Specialist, Strategic Sourcing

In this role you will lead strategic sourcing and procurement for polymers, plastics and mechanical components, driving cost reductions and supply chain efficiency. You will work closely with engineering, production and legal to optimize supplier contracts and ensure reliable supply. The role focuses on cross-functional collaboration, market analysis, and data-driven decision making to support manufacturing schedules and cost goals. This is a boundary-spanning role with significant impact on TCO and supplier partnerships. You will contribute to shaping procurement strategy in a high-stakes manufacturing environment.

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies to reduce costs and improve TCO across polymers, molded plastics, and mechanical components
• Conduct market research, identify new suppliers, assess risks, and monitor cost trends
• Lead renegotiations and optimize vendor contracts for favorable pricing
• Implement e-sourcing tools and data analysis to optimize procurement processes
• Identify, evaluate, onboard, and manage suppliers for polymers, plastics, sheet metal and machined parts, raw fiber, and protective materials
• Manage full contract lifecycle in collaboration with legal, ensuring compliance
• Monitor supplier performance using KPIs on quality, delivery, and cost; address gaps
• Collaborate with engineering, finance, and production to align procurement with schedules
• Proven experience as a Procurement Specialist in manufacturing, preferably fiber optics or related
• Experience sourcing polymers, molded plastics, mechanical components, sheet metal xysqume and machined parts, raw fiber, and protective jacketing materials
• Experience managing contract manufacturing relationships
• Track record of achieving measurable cost reductions
• Excellent negotiation and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency with SAP or equivalent ERP, advanced Excel; Power BI a plus
• strong negotiation and communication
• relationship-building with suppliers
• problem-solving and attention to detail
• SAP/ERP
• Power BI
• Advanced Excel