Strategic Sourcing & Procurement Lead

About this position

Aggressive Hydraulics is a custom hydraulic cylinder manufacturer. We are the leading provider of hydraulic solutions, serving a diverse range of industries. With a commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction, we pride ourselves on delivering innovative products and exceptional service.

This position is intended for a procurement professional who not only manages purchasing activities, but also proactively identifies opportunities to improve supplier performance, reduce costs, optimize inventory, and strengthen Aggressive Hydraulics' overall supply chain strategy. You'll have the opportunity to directly influence business decisions and build the function as we grow.

Business operations hours are 7:00am - 4:30pm.

This is an onsite position located in East Bethel, MN 55011.

Position

Description:

The Strategic Sourcing & Procurement Lead is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies that ensure uninterrupted material availability while driving cost reduction, supplier performance, inventory optimization, and continuous improvement across the supply chain. This role combines hands‑on procurement execution with strategic business analysis. The ideal candidate is an analytical, data‑driven problem solver who can identify opportunities, challenge existing processes, leverage supplier partnerships, and implement sourcing strategies that create measurable value for the organization.

The Strategic Sourcing & Procurement Lead serves as a key business partner to Operations, Engineering, Production, Finance, and Quality to support operational performance, long‑term growth, and profitability.

Primary Objectives:

• Ensure material availability to support production schedules and customer commitments.
• Develop sourcing strategies that reduce total cost while maintaining quality and service levels.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives within procurement and supply chain operations.
• Optimize inventory levels, purchasing practices, and working capital utilization.
• Build strategic supplier relationships that create long‑term value and competitive advantage.
• Utilize data, analytics, and market intelligence to support informed business decisions.
• Improve procurement processes, systems, and reporting capabilities to support company growth.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Sourcing & Cost Optimization

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for raw materials, components, and outside services.
• Lead supplier negotiations involving pricing, payment terms, lead times, and service agreements.
• Identify and implement cost reduction initiatives through strategic sourcing, supplier consolidation, value engineering, and process improvements.
• Evaluate make-versus-buy opportunities in partnership with Engineering and Production.
• Analyze spend data and purchasing trends to identify opportunities for savings and efficiency improvements.
• Monitor market conditions, supply chain risks, and industry trends to proactively identify opportunities and challenges.
• Establish alternative sourcing strategies to reduce supply chain risk and dependency.
• Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships that create long‑term value and support company growth.
• Manage purchasing activities, supplier performance, and material availability to meet production requirements.
• Establish performance metrics and supplier scorecards while supporting the qualification of new sourcing partners
• Utilize ERP systems, Excel, and data analysis tools to evaluate spending, inventory, supplier performance, and procurement trends.
• Develop actionable recommendations that optimize inventory, strengthen supply chain performance, and improve decision‑making.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that enhance procurement…