Sourcing Specialist

Labtopia, Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work after 60 days

Job summary

Labtopia, Inc. seeks a Sourcing Specialist to manage chemical raw materials and indirect purchases across multiple sites. You will maintain pricing data in ERP, coordinate sample requests, and support sourcing decisions with strong negotiation skills.

The role is ~70% tactical and 30% strategic, with opportunities for hybrid work after an initial 60 days and collaboration with Finance, AP, and Supply Chain teams. On-site work in Houston, TX is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, chemistry, or a related field.
• At least three years of sourcing, procurement, or purchasing experience.
• Demonstrated supplier negotiation skills and ERP proficiency.
• Strong attention to detail and data accuracy in pricing/master data.

Responsibilities

• Maintain pricing and item data in ERP; validate price changes and terms.
• Resolve invoicing discrepancies with Accounts Payable and maintain landed-cost models.
• Coordinate and track sample requests and supplier documentation.
• Prepare pricing, lead-time, and market reports to support sourcing decisions.
• Monitor supplier performance and coordinate corrective actions.
• Support RFPs, bids, and total cost of ownership analyses.
• Contribute to cost-reduction initiatives and inventory management.
• Provide inputs for S&OP and assist cross-location data integration.

Skills

Negotiation skills

ERP proficiency

Excel proficiency

Data accuracy

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Chempax

Datacor ERP

MS Excel

Job description

Our client is seeking a Sourcing Specialist to support chemical raw material and indirect purchasing across multiple manufacturing locations. This role maintains accurate pricing and supplier data, coordinates sample requests, resolves supplier issues, and supports sourcing decisions. The position is approximately 70% tactical execution and 30% strategic support, with additional involvement in inventory management, planning, and process integration.

Essential Functions

• Maintain accurate pricing and item data in ERP systems; validate price changes, surcharges, freight terms, and purchase order pricing against supplier agreements and market benchmarks.
• Resolve discrepancies among invoices, purchase orders, and contracts with Accounts Payable. Maintain landed-cost models that account for freight, duties, tariffs, fees, and taxes.
• Coordinate and track sample requests, including supplier documentation, delivery timing, and follow-up. Route incoming supplier and plant requests and track them through resolution.
• Prepare pricing, lead-time, surcharge, and market reports; compile bid comparisons and quote summaries to support sourcing decisions.
• Monitor supplier pricing accuracy, delivery, quality, and responsiveness. Document performance issues, coordinate corrective action, escal? support supplier transitions and alternate-source qualification.
• Support requests for proposals, competitive bids, capital expenditure sourcing, and supplier evaluations. Develop should-cost and total cost of ownership models and apply negotiation skills to improve pricing and terms.
• Contribute to cost-reduction initiatives and category strategies. Support inventory management, including slow-moving and excess materials, vendor returns, special sales, and disposal.
• Monitor margin, gross profit, and working capital impacts and flag exceptions. Provide pricing, supplier, and data inputs for Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP).
• Support system, process, and data integration across locations and provide responsive assistance to plant, sourcing, and supply chain teams.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, chemistry, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• At least three years of sourcing, procurement, or purchasing experience, including direct experience sourcing or purchasing chemical raw materials.
• Demonstrated supplier negotiation skills, strong working knowledge of ERP systems, and advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency.
• Strong attention to detail and demonstrated ability to maintain accurate pricing and master data.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage a high volume of requests across multiple locations.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills; ability to build effective relationships and influence across functions without direct authority.
• Approachable and responsive, with availability to support a busy supply chain environment as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Chempax or Datacor ERP systems and multi-site, multi-ERP environments.
• Experience in chemical manufacturing or a related process industry, including familiarity with Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) data requirements.
• Experience supporting capital expenditure sourcing, group purchasing organization (GPO) programs, and indirect spend categories.
• Proficiency with AI tools and Microsoft Power Automate to improve procurement workflows.
• Professional procurement certification such as CPSM, CPM, or equivalent.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• On-site role supporting manufacturing operations, with approximately 10% domestic travel.

Reports to the Manager of Strategic Sourcing and works closely with site leadership, Finance, Accounts Payable, and Supply Chain. Qualified candidates may be eligible for a hybrid work-from-anywhere arrangement after the first 60 days. The position is classified as exempt.