Strategic Procurement Manager

Our client is seeking a procurement professional to take ownership of critical raw material sourcing activities across multiple manufacturing operations. This individual will play a key role in managing supplier relationships, negotiating commercial agreements, monitoring market conditions, and supporting initiatives that improve cost, supply reliability and overall business performance.

This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys working directly with suppliers, collaborating with plant and technical teams, and influencing business decisions through market knowledge and commercial expertise. Location is about 20 miles south of Cleveland and 20 miles north of Akron.

• Manage a portfolio of raw materials and suppliers supporting multiple manufacturing facilities.
• Lead supplier negotiations focused on pricing, contracts, service levels, and long‑term value creation.
• Evaluate market trends, commodity movements, and supply risks to support purchasing decisions and business planning.
• Identify opportunities to improve margins through supplier optimization, alternate sourcing, inventory strategies, and cost reduction initiatives.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Logistics, and Commercial teams to support production requirements, product development efforts, and business growth objectives.
• Develop supplier performance metrics and lead corrective actions when quality, delivery or service expectations are not met.
• Support new supplier qualification activities and help strengthen the organization's supply continuity and risk management strategies.
• Participate in cross‑functional projects involving material changes, product enhancements, capacity expansions, and supply chain improvements.

• Bachelor's degree preferred in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in procurement, sourcing, purchasing, commodity management, or supply chain functions.
• Demonstrated success negotiating supplier agreements and delivering measurable business results.
• Experience managing raw materials, direct materials, or production‑related spend categories.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate market conditions, supplier performance and commercial opportunities.
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills with both suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Experience with in manufacturing environments such as chemicals, plastics, specialty materials, coatings, ingredients, industrial products or related industries preferred.

• Strategic Sourcing
• Procurement
• Purchasing
• Category Management
• Commodity Management
• Commodity Buying
• Raw Materials Procurement
• Raw Materials Sourcing
• Supplier Management
• Vendor Management
• Strategic Purchasing
• Chemical Procurement
• Direct Materials Procurement
• Supply Chain
• Supplier Development
• Procurement Analytics

Compensation:
Competitive salary, bonus opportunity, and comprehensive benefits package.