Strategic Sourcing Project Lead

Aston Carter•Oakville, ON

2d•CA$38 - CA$43•Hybrid

About The Position

The Sourcing Project Lead oversees end-to-end procurement and external supply chain activities for complex water treatment projects. This role defines and executes sourcing strategies, manages the full RFQ and purchasing cycle, and collaborates closely with internal stakeholders and the sourcing team to meet project cost, schedule, and quality objectives. The position requires strong project buying experience, advanced use of SAP and Excel, and the ability to drive savings while maintaining compliance with established procedures and processes.

Requirements

Proven project buying experience, preferably within complex engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) environments.
Hands-on experience managing the full RFQ process, including supplier sourcing, cost and lead time analysis, and purchase order issuance.
Experience in procurement and strategic sourcing within a supply chain context.
Practical knowledge of Incoterms and their application in international purchasing and logistics.
Proficiency in SAP, including use of relevant purchasing and supply chain modules.
Intermediate or higher proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables and data analysis for reporting and tracking.
Ability to work extensively with purchase orders, supply chain documentation, and project dashboards.
Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams such as quality, expediting, engineering, and marketing.
Strong analytical skills to track, record, and interpret cost and time variances and develop corrective actions.
Capability to define, plan, and execute external supply chain strategies aligned with project objectives.
Solid understanding of budgeting, cost control, and savings initiatives in a sourcing or supply chain role.
Comfort using multiple software tools, including SAP, Pyramid, DMT, Vault Document Storage, and Microsoft Office applications.

Nice To Haves

Experience working as a project buyer, sourcing specialist, or in a similar supply chain role within industrial or capital project environments.
Experience in EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) projects or related industries.
Familiarity with best-cost country sourcing strategies and supplier development.
Experience participating in Value Analysis and Kaizen or continuous improvement initiatives related to sourcing and supply chain.
Ability to prepare and maintain external supply chain project plans, risk and opportunity matrices, and purchasing dashboards.
Strong communication skills to effectively interface with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
Organizational skills to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and priorities simultaneously.
Comfort working in a leading, technically driven industry focused on water treatment and related systems.

Responsibilities

Lead the end-to-end RFQ process, including identifying and sourcing suppliers, analyzing cost and lead time, and issuing purchase orders.
Define and execute the external supply chain strategy with key stakeholders in line with project requirements and overall planning.
Prepare comprehensive external supply chain project plans focused on strategy, schedule, budget, and other relevant supply chain information.
Achieve project savings targets by applying standard sourcing levers while meeting cost, schedule, and quality requirements.
Coordinate external supply chain activities with category managers for assigned projects.
Work with category managers to develop new suppliers and alternative sources of materials and raw materials, with a focus on best-cost country sourcing.
Participate in project planning, scheduling, and production control activities to ensure alignment with supply chain plans.
Maintain and update the project purchasing dashboard using standard tools and company systems.
Consolidate and validate internal and external budgets for sourcing, logistics, and quality.
Track and monitor project costs and time variances, taking corrective actions to avoid deviations from budget and schedule.
Interface with project management and engineering teams to maintain material targets and sourcing resource requirements.
Identify critical and strategic suppliers in collaboration with category management.
Maintain a strong focus on project objectives, including contractual conditions, purchasing budget, planning, and quality standards.
Anticipate available discounts and ensure adherence to committed budgets.
Set external supply chain plans for purchasing and delivery teams, ensuring consistency with overall project planning.
Work within the external supply chain team to achieve project milestones, on-time deliveries, and compliance with internal and external deadlines.
Summarize and report external supply chain activities for each project to stakeholders and management.
Review with stakeholders and functional management the external supply chain budget, risk and opportunities matrix, and ensure timely updates and progress tracking.
Ensure compliance with and enforcement of company procedures and processes in all sourcing and supply chain activities.
Participate in best-cost country sourcing initiatives to optimize purchasing value.
Identify underperforming or non-performing suppliers during the project life cycle and support corrective actions.
Participate in Value Analysis and Kaizen blitz projects to continuously improve sourcing performance and efficiency.
Use company software applications, including SAP, Pyramid, DMT, Vault Document Storage, and Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, to manage sourcing and supply chain tasks.
Collaborate closely with internal teams, including sourcing quality, expediters, engineering, and marketing, to support standard product lines and project-specific needs.
Track and record variances in costs, schedules, and supply chain performance and provide clear reporting to management.
Perform other related duties as assigned by management to support project and organizational goals.