the Strategic Sourcing Lead position at VE Solutions?
The Strategic Sourcing Specialist is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies that optimize cost, quality, service, and supply continuity. This role works cross-functionally with purchasing, engineering, operations, finance, and suppliers to identify opportunities, negotiate agreements, and build long-term supplier relationships that support business objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead cross-functional groups to develop and implement strategic sourcing strategies for assigned categories of spend.
- Identify, evaluate, and onboard suppliers through competitive sourcing processes (RFQ, RFP, RFI).
- Lead new supplier negotiations including pricing, terms, service levels, and contractual agreements.
- Analyze spend data and market trends to identify cost savings and value-creation opportunities.
- Work with the purchasing team to understand supplier performance through scorecards, reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Partner with internal stakeholders (purchasing, operations, engineering, finance, quality, etc.) to understand requirements and align sourcing strategies.
- Mitigate supply chain risk by developing alternate sources and contingency plans.
- Drive cost reduction initiatives such as supplier consolidation, should-cost analysis, and value engineering.
- Ensure sourcing activities comply with company policies and regulatory requirements.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
- 3–7 years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain management.
- Strong negotiation and supplier relationship management skills.
- Experience with sourcing tools and ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, etc.).
- Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
- Willing and able to perform supplier visits both domestic and international.
- Experience managing large spend categories or global suppliers.
- Knowledge of cost modeling and total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis.
Key Competencies
- Strategic thinking
- Negotiation and influence
- Data analysis and financial acumen
- Supplier relationship management
- Project management
- Risk management
Typical Performance Metrics
- Cost savings and cost avoidance
- Contract compliance
- Supply continuity and risk reduction
- Cycle time for sourcing events