Specialist, Strategic Sourcing

Meijer; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly pay

Scheduling flexibility

Paid parental leave

Paid education assistance

Team member discount

Development programs for advancement

Job summary

Meijer is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Specialist to execute category sourcing initiatives, collaborate with stakeholders on specifications, and monitor vendor performance. You will help shape procurement decisions and support supplier relationships within a dynamic retail environment.

The role emphasizes data-driven spend analysis, RFx development, and negotiation strategy, requiring collaboration across teams and strong analytical capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or Supply Chain, or equivalent experience.
• 1–3 years in sourcing, contract negotiation, price analysis, and purchasing.
• 3+ years in sourcing with emphasis on negotiation and cost analysis.

Responsibilities

• Assist with data collection, benchmarking and spend reporting for category management.
• Develop and issue RFIs/RFXs and lead basic to moderate sourcing events.
• Review contracts, pricing, POs and service levels; perform TCO analyses.
• Maintain supplier relationships and support cross-functional sourcing strategies.
• Support category management with data gathering and stakeholder interviews.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Time management

Leadership potential

Research skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business or Supply Chain

Tools

Microsoft Excel

SAP/Ariba

Job description

As a family company, we serve people and communities. When you work at Meijer, you’re provided with career and community opportunities centered around leadership, personal growth and development. Consider joining our family – take care of your career and your community!

Meijer Rewards

• Weekly pay
• Scheduling flexibility
• Paid parental leave
• Paid education assistance
• Team member discount
• Development programs for advancement and career growth

The Strategic Sourcing Specialist role is responsible to execute strategic sourcing initiatives in a specific category; work with business stakeholders to ensure data accuracy and specification of materials and service being sourced/ procured; provide customer relationship support and track vendor performance; and assess elements of the supply base and help define, execute, and support strategic sourcing and procurement decisions.

What You'll Be Doing

• Assist with the collection, analysis, benchmarking and reporting of category and spend data to build and maintain category spend and pricing databases.
• Develop and issue RFX’s.
• Lead basic and moderately complex sourcing events.
• Review contracts, pricing, purchase orders, and service levels.
• Perform value analysis and total cost of ownership analytical activities.
• Monitor and report savings to Strategic Sourcing Lead.
• Interview stakeholders to develop service specification levels.
• Participate in cross-functional teams that will assess the opportunities and supply markets in order to develop, implement and institutionalize various sourcing strategies.
• Maintain and help build supplier relationships.
• Manage strategic category management processes, procedures, supplier and category segmentation, metrics/KPI development and application, scorecard format, contract management, etc.
• Gathers and reviews data to support category management / strategic sourcing activities (i.e. specifications, statements of work, performance terms, and/or acceptance criteria)
• Manage the sourcing process from analyzing the vendors proposals, communicating between stakeholders and determining a negotiation strategy.
• Develop and execute pricing and contract negotiation strategies; understanding financial impact to all negotiations and assisting Strategic Sourcing Lead with negotiations and contract pricing and terms.
• This job profile is not meant to be all inclusive of the responsibilities of this position; may perform other duties as assigned or require.

What You'll Bring With You (Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree preferably in Business or Supply Chain required, or equivalent job experience.
• 1-3 years of experience in sourcing, contract negotiation, competitive price analysis, and purchasing.
• 3+ years of experience in sourcing, contract negotiation, competitive price analysis.
• Retail or Consumer facing industry preferred.
• Superior quantitative and qualitative analytical skills.
• Strong experience with use of analytical methods and tools.
• Ability to function in ambiguous and/or time-sensitive situations.
• Strong listening and interpersonal skills.
• Self-directed, requiring limited guidance and / or structure.
• Good communication and team skills.
• Advance knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
• Experience with SAP/Ariba a plus.
• Aptitude for conducting wide-ranging research.
• Financial acumen preferred.
• Leadership and team building abilities.
• Active curiosity—enjoy gathering and digging deeply into data to identify opportunities and risks.
• Ability to develop communications and presenting to cross functional partners.
• Strong organizational, planning, and time management skill with ability to prioritize multiple/competing projects and assignments.