Sourcing Lead Buyer

Sourcing Lead Buyer

Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases is a leading provider of cryogenic pumps, heat exchangers, process systems, services, and solutions for the LNG and industrial gases industry. We are a subsidiary of Nikkiso Company Ltd, a leading industrial manufacturer headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with over $1.5 B in annual revenue, 8000 + employees worldwide, and publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Nikkiso ACD is an engineering and manufacturing company specializing in machinery designed to operate at cryogenic temperatures as low as – 420 degrees Fahrenheit, the boiling point of Liquid hydrogen. For over 50 years, Nikkiso ACD has specialized in centrifugal and reciprocating pumps as well as turbines for air separation. Nikkiso ACD has the most diversified product line in the industry covering nearly every application requiring pumps or turboexpanders.

This position is based at Nikkiso ACD located in Santa Ana, CA.

• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives for complex commodities including precision machining, castings, forgings, weldments, fabricated components, and electrical assemblies.
• Own multi-million-dollar global spend across machined castings, forgings, weldments, and precision components, aligning sourcing strategy with long-term growth, capacity planning, and operational objectives.
• Identify, evaluate, and qualify new suppliers globally to expand the approved supplier base and reduce supply risk.
• Develop and execute dual-source and multi-source strategies for critical components to improve supply continuity and supplier capacity flexibility.
• Implement and maintain a structured "Keep, Grow & Exit" supplier segmentation framework to optimize supplier performance, strengthen strategic partnerships, and phase out underperforming suppliers.
• Conduct supplier capability assessments including technical capability, manufacturing processes, equipment, certifications, and financial stability.
• Partner with Engineering and Quality teams to support supplier qualification, first article inspections, and production readiness.
• Interpret and review engineering drawings, technical specifications, and manufacturing requirements to ensure suppliers fully understand design intent and manufacturing expectations.
• Evaluate supplier manufacturing capabilities including CNC machining, welding, casting processes, electrical assembly, fabrication, and specialized testing requirements.
• Ensure suppliers can meet complex technical requirements, regulatory standards, and industry certifications when applicable.
• Work with suppliers to improve manufacturability, reduce lead times, increase capacity, and improve cost competitiveness.
• Develop and maintain strong strategic relationships with key suppliers to support long-term business partnerships.
• Lead global supplier development initiatives focused on improving on-time delivery (OTD), lead time reduction, and supplier quality performance (PPM/NCR reduction).
• Negotiate long-term supply agreements including pricing structures, index-based pricing models, and contractual commitments to protect margins and improve supply stability.
• Implement structured supplier performance reviews and scorecards to drive accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor supplier capacity, production constraints, and market conditions to proactively mitigate supply disruptions.
• Develop sourcing strategies to address single-source risks, long lead-time components, and constrained manufacturing capacity.
• Support contingency planning and supply continuity strategies for critical components.
• Support procurement activities including RFQs, supplier negotiations, purchase order placement, and contract management when required.
• Manage multiple commodities and suppliers to ensure cost, quality, and delivery targets are achieved.
• Support inventory planning initiatives to maintain appropriate supply levels while minimizing excess inventory.
• Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, and Program Management teams to align sourcing strategies with product development and production schedules.
• Support cross-site initiatives to standardize sourcing practices,…