Sr. Sourcing Specialist

Job Summary

Working without appreciable direction, supports the Purchasing Division as a procurement expert in packaging components. Identifies cost savings opportunities within assigned categories. May provide expertise to lower level staff.

Responsibilities

• Purchases $15-30 million in inventory in the most cost-effective manner while maintaining quality and supply flexibility.
• Effectively negotiates and/or implements initiatives that reduce Company costs and/or prevents annual cost increases by $250,000 to $500,000.
• Independently capable of highly complex negotiations including multi-year supply agreements, high dollar quality disputes, and legal disputes and partners with Legal on complex agreements and contracts.
• Acts independently and makes decisions consistent with the overall policies and objectives of the Manufacturing Group and the Purchasing Division.
• Updates management on an exception only basis and refers to management only on matters that involve a large amount of money or special circumstances.
• Occasionally challenges higher levels without hesitation and regularly contacts them to gain support and cooperation.
• Utilizes an advanced knowledge of the processes, cost pressure points, and supply evaluates supplier competence relative to others in the industry.
• Selects suppliers who meet the cost, quality, and production requirements of Mary Kay Inc.
• Researches and selects reliable first, second, and third source suppliers to increase capacity, achieve a competitive pricing situation, and ensure supply of quality components, ingredients, jewelry, recognition items, contract formulas, contract packaging or turnkey contract manufacturing and distribution.
• Responsible for identifying and establishing full-service contract manufacturers in other countries to sustain core supply chain service to major international markets or those targeted for future growth.
• Responsible for interaction and problem resolution with suppliers such as resolving invoicing discrepancies, negotiating price, quality, and delivery, obtaining quotes, and expediting delayed shipments.
• Responsible for supplier correspondence, purchase orders, change orders, and scheduling supplier evaluation trips.
• Can and will go to top of supplier organization; working rapport with supplier executives; effectively engages supplier executives when needed.
• Leads and presses suppliers to apply new technology for improvements in Mary Kay Inc. purchases.
• Makes decisions based on global supply and pricing trends.
• Pursues and investigates new project innovation and regularly executes alone.
• Works towards long-range goals and objectives.
• Regularly challenges status quo procedures, processes, and technology looking for opportunities to improve.
• Projects purchasing costs based on marketing and price trends so that cost of materials can be budgeted for the next year.
• Prepares the component, ingredient or finished good standard costs budget.
• This impacts the standard cost, cost of goods, planned corporate cash flow, and Company profit margins.
• Includes specific cost reduction plans to ensure the appropriate cost of goods is maintained or reduced.
• Responds to purchasing requirements that are listed in the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) report.
• Interfaces with Brand Marketing or Sales Force Recognition, Global Inventory Control, Supply Scheduling, Finance, Transportation and Compliance, Quality, and, depending on the project, Package Development, Engineering, Contract Manufacturing, and R&D to address purchasing requests, inquiries, problems, and status updates.
• Collaborates with Mary Kay China counterparts as needed to support their market needs.
• Intercedes on behalf of Supply Scheduling to troubleshoot finished goods, component, or ingredient supplier service issues regarding replenishment procurement.
• Becomes the Purchasing owner for new product development initiatives.
• Interfaces with all departments involved in new product development from the initial idea phase to final approval.
• Provides expertise in the development of custom, modified, stock packaging or finished goods (i.e. compacts), which must be functional, meet standards for quality and cost, have adequate shelf life and good appearance, meet production and distribution requirements.
• Responds to frequent changes and opportunities due to new products, materials, and processes and must complete projects on schedule.
• Interfaces with management to resolve problems and review progress on projects when necessary.
• Remains abreast of current technology in packaging and packaging processes so that Mary Kay Inc. remains competitive in the marketplace.
• Leverages sourcing and overall commodity strategies for international.
• Allocates tooling dollars as needed to execute both new product/package projects and upgrades to current packaging or increased capacity requirements.
• Submits Capital Expenditure Authorization requests with cost justifications calculated to cover tooling purchase orders required to buy all tooling.
• Issues non-inventory purchase orders to cover all prep charges, artwork dies, etc. involved in producing components for Mary Kay Inc.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience
• Bachelor/University Degree in Business or related discipline
• Advanced knowledge of and experience in materials, manufacturing, printing, and decorating processes
• Effective negotiation skills
• Effective organizational, project management, and time management skills
• Effective decision-making skills
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Knowledge of laws and regulations associated with each region
• Ability to work with multiple cultures
• Ability to effectively author and analyze supplier contracts
• Ability to work closely with Legal Department