Sourcing/Procurement Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Sourcing/Procurement Specialist

Knoxville, TN

Full Time

The sourcers under this job travel to 50% some weeks, we think this leadership role travels less, but could be high travel in “sprints” of time.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

Strategic Sourcing & Procurement Oversight

• Lead sourcing efforts across multiple sites with a large annual spend on complex categories, including structural steel, electrical components, and precision metal fabrication (welding, bending, drilling, tapping, etc.).
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies that align with corporate goals while delivering measurable improvements in cost, quality, availability, and risk mitigation.
• Leverage detailed understanding of global commodities markets to drive long-term sourcing decisions and forecast spend and risk 1–3 years in advance.
• Build and manage multi-tiered sourcing strategies that include primary, secondary, and tertiary suppliers for critical commodities, with attention to regional capacity, geopolitical risks, tariffs, and logistics constraints.
• Use economic indicators and market intelligence to proactively mitigate material shortages, price spikes, and disruptions by diversifying sources and leveraging global vendor partnerships.

Vendor Management & Negotiation

• Establish and maintain robust vendor relationships with both domestic and international suppliers, focusing on performance, reliability, and long-term value creation.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and long-term agreements to secure competitive advantages, capacity guarantees, and supply continuity.
• Be direct, transparent, and firm in supplier discussions, ensuring accountability and alignment with contractual commitments.
• Evaluate supplier financial health, operational capacity, and contingency planning as part of the onboarding and ongoing risk management process.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and mentor a team of 6 direct reports and up to 12 indirect reports (5 sourcing specialists and 1 MRO supervisor) across multiple manufacturing sites, promoting a high-performance, accountable culture.
• Delegate projects and initiatives in a structured way, ensuring clear goals, timelines, and measurable outcomes.
• Solve behavioral or performance issues within the team swiftly and fairly, setting the tone for professionalism, urgency, and teamwork.
• Serve as a role model of integrity, clear communication, and execution-focused leadership.

Operational Excellence

• Track and report sourcing KPIs such as cost savings, lead time reduction, OTD, and supplier scorecards.
• Implement standard work and continuous improvement processes across sites to optimize sourcing operations.
• Ensure alignment of sourcing activity with business priorities such as working capital targets, production uptime, and quality standards.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Proactively identify and address global sourcing risks including tariff changes, regulatory shifts, transportation bottlenecks, and natural disasters.
• Design commodity-specific sourcing strategies that account for regional risk, shipping constraints, and supplier capacity, enabling business continuity.
• Establish formal risk mitigation plans including alternative vendor development, dual sourcing, and regional diversification.
• Maintain ethical sourcing practices and ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and company policies.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• To ensure Kelvion’s Standard of Excellence, which includes quality, is incorporated into every product we produce.
• Follow all company policies and procedures, including but not limited to Global Code of Business Principles, Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, Vision and Values, Operational Framework

REQUIREMENTS (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES)

• Minimum 3–5 years of strategic sourcing experience, preferably in heavy industrial or heat exchanger/manufacturing sectors.
• Proven management of $100M+ in annual spend and multi-site supervision experience, preferably within a global organization.
• High integrity, leadership presence, and the ability to set the cultural tone of the team.
• Strong technical understanding of complex fabricated components, including weldments, steel structures, electrical systems, and mechanical assemblies

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (required levels)

• BA in Supply Chain Management or related area of study, or 5 plus years in a position with responsibility for direct material cost reduction.