Strategic Sourcing & Category Manager

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Strategic Sourcing professional to lead sourcing strategy and supplier management for mechanical components and direct materials. This role is responsible for supplier selection, cost optimization, commercial negotiations, contract management, and developing long-term sourcing strategies that support business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for mechanical components, raw materials, purchased products, and manufactured assemblies.

• Lead supplier selection, qualification, negotiations, and contract management.

• Analyze total spend, pricing structures, market trends, and supply chain dynamics to identify cost-saving opportunities.

• Create strategic supplier roadmaps, including identifying and qualifying new suppliers to support business growth and product development.

• Review bills of materials (BOMs), engineering drawings, and technical specifications to support sourcing decisions and manufacturing readiness.

• Develop risk mitigation strategies to ensure supply continuity and minimize disruptions.

• Manage Purchase Price Variance (PPV) and implement solutions that balance cost control with material availability.

• Monitor supplier performance and partner with Supplier Quality and Engineering teams to implement corrective actions when needed.

• Lead RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, supplier evaluations, commercial negotiations, and supplier selection activities.

• Support end-of-life product strategies and legacy component sourcing to ensure uninterrupted operations.

• Establish supplier performance metrics, KPIs, and reporting dashboards.

• Partner closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Product Management, Project Management, Finance, and Operations to support business initiatives.

• Provide commercial guidance throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Partner with Finance to validate procurement savings and ensure compliance with savings methodologies.

• Evaluate, approve, and audit suppliers based on quality, engineering, manufacturing, and procurement requirements.

• Effectively communicate sourcing strategies and supplier performance to leadership and cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Required Experience:

  • 10+ years of strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain experience supporting direct materials with a focus on mechanical components.
  • Extensive experience managing supplier relationships in complex manufacturing environments.
  • Strong understanding of demand planning, supplier capacity, and supply chain dynamics.
  • Experience performing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis and utilizing data to drive sourcing decisions.
  • Proven success negotiating supplier agreements and commercial contracts.
  • Experience developing and executing sourcing strategies across multiple mechanical spend categories.
  • Strong analytical, leadership, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, changing environment while managing multiple priorities.
  • Demonstrated strategic thinking and strong business acumen.
  • High level of integrity, accountability, and urgency.
  • Experience leading sourcing initiatives and procurement transformations.
  • Experience within manufacturing industries such as OEM, industrial equipment, aerospace, oil & gas, or similar environments.
  • Willingness to travel approximately 10% as business needs require.

• Preferred Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field required.
  • Master's degree or MBA preferred.
  • Professional certifications such as CPSM, CPM, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, or PMP are a plus.
  • Advanced knowledge of strategic sourcing, procurement, supplier management, and procure-to-pay (P2P) processes.
  • Experience with ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle, along with eSourcing and contract management platforms.
  • Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Visio.
  • Deep understanding of manufacturing processes, mechanical supply markets, and product lifecycles.
  • Ability to analyze complex data and translate findings into actionable business recommendations.