Strategic Sourcing Buyer

Strategic Sourcing Buyer

Help shape the future of manufacturing through smarter sourcing stronger partnerships and better supply chain solutions.

The L.S. Starrett Company is looking for a motivated and analytical Strategic Sourcing Buyer to join our team in Athol Massachusetts.

This is an opportunity to play an important role in how we source materials manage supplier relationships support production reduce costs and protect the continuity of our operations. You will have the opportunity to influence sourcing decisions lead negotiations develop suppliers and present recommendations directly to company leadership.

The Opportunity

As our Strategic Sourcing Buyer you will own sourcing activities for assigned commodities and supplier categories. You will work closely with Operations Engineering Quality Supply Chain and Finance to make thoughtful data-driven decisions that support quality delivery cost and long-term business goals.

You will be trusted to:

• Develop and lead strategic sourcing plans.

• Identify new suppliers and develop strong supplier partnerships.

• Lead RFQs RFPs supplier evaluations negotiations and contract discussions.

• Negotiate pricing payment terms lead times and service agreements.

• Analyze market conditions supplier costs tariffs freight inflation and industry trends.

• Identify opportunities to reduce costs and improve supply chain performance.

• Evaluate and reduce supplier capacity financial logistics and single-source risks.

• Develop alternate-source dual-source recovery and business-continuity plans.

• Support new product introductions engineering changes and supplier transitions.

• Partner with Operations and Planning to maintain material availability and optimize inventory.

• Lead supplier scorecards business reviews corrective actions and improvement plans.

• Issue purchase orders and maintain accurate purchasing and supplier information.

• Track cost savings cost avoidance inventory improvements and other business results.

• Create dashboards and reports that clearly communicate supplier performance and sourcing results.

• Present recommendations and key insights to leadership.

• Support responsible sourcing supplier compliance quality requirements and company purchasing policies.

What Makes You a Strong Candidate

You are a strategic thinker who enjoys solving problems working with people and turning information into action. You are comfortable managing multiple priorities and are confident communicating with suppliers internal teams and leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Management Business Engineering Operations Management or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.

• Five or more years of experience in strategic sourcing procurement purchasing or supply chain within a manufacturing environment.

• Experience sourcing raw materials components and production-related services.

• Experience negotiating supplier agreements and managing supplier relationships.

• Experience using ERP or MRP systems.

• Strong understanding of strategic sourcing supplier management and total cost of ownership.

• Advanced analytical and Microsoft Excel skills.

• Ability to create professional reports dashboards graphs and data visualizations.

• Strong negotiation communication project management and problem-solving skills.

• Working knowledge of contracts Incoterms supplier cost structures inventory planning and domestic and international sourcing.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Epicor SAP Oracle Microsoft Dynamics or a similar ERP system.

• APICS/ASCM CPSM CPM or another relevant supply chain certification.

• Experience supporting new product introductions or supplier transitions.

• Experience with Power BI Tableau or similar business intelligence tools.

Why This Role Matters

The decisions made in this position directly affect our ability to deliver quality products support our employees serve our customers and remain competitive.

You will help us:

• Strengthen supplier relationships.

• Improve quality and on-time delivery.

• Reduce costs and avoid unnecessary expenses.

• Protect production from supply disruptions.

• Improve inventory and working-capital performance.

• Build a more resilient and sustainable supply chain.

Work Environment

This position works in both an office and manufacturing environment and regularly interacts with production warehouse engineering quality and supplier personnel.

The role requires the ability to:

• Work at a computer for extended periods.

• Walk through manufacturing and warehouse areas.

• Occasionally lift and carry up to 20 pounds.

• Wear required personal protective equipment in manufacturing areas.

• Travel up to 15% for supplier visits audits and industry meetings.

• Occasionally support supplier or production needs outside normal business hours.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Position Details

Job Title: Strategic Sourcing Buyer
Location: Athol MA -
Job Type: Full-Time - Hybrid
Reports To: Vice President of Supply Chain and Procurement

Join The L.S. Starrett Company

If you are ready to bring your sourcing expertise analytical skills and relationship-building abilities to a role with meaningful impact we encourage you to apply.

Help us source smarter build stronger partnerships and keep manufacturing moving forward.

The L.S. Starrett Company is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to legally protected characteristics under applicable federal state or local law.