Strategic Sourcing Specialist

DescriptionThe ideal candidate brings a strong technical foundation, deep experience in supplier lifecycle management, and a track record of minimizing sole-source risk while accelerating speed, scale, and cost efficiency. This position is based at our client's Austin, TX campus and reports to the Director of Supply Chain and Material Operations. Lead strategic sourcing and procurement of raw materials and consumables with a focus on cost optimization, supply continuity, and risk mitigation. Conduct regional and localized supplier sourcing and outreach to identify, evaluate, and onboard vendors based on quality, cost, capacity, and delivery performance in support of new product development and market expansion initiatives. Develop and maintain material and equipment cost models, leveraging data analytics to support operational and strategic decision-making. Support New Product Introduction (NPI) activities by partnering with suppliers and cross-functional internal teams to ensure development milestones, production readiness, and field deployment timelines are met. Support material control, logistics, and delivery systems to ensure accurate and timely material flow throughout testing, pilot, and production environments. Assess the feasibility of evolving material delivery and supply models by analyzing operational, financial, and logistical considerations to inform long-term strategy. Develop and execute material supply strategies aligned with cost targets, scalability requirements, and long-term organizational objectives. Support and enhance supply and demand forecasting processes to enable accurate capacity planning across raw materials and consumables. Monitor and benchmark industry trends, supplier capabilities, and market conditions to inform sourcing strategies, supplier development, and cost optimization efforts. Establish supplier selection criteria and manage RFQ/RFP processes in close collaboration with engineering, material science, and technical stakeholders. Lead supplier negotiations to secure competitive commercial terms, reliable delivery performance, and contractual flexibility. Manage the full supplier lifecycle, including qualification, onboarding, readiness planning, performance measurement, and continuous improvement. Proactively resolve supplier-related issues impacting production schedules, including quality, lead time, and capacity constraints. Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing supply chain organization, including supply chain managers and purchasing professionals. Oversee the end-to-end procurement process for material operations, including supplier sourcing, contract negotiation, purchase order execution, and delivery management while ensuring cost efficiency and quality standards. Skills & Qualifications Bachelors Degree (preferably in engineering, supply chain, or related) 3-5 years in strategic sourcing/procurement in high-velocity industries Experience with construction raw material operations, sourcing, and production. Strong analytical, negotiation, and communication skills Demonstrated ability to collaborate with cross-functional technical teams to drive material strategy, cost reduction, and supply resilience Ability to manage multiple concurrent programs and suppliers in a dynamic, fast-paced environment Comfortable working autonomously with a bias for action and continuous improvement Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and supply chain modeling About the team:Solving one of the most challenging problems humanity faces requires a level of diversity across disciplines. We believe that by being a non-homogenous organization, we can capture unique perspectives, educational backgrounds, and ideation. We strive to be inclusive and seek team members who share our passion for the mission within the mission: building robust and diverse teams to help us prevail in the face of our challenges.We're a team of varied backgrounds, countries, and experiences, and we believe our differences make us stronger as we tackle some of the most challenging problems of our time.Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of Austin, TX.Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $45.00 - $61.00/hr.Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: - Medical, dental & vision - Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital - 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available - Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) - Short and long-term disability - Health Spending Account (HSA) - Transportation benefits - Employee Assistance Program - Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)Workplace TypeThis is a fully onsite position in Austin,TX.Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Mar 11, 2026.About Aston Carter:Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® double diamond winner for both client and talent service.The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email () for other accommodation options.

Created: 2026-03-04