Direct Materials Sourcing Specialist

Top Stack; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Top Stack is seeking a Direct Materials Sourcing Specialist to develop sourcing strategies and execute initiatives across the Americas. You will manage a substantial portion of material commodities including acids, solvents, and surfactants, and collaborate with product, commercial, and operations teams to align market intelligence with strategic sourcing plans.

The role requires a strong sourcing mindset, hands-on execution, and the ability to drive supplier negotiations while maintaining

Qualifications

• BS/BA degree required; Engineering (chemical) or related field preferred.
• Lean Six Sigma certification preferred (yellow, green, or black belt).
• Minimum of seven years of total related experience required.
• Five+ years in procurement, operations, or commercial roles in chemical/pharma industries.
• Experience with matrixed global project responsibility preferred.
• SAP experience highly preferred.
• Microsoft Excel advanced skills highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and present sourcing strategies to reduce category cost and mitigate supply risk.
• Drive execution of category sourcing strategies (RFI/RFQ, supplier qualification, auctions, negotiation).
• Coordinate with technical and product teams to align market intelligence and sourcing plans.
• Maintain 36-month sourcing strategy and project roadmap with savings estimates and timing.
• Negotiate contracts in line with DOA guidelines.
• Support budgeting with material price outlooks and spend surveillance.
• Monitor spend and ensure savings are captured over time.
• Lead cross-functional meetings and external supplier reviews.

Skills

SAP

Excel

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic mindset

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Spend analysis

Vendor management

Procurement execution

Problem solving

Education

BS/BA degree

Chemistry/Engineering background

Lean Six Sigma certification

Tools

SAP

Microsoft Excel

Job description

The Direct Materials Sourcing Specialist is responsible for developing sourcing strategies, executing on sourcing initiatives, and managing sourcing activities in the Americas in his/her specific category.

This role will have commercial responsibility for a subset of material commodities, which could include: acids (acetic acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid), solvents (dimethyl sulfoxide, acetone, isopropyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, methanol, dichloromethane, hexane/heptane), surfactants (Dithiothreitol, Saponin) to name a few.

How you will thrive and create an impact

• Accountable for roughly $50-75M spend per year
• Works with Director, Direct Sourcing to develop and present sourcing strategies to reduce category cost and mitigate supply risk
• Leverages market intelligence and analyses to identify opportunities and risks, including but not limited to spend analysis, commodity pricing forecasts, contract coverage analysis, etc.
• Collaborates with product management, commercial and operations teams that direct sourcing supports to ensure alignment on sourcing strategies, and that relevant market intelligence is shared.
• Develops and maintains a rolling 36-month sourcing strategy and project roadmap, identifying savings estimates, estimated timing of savings, and execution plans Drives execution of category sourcing strategies (e.g., RFI/RFQ, supplier qualification, auction rounds, negotiation), coordinating with Technical Managers, Quality, Product Managers, and others as required.
• Maintains relationships with key vendors, and helps address vendor related issues (e.g., pricing issues, performance issues, etc.)
• Monitors category spend to ensure sourcing savings are captured and do not erode over time
• Conducts regular project execution reviews with the Director and VP, Direct Strategic Sourcing, and the respective business/functional leaders
• Responds to raw material category sourcing requests in a timely and efficient manner
• Negotiates contracts in line with corporate DOA guidelines
• Supports the budget process by providing expectations for material price outlooks

What we're looking for

Education

• BS/BA Degree required; Degree in engineering, including chemical, or a related field preferred
• Lean Six Sigma Certification preferred (yellow, green, or black belt)

Experience:

• Minimum of seven (7) years of total related experience required
• Minimum of five (5) years of related procurement, operational, or commercial experience in the chemical or pharmaceutical industries
• Experience with matrixed global project responsibility preferred
• SAP experience highly preferred
• Microsoft Excel advanced skills highly preferred
• Ability to lead internal cross functional meetings, external supplier business reviews
• Strategic mindset and ability to execute hands-on
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills
• Can-do mindset, creative, solution-focused, and action-oriented
• Ability and track record of managing complex sourcing/procurement projects
• Proactive spend control, spend analysis and strategy execution skills

  Fact and analysis-based decision-maker