Strategic Sourcing Specialist

Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.•Salina, KS

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Great Plains Manufacturing is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Specialist to join its Purchasing team. This is an on-site role at the company’s Corporate Offices in Salina, Kansas. The schedule is Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Occasional out-of-state overnight travel may be required, and vendor and supplier visits occur quarterly or as needed. The specialist leads sourcing projects and participates in cross-functional product development and project management teams. The role supports supply chain performance by collaborating with internal teams, analyzing cost drivers and total cost of ownership, monitoring commodity costs, maintaining commodity strategies, selecting suppliers, and negotiating pricing. It also involves assessing supplier performance and risk, working with critical suppliers on business continuity, and helping develop and implement procurement plans, policies, and procedures. Other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

At least 3 years of experience in commodity management and/or project management, with an emphasis on supply chain management and purchasing.
Strong negotiation skills and a collaborative approach.
Exceptional interpersonal and collaborative problem-solving skills across functional groups.
Availability for occasional overnight travel of less than 10%.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Engineering, or a similar field.
Procurement experience in the construction or agricultural industry.
Professional certification, such as APICS, or progress toward obtaining a professional certification.

Responsibilities

Lead sourcing projects and participate in cross-functional teams supporting product development and project management.
Collaborate with internal teams to align strategies, implement projects, and support supply chain performance.
Analyze cost drivers and develop cost models based on material content, order quantities, tooling, and other factors affecting total cost of ownership.
Evaluate projects and assess the overall supply base using a Total Cost of Ownership approach.
Monitor commodity costs and other pricing factors to identify cost changes, particularly cost-reduction opportunities.
Maintain commodity strategies, lead supplier selection, and negotiate supplier pricing.
Use supplier scorecards to assess supplier performance; conduct supplier business reviews, explore improvement opportunities, develop future business layouts, and implement identified actions.
Monitor, audit, and report supplier performance, address performance issues, and evaluate and manage supply chain risks.
Work with critical suppliers to ensure they have or develop business continuity strategies to prevent supply interruptions.
Assist in developing and implementing procurement plans, policies, and procedures.
Travel to meet vendors and suppliers quarterly or as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.