Strategic Sourcing Lead - Inventory & Supplier Optimization

Herk & Associates - Heavy Equipment Jobs; United States; On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Herk & Associates - Heavy Equipment Jobs is seeking an experienced Strategic Sourcing Manager to lead purchasing and sourcing operations from its North Texas distribution center. The role oversees a Buyers team and focuses on strengthening supplier relationships, reducing backorders, and optimizing margins through data-driven decisions.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in purchasing or strategic sourcing, with a track record in negotiating favorable terms and managing supplier performance.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of purchasing, procurement, or strategic sourcing experience
• 3+ years of experience leading Buyers or a purchasing department
• MRO purchasing experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated success negotiating supplier pricing and commercial terms
• Strong supplier management, sourcing strategy, and inventory planning experience
• Working knowledge of ERP, MRP, WMS, and inventory management systems
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
• Strong analytical, negotiation, problem-solving, and organizational abilities

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and manage the purchasing team while maintaining accountability for department results
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies that improve product availability, cost, and purchasing margins
• Minimize backorders through proactive inventory planning, forecasting, and supplier management
• Research, evaluate, and select suppliers based on pricing, quality, availability, service, and reliability
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and agreements with suppliers to improve overall purchasing performance
• Develop and manage supplier scorecards, conduct key supplier reviews, and establish action plans
• Maintain multiple qualified supplier options for critical products and SKUs
• Monitor commodity, supply chain, and market trends that could impact pricing or availability
• Partner with Product Management throughout the product lifecycle, from new product introductions through discontinued products
• Identify strategic purchasing opportunities and present recommendations to leadership
• Oversee inventory purchasing, forecasting parameters, SKU maintenance, discrepancies, and purchasing KPIs
• Utilize ERP, MRP, and inventory management systems to improve sourcing and inventory decisions

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Supplier management

Negotiation

Inventory planning

Data analysis

Team leadership

Forecasting

Tools

ERP

MRP

WMS

Excel

Job description

Herk & Associates - Heavy Equipment Jobs is seeking an experienced Strategic Sourcing Manager to lead purchasing and sourcing operations from its North Texas distribution center. The role oversees a Buyers team and focuses on strengthening supplier relationships, reducing backorders, and optimizing margins through data-driven decisions.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in purchasing or strategic sourcing, with a track record in negotiating favorable terms and managing supplier performance.