Strategic Sourcing Specialist

Strategic Sourcing Specialist

TalentBridge is partnering with a well-established manufacturer of custom-engineered solutions and components. The company is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Specialist to join its Schaumburg, IL team. This position will support the procurement of production materials while helping strengthen the company's supplier network, improve purchasing performance, and identify opportunities for cost savings. The role is suited for a procurement professional who understands manufacturing environments and is interested in combining day-to-day purchasing with broader sourcing and supplier-development responsibilities.

What You'll Do

• Manage purchasing activities for new and existing production materials.
• Review material requirements and place purchase orders in alignment with production and project schedules.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with suppliers.
• Identify, assess, and develop suppliers capable of meeting quality, cost, delivery, and technical requirements.
• Monitor material pricing and identify opportunities to reduce purchasing costs.
• Support cost-reduction projects and track progress against established objectives.
• Develop working knowledge of assigned components, commodities, and related manufacturing processes.
• Review supplier capabilities and understand how their operations align with the company's production needs.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Planning, and Operations to address material, supplier, and production issues.
• Monitor supplier delivery and quality performance and contribute to supplier performance reviews.
• Support initiatives involving inventory turns, on-time delivery, supplier quality, and overall procurement efficiency.
• Assist with commercial negotiations involving pricing, lead times, payment terms, and other purchasing conditions.
• Help develop and implement sourcing strategies for assigned materials and components.
• Visit supplier facilities as needed to support supplier development, quality, production, or sourcing initiatives.

What We're Looking For

• 57 years of procurement or purchasing experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience purchasing production materials, components, or machined parts.
• Exposure to strategic sourcing, supplier development, cost reduction, or procurement strategy.
• Strong supplier negotiation and relationship-management skills.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documentation.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes and quality requirements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the ability to evaluate information and make practical business decisions.
• Strong organizational skills, follow-through, and a sense of urgency.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and data analysis.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external suppliers.

Preferred Experience

• Experience sourcing CNC-machined or Swiss-machined components.
• Approximately 24 years of experience working with CNC or Swiss machining suppliers.
• Familiarity with component manufacturing processes.
• Mechanical engineering coursework, experience, or technical manufacturing knowledge.
• Experience with SAP or another ERP system.
• SCM or CPIM certification.
• Bachelor's degree preferred.