Strategic Purchasing Agent

The Strategic Purchasing Agent leads strategic sourcing and supplier management for assigned material groups and purchasing categories. The role establishes the commercial and supply framework needed to secure materials and services in the required quality and quantity, on schedule, and at optimal total cost. Working closely with Realization, Engineering, Operations, Finance, Sales, and other internal stakeholders, this position develops category and supplier strategies, negotiates agreements, improves supplier performance, mitigates supply risk, and supports timely project execution. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Lead sourcing activities for assigned material groups and categories, including market research, supplier identification, competitive bidding, proposal analysis, financial evaluation, supplier qualification, and selection. Develop, implement, and maintain supplier and material-group strategies that support cost, quality, delivery, capacity, innovation, and supply-continuity objectives. Negotiate pricing, contracts, commercial terms, delivery commitments, warranties, and other supplier obligations in alignment with business and market requirements. Create and use cost models, market benchmarks, and supplier cost-structure analysis to support negotiations and sourcing decisions. Identify, quantify, document, and implement cost-saving and value-improvement initiatives through competitive sourcing, supplier development, value engineering, specification review, and process improvement. Monitor market conditions, regional and geopolitical considerations, supplier capacity, and other supply risks; develop and support mitigation and contingency actions. Manage supplier relationships and performance, including evaluation of on-time delivery, quality, cost, responsiveness, reliability, and achievement of agreed improvement targets. Partner with Operations and project teams to resolve supplier-related delivery, capacity, quality, and commercial issues and to escalate significant deviations when required. Support contract management activities and maintain appropriate commercial documentation in accordance with company requirements. Prepare and present supplier performance, sourcing, savings, risk, and purchasing data to internal stakeholders through SCM and management reporting. Maintain accurate supplier, purchasing, and master data within the ERP and related purchasing systems. Collaborate with internal stakeholders to improve and standardize purchasing processes, organizational workflows, and cross-functional ways of working. Support indirect purchasing and internal business requirements when assigned. Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, delegated authority, and ethical standards. Perform additional duties as assigned. Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent relevant work experience is required. Professional certification such as CPSM, C.P.M., CSCP, or CPIM is preferred. Experience: Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in purchasing, strategic sourcing, supply chain, or supplier management; experience in a manufacturing, industrial, automated logistics, project-based, or engineered-to-order environment preferred. Travel: 10% of travel as required. Skills & Abilities Strong knowledge of strategic sourcing methods, category management, supplier development, supply-chain principles, and purchasing processes. Strong negotiation skills and commercial judgment, including working knowledge of contract management, warranty obligations, supplier audits, and purchasing-related legal considerations. Ability to analyze proposals, cost drivers, supplier capabilities, market information, and performance data and convert findings into clear recommendations. Strong critical-thinking, problem-solving, and solution-oriented decision-making skills. Ability to influence internal stakeholders and external suppliers through fact-based communication …

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