Strategic Sourcing Lead

Position Summary: The Strategic Sourcing Lead is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies that support production requirements, business growth, cost objectives, and supply continuity. This position identifies and qualifies suppliers, leads commercial negotiations, manages supplier performance, and proactively addresses supply chain risk. The role partners closely with Purchasing/Demand Planning, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Quality to ensure sourcing decisions support forecasted demand, new product introduction, quality requirements, and long-term business needs. Approximately 50% travel is expected for supplier visits, qualification activities, and audits.

Key Responsibilities: Identify, evaluate, qualify, and develop suppliers capable of meeting the company’s quality, cost, delivery, capacity, and technical requirements. Conduct supplier site visits, assessments, and audits as part of supplier qualification, development, and ongoing performance management. Develop and execute category sourcing strategies aligned with production volumes, forecasted demand, product roadmaps, and business objectives. Lead supplier negotiations for pricing, payment terms, lead times, commercial conditions, and long-term agreements. Manage strategic supplier relationships and monitor performance across quality, delivery, cost, responsiveness, and capacity. Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including single-source exposure, geopolitical and tariff risk, supplier capacity constraints, and long lead-time components. Develop alternate-source and contingency strategies to improve supply continuity and reduce business risk. Drive cost-reduction initiatives through negotiation, supplier consolidation, alternate sourcing, value opportunities, and other strategic sourcing actions. Partner with Engineering/R&D during new product introduction to identify and source components early and support supplier readiness. Collaborate with Purchasing/Demand Planning to align sourcing strategies, supplier lead times, minimum order quantities, and commercial requirements with forecasted demand and inventory objectives. Partner with Quality and Manufacturing to address supplier-related quality, delivery, or technical issues and support corrective actions when required. Maintain sourcing documentation, supplier agreements, commercial information, and sourcing decisions in accordance with company requirements. Provide sourcing updates, supplier risks, cost-saving progress, and recommendations to the Director of Manufacturing & Supply Chain.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field preferred. Progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, supplier management, or a related supply chain function. Demonstrated experience identifying, evaluating, and qualifying suppliers within a manufacturing environment. Strong negotiation and commercial skills with experience managing supplier pricing, terms, and agreements. Ability to analyze supplier capability, cost, risk, lead time, capacity, and performance when making sourcing decisions. Strong problem-solving, analytical, communication, and relationship-management skills. Ability to manage multiple sourcing initiatives and priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Ability and willingness to travel approximately 50% for supplier visits, audits, qualification activities, and business needs.

Preferred Experience: Experience sourcing electronic components, assemblies, or other materials used in electronics or automotive-related manufacturing. Experience with supplier audits, supplier development, and global sourcing. Experience supporting new product introduction and engineering-driven sourcing requirements. Experience managing geopolitical, tariff, single-source, and supplier continuity risks. Experience with ERP/MRP systems, including SAP.