Director of Strategic Sourcing

Our client is a global manufacturer of highly engineered metering pumps, dosing systems, and fluid handling equipment used in water/wastewater treatment, chemical processing, oil & gas, and industrial applications. Headquartered in the Rochester, NY area, the company has a long-standing reputation for product reliability and engineering excellence, and operates as part of a larger, well-capitalized industrial organization with a strong track record of growth through innovation and acquisition.

The Director of Strategic Sourcing will lead the strategic sourcing and procurement function for this engineered pump and fluid-handling business, developing and executing category strategies that drive cost savings, supply resilience, and supplier performance across direct materials, components, and services. This is a highly visible leadership role based in the Rochester, NY facility, partnering closely with Operations, Engineering, Finance, and Business Unit leadership to align sourcing strategy with growth objectives.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience in strategic sourcing within a manufacturing or industrial products environment, strong negotiation and supplier management skills, and a track record of building and leading high-performing sourcing teams.

• Develop and execute multi-year category strategies for direct materials (e.g., castings, machined components, electronics, raw materials) and indirect categories.
• Lead cross-functional sourcing initiatives that balance cost, quality, supply risk, and speed to market.
• Partner with Engineering and Product teams on should-cost modeling, value engineering, and design-to-cost initiatives.
• Drive total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis and savings tracking across the sourcing portfolio.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers, including regular business reviews and performance scorecards.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including single-source exposure, geopolitical risk, and capacity constraints.
• Lead supplier qualification, onboarding, and rationalization efforts to strengthen the supply base.
• Negotiate complex contracts and commercial terms, ensuring favorable terms while managing risk exposure.

• Build, mentor, and lead a team of sourcing/category managers and buyers.
• Serve as a key advisor to Business Unit and Operations leadership on sourcing strategy and market dynamics.
• Present sourcing performance, savings, and risk updates to executive leadership on a regular cadence.
• Collaborate with Finance on budgeting, forecasting, and cost modeling tied to sourcing decisions.

• Establish and mature sourcing processes, tools, and governance (RFx processes, contract management, spend analytics).
• Drive continuous improvement in sourcing systems and reporting to improve visibility into spend and supplier performance.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and relevant regulatory/quality standards across the supply base.

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or related field (MBA preferred).
• 10+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing/procurement within a manufacturing, industrial products, or engineered products environment.
• 5+ years of people leadership experience, including building and developing sourcing/category management teams.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating complex, high-value contracts and managing supplier relationships at a strategic level.
• Strong background in direct materials sourcing (metals, castings, machined/fabricated components, electronics, or similar).
• Experience with should-cost modeling, TCO analysis, and value engineering.
• Proficiency with ERP and sourcing/procurement systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Coupa, or similar).
• Advanced Excel skills and strong analytical/data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Excellent executive presence with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and present to executive leadership.
• Experience in a multi-site or multi-business-unit manufacturing environment strongly preferred.
• Willingness to travel as needed to supplier and manufacturing sites (approximately 20–30%).

• CPSM, CPM, or similar sourcing/procurement certification preferred.