Strategic Purchasing Agent

The Strategic Purchasing Agent leads strategic sourcing and supplier management for assigned material groups and purchasing categories. The role establishes the commercial and supply framework needed to secure materials and services in the required quality and quantity, on schedule, and at optimal total cost. Working closely with Realization, Engineering, Operations, Finance, Sales, and other internal stakeholders, this position develops category and supplier strategies, negotiates agreements, improves supplier performance, mitigates supply risk, and supports timely project execution.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead sourcing activities for assigned material groups and categories, including market research, supplier identification, competitive bidding, proposal analysis, financial evaluation, supplier qualification, and selection.
• Develop, implement, and maintain supplier and material-group strategies that support cost, quality, delivery, capacity, innovation, and supply-continuity objectives.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, commercial terms, delivery commitments, warranties, and other supplier obligations in alignment with business and market requirements.
• Create and use cost models, market benchmarks, and supplier cost-structure analysis to support negotiations and sourcing decisions.
• Identify, quantify, document, and implement cost-saving and value-improvement initiatives through competitive sourcing, supplier development, value engineering, specification review, and process improvement.
• Monitor market conditions, regional and geopolitical considerations, supplier capacity, and other supply risks; develop and support mitigation and contingency actions.
• Manage supplier relationships and performance, including evaluation of on-time delivery, quality, cost, responsiveness, reliability, and achievement of agreed improvement targets.
• Partner with Operations and project teams to resolve supplier-related delivery, capacity, quality, and commercial issues and to escalate significant deviations when required.
• Support contract management activities and maintain appropriate commercial documentation in accordance with company requirements.
• Prepare and present supplier performance, sourcing, savings, risk, and purchasing data to internal stakeholders through SCM and management reporting.
• Maintain accurate supplier, purchasing, and master data within the ERP and related purchasing systems.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to improve and standardize purchasing processes, organizational workflows, and cross-functional ways of working.
• Support indirect purchasing and internal business requirements when assigned.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, delegated authority, and ethical standards.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent relevant work experience is required. Professional certification such as CPSM, C.P.M., CSCP, or CPIM is preferred.

Experience: Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in purchasing, strategic sourcing, supply chain, or supplier management; experience in a manufacturing, industrial, automated logistics, project-based, or engineered-to-order environment preferred.

Travel: 10% of travel as required.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong knowledge of strategic sourcing methods, category management, supplier development, supply-chain principles, and purchasing processes.
• Strong negotiation skills and commercial judgment, including working knowledge of contract management, warranty obligations, supplier audits, and purchasing-related legal considerations.
• Ability to analyze proposals, cost drivers, supplier capabilities, market information, and performance data and convert findings into clear recommendations.
• Strong critical-thinking, problem-solving, and solution-oriented decision-making skills.
• Ability to influence internal stakeholders and external suppliers through fact-based communication and constructive relationship management.
• Quality consciousness, integrity, accountability, and sound ethical judgment.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work with minimal supervision, meet aggressive deadlines, and maintain a strong internal-customer focus.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and cross-functional communication skills.
• Experience with ERP systems; SAP or comparable ERP experience is preferred.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Working knowledge of product lifecycle management and the relationship between product, project, and supplier decisions is preferred.

Physical and Cognitive Requirements

• Ability to remain stationary at a desk for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability to lift and carry supplies and materials up to 20 lbs on occasion.
• Ability to use office equipment, computers, and various electronic devices constantly throughout workday.
• Ability to move around office environment and reach with hands and arms regularly.
• Ability to communicate with others verbally and in writing, on a frequent basis.
• Ability to focus and complete tasks throughout workday in office environment.

The physical and cognitive demands described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to pe rform the essential functions.

Other Requirements

This position may require work at TGW customer sites. TGW’s customers may require background checks before accessing their sites. Refusal to participate in a customer-required background check may result in a customer barring access and a subsequent reduction in work.

Equal Opportunity Employer

TGW Systems Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.