Sr. Specialist, Indirect Strategic Sourcing

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

STD, LTD, AD&D, Life Insurance

401(k) Matching

Job summary

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation in Milwaukee, WI, seeks a Senior Specialist to lead Indirect Strategic Sourcing initiatives, including supplier qualification, RFx events, and complex negotiations. You will partner with Category Managers to meet category objectives and mentor analysts and interns across a range of sourcing activities.

The role emphasizes strong commercial acumen, cross-functional teamwork, and the ability to deliver savings and value through rigorous supplier evaluation

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, or related field.
• 5+ years sourcing, procurement, contract management, supplier management, or related experience.
• Advanced sourcing, procurement, and supplier management expertise with demonstrated success leading complex sourcing initiatives.
• Proven ability to independently lead RFx events, supplier evaluations, negotiations, and supplier selection activities.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to evaluate sourcing alternatives using financial, operational, and risk-based criteria.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
• Advanced negotiation capability with the ability to structure strategy, manage trade-offs, and secure favorable commercial outcomes.
• Knowledge of indirect procurement categories including services, MRO, facilities, logistics, software, capital equipment, and professional services.
• Understanding of contract structures, service-level agreements, and commercial risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives from opportunity identification through supplier recommendation.
• Develop sourcing strategies for assigned projects.
• Lead supplier qualification and evaluation activities.
• Develop and execute RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs.
• Lead supplier negotiations within approved authority levels.
• Develop award recommendations and supporting business cases.
• Coordinate commercial agreement development with Legal and stakeholders.
• Manage supplier relationships associated with sourcing initiatives.
• Quantify savings, cost avoidance, and value-delivery opportunities.
• Facilitate cross-functional sourcing teams and stakeholder alignment.
• Support Category Manager through market intelligence and sourcing recommendations.
• Support Category Manager in supplier performance management through KPIs and business reviews to drive continuous improvement and mitigate risk.
• Mentor Analysts, Interns, and Co-Ops.
• Complete sourcing-to-deployment handoff documentation and support implementation readiness.

Skills

Sourcing strategy

RFx events

Negotiation

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

Financial modeling

Supplier performance analysis

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, or related field

Job description

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation is a thriving, values-driven company focused on doing the right things. We're a fast growing, publicly traded company (NYSE: ZWS), with an enduring reputation for integrity, giving back, and providing an engaging, inclusive environment where careers flourish and grow.

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation is a thriving, values-driven company focused on doing the right things. We're a fast growing, publicly traded company (NYSE: ZWS), with an enduring reputation for integrity, giving back, and providing an engaging, inclusive environment where careers flourish and grow. Named by Newsweek as One of America's Most Responsible Companies and an Energage USA Top Workplace, at Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation, we never forget that our people are at the center of what makes us successful. They are the driving force behind our superior quality, product ingenuity, and exceptional customer experience. Our commitment to our people and their professional development is a recipe for success that has fueled our growth for over 100 years, as one of today's leading international suppliers of plumbing and water delivery solutions. Headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation employs over 2800 employees worldwide, working from 24 locations across the U.S., China, Canada, Dubai, and Mexico, with sales offices available around the globe. We hope you'll visit our website and learn more about Zurn Elkay at zurnelkay.com. You're ready to join a company where what you do makes a difference and you have pride in the work you are doing, talk to us about joining the Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation family!

Job Description

The Senior Specialist leads strategic sourcing initiatives across assigned categories and business units for Indirect Strategic Sourcing. This role directs supplier qualification, competitive sourcing, commercial negotiations, supplier selection, and agreement development while partnering with Category Manager to deliver category objectives. The Senior Specialist serves as the sourcing subject matter expert for assigned initiatives and provides coaching and guidance to analysts, interns, and co-op resources.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives from opportunity identification through supplier recommendation.
• Develop sourcing strategies for assigned projects.
• Lead supplier qualification and evaluation activities.
• Develop and execute RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs.
• Lead supplier negotiations within approved authority levels.
• Develop award recommendations and supporting business cases.
• Coordinate commercial agreement development with Legal and stakeholders.
• Manage supplier relationships associated with sourcing initiatives.
• Quantify savings, cost avoidance, and value-delivery opportunities.
• Facilitate cross-functional sourcing teams and stakeholder alignment.
• Support Category Manager through market intelligence and sourcing recommendations.
• Support Category Manager in supplier performance management through KPIs and business reviews to drive continuous improvement and mitigate risk.
• Mentor Analysts, Interns, and Co-Ops.
• Complete sourcing-to-deployment handoff documentation and support implementation readiness.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, or related field required
• 5+ years sourcing, procurement, contract management, supplier management, or related experience.

Capabilities and Success Factors

• Advanced sourcing, procurement, and supplier management expertise with demonstrated success leading complex sourcing initiatives.
• Proven ability to independently lead RFx events, supplier evaluations, negotiations, and supplier selection activities.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to evaluate sourcing alternatives using financial, operational, and risk-based criteria.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
• Advanced negotiation capability with the ability to structure strategy, manage trade-offs, and secure favorable commercial outcomes.
• Knowledge of manufacturing operations, supplier quality systems, engineering specifications, and global supply chains.
• Understanding of commodity markets, total landed cost, inventory drivers, logistics, and low-cost-country sourcing.
• Excellent project leadership skills with the ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.
• Ability to communicate sourcing recommendations, risks, and financial impacts to leaders and stakeholders.
• Advanced analytical capability with proficiency in business cases, financial modeling, savings validation, and supplier performance analysis.
• Knowledge of indirect procurement categories including services, MRO, facilities, logistics, software, capital equipment, and professional services.
• Understanding of contract structures, service-level agreements, and commercial risk management.

Total Rewards and Benefits

• Competitive Salary
• Medical, Dental, Vision, STD, LTD, AD&D, and Life Insurance
• Matching 401(k) Contribution
• Health Savings Account
• Up to 3 weeks starting Vacation (may increase with tenure)
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Annual Bonus Eligibility
• Educational Reimbursement
• Matching Gift Program
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan – purchase company stock at a discount!

THIRD PARTY AGENCY: Any unsolicited submissions received from recruitment agencies will be considered property of Zurn Elkay, and we will not be liable for any fees or obligations related to those submissions.

Equal Opportunity Employer – Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran