Senior Direct Materials Sourcing Leader

Socket.dev; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Michelman is seeking a Senior Category Specialist, Direct Materials to drive category strategy for critical direct materials. You will lead complex sourcing events, evaluate suppliers, and manage contracts while aligning with MRP, inventory, and production plans.

Collaboration with R&D, engineering and finance is essential to deliver cost and value improvements across the supplier base. The role requires 5–7+ years in procurement, strong data-driven insights, and experience with ERP tools like

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Chemistry, Business, or a related field required.
• 5–7+ years of experience in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain, preferably within a global manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or leading sourcing events, supplier negotiations, supplier engagement, and procurement operations within indirect categories.
• Experience supporting cost and value improvement through sourcing, supplier engagement, pricing reviews, and commercial discipline.
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with stakeholders across Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Finance, IT, HR, Facilities, R&D, or Commercial teams.
• Experience operating within structured procurement environments, including familiarity with procurement channels, policies, sourcing thresholds, approval limits, and standard processes.
• Working knowledge of supplier performance and risk considerations, with the ability to partner effectively with supplier risk and performance functions.
• Experience with procurement systems and tools, including ERP platforms, catalogues, spend analytics, and supplier data management; JDE experience preferred.
• Strong analytical capability with the ability to interpret data and translate insights into practical sourcing and procurement actions.

Responsibilities

• Execute defined elements of the direct category management strategy across assigned materials, suppliers, or sub-categories with greater autonomy.
• Lead moderate to high complexity sourcing events, supplier evaluation, qualification, negotiations and commercial discussions within delegated authority.
• Develop and execute sourcing plans for assigned suppliers or spend segments in alignment with supply planning, material requirements, and business priorities.
• Ensure procurement activities for assigned suppliers are aligned with MRP, supply plans, and inventory strategies established by Supply Chain.
• Monitor raw material market trends, supplier developments, and pricing changes relevant to assigned materials and suppliers. Makes calculate risk and advise actions on her subject expert that the manager should consider.
• Partner with Procurement Excellence to ensure supplier data and supporting processes enable effective execution.
• Establish and manage supplier contracts to achieve commercial and performance targets.
• Drive defined category activities for assigned suppliers or materials, directly supporting supplier engagement, sourcing execution, suppliers qualification and issue resolution.
• Understand raw material cost drivers, including feedstock trends, index movements, freight, duties, FX, and supplier margin structures, to support fact-based negotiation and cost management of the category that you managed.
• Partner with Supply Chain to align procurement activities with demand forecasts, production plans, and inventory strategies.
• Collaborate with R&D and Project Leads to ensure supplier activity aligns with material specifications, commercial needs and product requirements.
• Identify and execute cost and value improvement opportunities within assigned materials or suppliers, operating with greater independence and judgment.
• Support business continuity by identifying, addressing, and escalating supply risks, constraints, and supplier issues as appropriate.
• Support new business (Concept to Commercialization – C2C and First Manufacturing Batch - FMB) and existing business continuity by proactively addressing supply risks, constraints, and disruptions.
• Supplier Relationship Management

Skills

Sourcing events

Supplier negotiations

Procurement analytics

Cross-functional collaboration

Cost/value improvement

Category management

Risk management

ERP systems (JDE)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Chemistry, Business, or related field

Tools

JDE

ERP platforms

Spend analytics

Catalog management

Job description

Michelman is seeking a Senior Category Specialist, Direct Materials to drive category strategy for critical direct materials. You will lead complex sourcing events, evaluate suppliers, and manage contracts while aligning with MRP, inventory, and production plans.

Collaboration with R&D, engineering and finance is essential to deliver cost and value improvements across the supplier base. The role requires 5–7+ years in procurement, strong data-driven insights, and experience with ERP tools like