Sourcing Manager, Des Plaines/Hybrid

Acuity; Des Plaines (IL); Hybrid; USD 67,000 - 144,000; Full time

Job summary

Acuity Inc. in Des Plaines, IL, is seeking a Sourcing Leader to drive strategic sourcing across direct materials. You will partner with Category Leaders and cross-functional teams to identify cost reduction, lead RFx events, and manage supplier engagement.

You will use GEP, perform spend analyses, and deliver savings while ensuring supply continuity. A Bachelor’s degree and 3+ years of experience, strong Excel, and excellent communication are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• 3+ years of relevant experience.
• Ability to read engineering drawings.
• Strong Excel skills.
• Experience making sourcing decisions with cross-functional teams.
• Excellent communication with internal and external partners.
• Proven project management and deadline-driven.
• Strong data analysis capabilities.
• Negotiation experience in B2B settings.
• Curiosity and problem-solving mindset.
• Creativity and collaborative mindset.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Category Leaders to develop and execute sourcing strategies across direct material categories.
• Lead strategic sourcing projects within GEP, including RFx and supplier engagement.
• Conduct RFx analytics to evaluate proposals and identify cost savings.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain on value engineering and supplier transitions.
• Serve as the sourcing representative for reviews and progress reporting.
• Support SWAP workflow including spend analysis, market research, supplier identification, RFx development, negotiation, and contract award.

Skills

Sourcing strategy

RFx management

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analysis

Project management

Negotiation

Reading engineering drawings

Excel proficiency

Communication skills

Problem solving

Creativity

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

GEP

ERP systems

Power Apps

Job description

Acuity Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is a market-leading industrial technology company. We use technology to solve problems in spaces, light and more things to come. Through our two business segments, Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL) and Acuity Intelligent Spaces (AIS), we design, manufacture, and bring to market products and services that make a valuable difference in people’s lives. We achieve growth through the development of innovative new products and services, including lighting, lighting controls, building management solutions, and an audio, video and control platform. We focus on customer outcomes and drive growth and productivity to increase market share and deliver superior returns. We look to aggressively deploy capital to grow the business and to enter attractive new verticals. Acuity Inc. is based in Atlanta, Georgia, with operations across North America, Europe and Asia. The Company is powered by approximately 13,000 dedicated and talented associates. Visit us at www.acuityinc.com .

Work location:

• This position requires on-site presence in Decatur, GA, following a hybrid work model.

Job Summary

The Sourcing Leader will partner closely with Category Leaders and cross-functional Category Value Teams to identify, prioritize, and execute sourcing initiatives that support category strategies, supplier optimization, and part standardization objectives. This role is responsible for managing strategic sourcing projects through the SWAP process, including spend analysis, market research, supplier engagement, RFx execution, commercial analysis, and implementation. The Sourcing Leader will leverage data-driven sourcing practices to identify cost reduction and value engineering opportunities, facilitate supplier transitions to preferred sources, and drive successful project execution that achieves targeted cost, lead-time, quality, and supply continuity objectives while supporting overall business performance.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

• Partner with Category Leaders to develop and execute sourcing strategies across direct material categories, ensuring alignment with business objectives, supply continuity, cost competitiveness, and risk mitigation goals.
• Lead and manage strategic sourcing projects within GEP, including project creation, RFx event execution, supplier engagement, and project tracking.
• Conduct RFx analytics using standardized methodologies to evaluate supplier proposals, identify cost savings opportunities, and support data-driven sourcing decisions with preferred suppliers.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to identify and implement value engineering (VAVE) opportunities, supplier transitions, cost reduction initiatives, and supply base optimization projects.
• Serve as the Sourcing representative for project reviews, status updates, and reporting of financial results, savings performance, and overall initiative progress.
• Support Category Leaders throughout the Strategic Sourcing Workflow and Process (SWAP), including:
  • Spend Analysis and Project Creation
  • Market Research and Supplier Identification
  • Internal and External Stakeholder Engagement
  • RFx Development and Quotation Management
  • Commercial Analysis and Supplier Negotiation
  • Contract Award and Project Execution

Skills And Minimum Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• 3+ years of relevant working experience
• Ability to read engineering drawings
• Must have strong background using Excel
• History of making sourcing decisions with cross-functional teams
• Strong communication abilities; both internal and external partners
• Project management skills, and ability to drive towards a target date
• Excellent data analysis capabilities
• Negotiation experience in a business-to-business setting
• Curiosity & Problem-Solving Capability
• Creativity & Collaborative Growth Mindset

Preferred Skills And Experience

Not required but highly desirable

• History working in the Lighting Industry
• General understanding of contracting concepts, language, and strategies
• Familiarity with ERP, and electronic sourcing software, power apps and automation

Travel Requirements

• 1-20%

The range for this position is $66,500.00 to $143,600.00. Placement within this range may vary, depending on the applicant’s experience and geographic location. Acuity offers generous benefits including health care, dental coverage, vision plans, 401K benefits, and commissions/incentive compensation depending on the role.

For a list of our benefits, click here.

We value diversity and are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regards to race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ethnicity or national origin, disability, pregnancy, religion, covered veteran status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please click here and here for more information.

Accommodation for Applicants with Disabilities: As an equal opportunity employer, Acuity Inc. is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in its application process for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you have difficulty using our online system due to a disability and need an accommodation, you may contact us at [phone], select option 4. Please clearly indicate what type of accommodation you are requesting and for what requisition.

Any unsolicited resumes sent to Acuity Inc. from a third party, such as an Agency recruiter, including unsolicited resumes sent to an Acuity Inc. mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Acuity Inc. employees, or to Acuity Inc. resume database will be considered Acuity Inc. property. Acuity Inc. will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume.

Acuity Inc. will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees. This includes any Agency that is an approved/engaged vendor, but does not have the appropriate approvals to be engaged on a search.

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