Strategic Sourcing Buyer (Grand Rapids)

Primary Function

The Strategic Sourcing Buyer is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for components and/or raw materials to ensure a reliable, high-quality, and cost-effective supply. This role identifies value creation opportunities, builds strong supplier partnerships, negotiates commercial terms, and drives continuous improvement across the procurement function.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies aligned with business objectives
• Analyze spend, market trends, and performance data to identify improvement opportunities and deliver incremental value
• Partner cross-functionally with internal stakeholders to propose and implement value creation initiatives
• Incorporate voice-of-the-customer insights into category strategies and contract negotiations
• Ensure timely resolution of material supply issues, including root cause analysis and corrective actions
• Identify, evaluate, onboard, and manage supplier relationships
• Lead contract negotiations, including pricing, terms, and service-level agreements
• Conduct ongoing market and cost-driver analysis to inform sourcing strategies
• Assess supply chain risk and develop contingency plans to mitigate disruptions
• Manage end-to-end procurement activities for assigned materials and categories
• Monitor supplier performance, resolve issues, and drive continuous improvement in procurement processes and systems

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, or Engineering
• Minimum of 5+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, including category strategy development
• Proven experience supporting initiatives that improve operational execution, customer service, and total cost of ownership (TCO)
• Strong understanding of strategic sourcing and procurement best practices
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute negotiation strategies for complex agreements
• Ability to influence and drive change across cross-functional teams
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify process gaps and improve systems
• Proficiency in ERP systems (Oracle preferred), procurement platforms, and analytical tools (Excel, Power BI)
• Experience leveraging spend and performance data to drive informed decision-making
• Demonstrated progression from tactical purchasing to strategic procurement leadership
• Strong leadership presence with a proactive, ownership-driven mindset