Materials Sourcing Manager

WaveCrest Staffing Group is seeking an experienced Sourcing Manager, Direct Materials to develop and execute strategic sourcing initiatives for a leading life sciences organization. This role will focus on managing direct material categories, reducing costs, mitigating supply chain risks, and building strong supplier relationships across the Americas. Location: Remote (EST/CST time zone) Pay: $55–$65/hour Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM EST or 7:00 AM–4:00 PM CST Travel: Up to 10–20% Responsibilities: Develop and execute sourcing strategies to reduce material costs, improve supplier performance, and mitigate supply chain risks. Manage sourcing activities for direct material categories, including chemicals, acids, solvents, and surfactants. Oversee approximately $50–75 million in annual category spend. Analyze market intelligence, commodity pricing forecasts, spending trends, and contract coverage to identify sourcing opportunities and potential risks. Develop and maintain a rolling 36-month sourcing strategy and project roadmap, including cost savings estimates, timelines, and execution plans. Lead sourcing initiatives, including requests for information (RFIs), requests for quotations (RFQs), supplier qualification, competitive bidding, and contract negotiations. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Product Management, Quality, Technical Management, Commercial, and Operations, to align sourcing strategies with business needs. Build and maintain relationships with key suppliers while resolving pricing, performance, and supply-related issues. Monitor category spending and track savings to ensure cost reductions are achieved and sustained. Conduct regular project reviews with sourcing leadership and relevant business stakeholders. Negotiate and manage supplier contracts in accordance with corporate guidelines. Support budgeting activities by providing material cost forecasts and market pricing expectations. Requirements: Bachelor's degree required; a degree in Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field is preferred. Minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience. At least 5 years of procurement, operations, or commercial experience within the chemical or pharmaceutical industries. Experience managing complex sourcing and procurement projects, including supplier negotiations and contract management. Strong analytical skills, including spend analysis, cost forecasting, and sourcing strategy development. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills highly preferred. SAP experience highly preferred. Experience working with global, cross-functional teams preferred. Lean Six Sigma certification (Yellow, Green, or Black Belt) preferred. Strong negotiation, communication, presentation, and relationship management skills. Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on execution in a fast-paced environment. Highly organized, proactive, and comfortable managing multiple priorities in an evolving business environment.