Strategic Sourcing Lead

Ascent Chemicals; Schaumburg, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascent Industries Co. is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Associate in Schaumburg, IL. The role drives day-to-day sourcing activities, leads supplier negotiations, reviews KPIs, and improves procurement processes within a high-performance team.

You will coordinate with internal stakeholders to align material requirements and ensure timely procurement, while developing team capabilities and overseeing staffing decisions. This is a full-time position based in Schaumburg, IL.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Requires a Bachelor's Degree.
• Ability to coordinate and oversee team activities with autonomy.
• Ability to resolve day-to-day operational, technical, and organizational issues using judgment; leads team problem-solving efforts and escalates complex or cross-functional matters as appropriate.
• Ability to implement and adapt standardized procedures and practices; manages workflow, adjusts priorities, and ensures alignment with departmental objectives and timelines.
• Ability to communicate information clearly and effectively across audiences, setting expectations, conveying team priorities, and adapting messaging to stakeholders.
• Ability to manage team performance, including setting goals, coaching and developing staff, providing feedback, and participating in staffing and workforce decisions.
• Ability to lead team operations, including coordinating activities of supervisors and/or individual contributors, fostering effective team dynamics, and adjusting plans to meet evolving business needs.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates day-to-day sourcing activities across assigned categories, suppliers, and purchasing workstreams to ensure material availability, service continuity, and timely execution of procurement priorities.
• Oversees supplier negotiations, bid activities, and contract administration tasks by monitoring adherence to established sourcing processes, commercial expectations, and approval requirements.
• Reviews supplier performance, scorecards, and key performance indicators to identify risks, service gaps, and improvement opportunities related to quality, delivery, cost, and responsiveness.
• Improves sourcing processes and procurement workflows by standardizing methods, strengthening documentation, and increasing effective use of ERP systems and related tools.
• Develops team capability through coaching, training, and performance feedback focused on sourcing practices, supplier management, negotiation support, and process discipline.
• Monitors market intelligence, commodity trends, and benchmarking data to identify pricing changes, supply risks, and routine opportunities to improve sourcing effectiveness.
• Supports evaluation of new suppliers, sourcing methods, and procurement alternatives by coordinating reviews, gathering data, and helping assess fit with operational and commercial requirements.
• Partners with internal stakeholders to clarify material, quality, service, and delivery requirements and ensure sourcing activities align with business needs and functional standards.
• Tracks project timelines, sourcing milestones, and departmental objectives to help ensure procurement activities are completed within expected schedules and budget parameters.
• Escalates significant supplier issues, commercial risks, and resource constraints to management with recommendations that support timely resolution and continuous improvement.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Team coordination

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Staffing decisions

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Ascent Industries Co. is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Associate in Schaumburg, IL. The role drives day-to-day sourcing activities, leads supplier negotiations, reviews KPIs, and improves procurement processes within a high-performance team.

You will coordinate with internal stakeholders to align material requirements and ensure timely procurement, while developing team capabilities and overseeing staffing decisions. This is a full-time position based in Schaumburg, IL.