Global Sourcing Specialist

Itape; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Itape in Minnesota seeks a Sourcing Specialist to support Global Sourcing for paper-based materials, including release liners. You will collaborate with R&D, Plant Operations, Quality, and Procurement to run trials, engage suppliers, and drive sourcing initiatives.

The role emphasizes data-driven analysis, cost, quality, and availability insights, plus building KPI metrics and roadmaps to ensure timely material supply for production and launches.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in a related field.
• Experience in raw material sourcing, especially paper-based materials.
• Knowledge of paper materials, release liners, and related markets.
• Minimum 3 years in Purchasing or Supply Chain in manufacturing.
• Experience finding, qualifying, auditing suppliers, including international.
• Strong negotiation, planning, and communication skills.
• Proficient with Excel and reporting/dashboard tools.
• Travel up to 20%; some international travel may be required.

Responsibilities

• Support category strategies and sourcing initiatives for paper-based materials.
• Serve as liaison across R&D, Plant Operations, Quality, and Procurement to plan and communicate material trials, qualifications, and changes.
• Coordinate trial material orders, track timelines, requirements, and trial-related spend.
• Lead and/or support RFx processes for liners and other materials; consolidate inputs and pricing data.
• Assess and integrate new or existing suppliers to support future requirements and innovation.
• Build and maintain supplier KPI metrics/scorecards; monitor performance against targets.
• Assist in resolution of supply and/or quality issues; coordinate corrective actions with suppliers and internal teams.
• Develop sourcing roadmaps and monitor timetables for material availability.
• Review supplier capacities and supply risks; recommend dual sourcing to protect continuity.
• Perform demand/supply and market analysis for pricing trends and availability.
• Manage sourcing and trial data quality; deliver reporting/dashboards for decision-making.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Analytical skills

Excel & reporting tools

Planning & organization

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in related field

Job description

Position Description

Title: Sourcing Specialist

Department: Global Sourcing

Immediate Supervisor: Sr. Global Sourcing Manager

Status: Exempt

Position Overview: Supports Global Sourcing activities and assists in category management for specified raw materials, including paper related spend, and other raw materials as directed. Acts as a liaison across R&D, Plant Operations, Quality, and Procurement to facilitate material trials, supplier engagement, and sourcing initiatives. Provides category knowledge and market insights as needed, with emphasis on paper-based materials including various paper and release liners. Delivering data-driven analysis and reporting to inform decisions on cost, quality, availability, and innovation.

Principle Accountabilities

• Support category strategies and sourcing initiatives for assigned raw materials, including paper-based materials including but not limited to release liners
• Maintain working knowledge of paper markets and materials and support paper-related sourcing initiatives as needed; Serve as primary liaison across R&D, Plant Operations, Quality, and other stakeholders to plan, coordinate, and communicate material trials, qualifications, and changes.
• Coordinate trial material orders, including; track timelines, requirements, and trial-related spend to support budget visibility.
• Lead and/or support RFI/RFQ/RFP processes for liners and other materials as directed; consolidate supplier inputs, technical documentation, and pricing data.
• Assess, and integrate new or existing suppliers to support future requirements and innovation projects.
• Build and maintain supplier KPI metrics/scorecards; monitor and improve supplier performance against quality, delivery, service, and cost targets.
• Assist in resolution of supply and/or quality issues; coordinate corrective actions with suppliers and internal teams and mediate price/quality disputes as needed.
• Develop sourcing roadmaps and monitor timetables to ensure timely availability of materials to support plant operations and new product launch programs.
• Review supplier capacities and supply risks; recommend tooling and capital investments and/or dual sourcing to protect continuity and support growth.
• Perform demand/supply and market analysis to assess short and long-term pricing trends, raw material availability, and industry capacity for liners and paper.
• Manage sourcing and trial data quality; cleanse and maintain data and deliver reporting/dashboards (trial results, material performance, cost comparisons) to enable decision-making.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experiencein a related field
• Experience in raw material sourcing, with a preference for paper and paper-based materials.
• Working knowledge of paper materials including paper varieties and release liner materials, markets, and specifications; ability to translate technical needs with R&D and Plant Operations.
• Minimum 3 years of experience working in the Purchasing or Supply Chain field, in manufacturing environment
• Experience finding, qualifying, assessing, and auditing suppliers, including international
• Strong negotiation skills
• Excellent planning, organizational and oral and written communication skills
• Strong analytical skills and proficiency in Excel and reporting/dashboard tools
• Travel is required (up to 20%). Some international travel may be required.
• Position requires the ability to organize and conduct meetings with internal and external customer and suppliers.
• Position requires an advanced level of negotiating skills needed for involvement in supplier contract process and cost reductions.
• Position requires interaction with other internal groups concerning technical matters, conveying ideas, and recommending possible solutions to problems.
• Formal Project Management training a plus.