Sourcing Specialist

Position SummaryThe Sourcing Specialist is a hands-on, execution-focused role responsible for keeping pricing accurate and current, fulfilling sample requests, reporting on pricing and market activity, managing underperforming vendors, and serving as the primary point of contact for incoming requests from suppliers and plants. The role supports direct chemical raw materials and indirect categories across the company's five U.S. manufacturing sites and is central to maintaining clean, defensible pricing data and reliable supplier service levels.The position is structured as approximately 70 percent tactical execution and 30 percent strategic support. The Specialist works closely with the Manager of Strategic Sourcing in Texas and coordinates on a dotted-line basis with site leadership in South Carolina and Massachusetts to ensure consistency across all locations. In addition to sourcing duties, the role supports inventory management, Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP), and integration initiatives. The successful candidate is well organized, approachable, and available as needed to provide responsive support in a busy supply chain environment.Key ResponsibilitiesPricing Accuracy and Maintenance (Primary)Maintain accurate, current pricing across all raw material and indirect categories in the ERP systems, ensuring purchase order pricing matches contracted and quoted terms.Validate price changes, surcharges, and freight terms against supplier agreements and published benchmarks before they are loaded.Identify and resolve pricing discrepancies between vendor invoices, purchase orders, and contracts in coordination with Accounts Payable.Create and maintain costing templates and landed-cost models, ensuring freight, duty, tariff, fees, and tax are accurately applied so total landed cost is correct in the system.Enrich and clean item and pricing data across multiple plant sites and ERP environments to support data integrity standards.Sample Requests and Supplier CoordinationFulfill and track sample requests from plants and internal stakeholders, coordinating with suppliers on timing, documentation, and delivery.Serve as the central intake point for incoming requests from suppliers and plant locations, triaging and routing items to the correct owner and following them to closure.Maintain responsive, professional communication with suppliers and internal customers across all five sites.Pricing and Market ReportingPrepare and distribute recurring pricing reports, including price and lead-time movement on key materials.Track surcharges and market indicators, supporting close-the-loop responses with supplier representatives.Compile bid comparisons and quote summaries to support sourcing decisions and negotiations.Underperforming Vendor ManagementMonitor supplier performance against expectations for pricing accuracy, delivery, quality, and responsiveness.Document and manage underperforming vendors through a structured process, escalating unresolved issues to sourcing leadership.Support de-sourcing and alternate-source qualification activities as directed.Strategic SupportSupport RFP and competitive bidding events, including data preparation, supplier outreach, and analysis.Develop should-cost and total cost of ownership (TCO) models to support negotiations and sourcing decisions.Support capital expenditure (Cap Ex) sourcing, including quote collection, bid summaries, and supplier evaluation.Apply negotiation techniques in supplier discussions to secure accurate pricing, favorable terms, and cost reductions.Contribute to cost-reduction initiatives and category strategies led by the Manager of Strategic Sourcing.Supply Chain SupportSupport inventory management activities across plant sites in coordination with supply chain leadership.Monitor slow-moving and excess inventory and coordinate items for return to vendor, special sale, or disposal.Maintain awareness of margin, gross profit, and net working capital impacts, flagging items that fall outside expected levels.Support the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process with pricing, supplier, and data inputs.Contribute to integration initiatives, including system, process, and data consolidation across sites.Provide responsive, as-needed support to plant and supply chain teams during periods of high activity.Required QualificationsThree or more years of experience in sourcing, procurement, or purchasing, with direct experience sourcing or buying chemical raw materials.Demonstrated negotiation skills with suppliers.Strong working knowledge of ERP systems and advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.Proven ability to maintain accurate pricing and master data with a high level of attention to detail.Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize and manage a high volume of incoming requests from multiple sites.Well organized, approachable, and available as needed to support a busy supply chain environment.Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and influence across sites and functions without direct authority.Bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, chemistry, a related field, or equivalent experience.Ability to travel approximately 10 percent domestically.Preferred QualificationsExperience with Chempax or Datacor ERP systems.Direct experience in chemical sourcing.Experience supporting capital expenditure (Cap Ex) sourcing.Proficiency with AI tools and Microsoft Power Automate to streamline procurement workflows.Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including data analysis and reporting.Experience in chemical manufacturing or a related process industry.Familiarity with multi-site and multi-ERP environments.Knowledge of chemical regulatory and documentation requirements, including CAS and SDS data.Experience supporting GPO programs and indirect spend categories.Professional procurement certification (CPSM, CPM, or equivalent).Working RelationshipsThis role reports directly to the Manager of Strategic Sourcing in Texas and maintains a dotted-line relationship with site managers in South Carolina and Massachusetts. The Specialist interacts daily with plant teams, suppliers, and internal functions including Finance, Accounts Payable, and Supply Chain to ensure pricing accuracy and reliable supplier service across all five U.S. locations. #J-18808-Ljbffr Seatex LLC - Rosenberg, TX