Strategic Sourcing Manager, Consumer Goods

Position summary

The Strategic Sourcing Manager develops the supplier relationships and purchasing plans behind LSO Media Group's consumer goods procurement activities. Reporting to the division's Vice President, you will translate customer requirements into clear sourcing briefs, evaluate supplier capability and prepare commercial recommendations. The work includes both identifying new supply options and reviewing whether established arrangements continue to provide suitable quality, availability and value.

You will consider the full cost of supply, including order quantities, transport, payment terms, quality failures and inventory exposure. Working with supplier quality, planning, fulfillment, Finance and Legal, you will make purchasing assumptions visible and ensure agreements reflect the service the business can deliver. Early assignments will establish a practical sourcing process around the division's approved categories and operating priorities; commitments remain subject to delegated purchasing authority.

Responsibilities

• Create category briefs that document product specifications, demand assumptions, target costs, lead times and acceptable alternatives.
• Identify potential suppliers and coordinate capability reviews, references, samples and other qualification evidence with the Supplier Quality Manager.
• Run structured quotation processes and compare proposals using landed cost, supply reliability, payment terms and quality requirements.
• Negotiate proposed commercial terms within approved parameters and coordinate contract review before a commitment is made.
• Develop contingency options for concentrated supply, long lead times and products with limited substitutes.
• Work with the Inventory & Demand Planner to align order quantities and replenishment decisions with forecast uncertainty and cash constraints.
• Maintain supplier scorecards, renewal dates and negotiation records so purchasing decisions remain traceable.
• Investigate material cost or delivery changes and present corrective options to the Vice President.

Required qualifications

• Experience in strategic sourcing or purchasing, typically five or more years, with responsibility for supplier evaluation and commercial negotiation.
• Ability to compare total purchasing costs and explain the effects of freight, minimum orders, payment terms and inventory exposure.
• Experience converting business requirements into clear specifications, quotation requests and supplier assessments.
• Strong spreadsheet skills and accurate maintenance of purchasing and supplier records.
• Clear communication, sound commercial judgment and a relevant degree or equivalent professional experience.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience sourcing consumer products across more than one product category.
• Experience qualifying alternative suppliers or supporting a change in supply arrangements.
• Familiarity with purchasing systems and collaboration with quality or logistics teams.

Measures of success

• Approved sourcing decisions have documented requirements, comparable costs and qualification evidence.
• Supply concentration and delivery risks have practical mitigation plans.
• Purchasing terms support the division's quality, working capital and service objectives.

First 90 days

Review approved product categories, available supplier information and purchasing priorities with the Vice President. Build a sourcing pipeline and a consistent quotation comparison template. Complete an initial supplier assessment with quality and planning colleagues, identify the most significant concentration or lead-time risks, and present a first set of sourcing recommendations with costs, alternatives and approval needs clearly stated.

Compensation

Proposed annual base salary of $90,000–$120,000 USD. The final offer will reflect relevant experience, qualifications and the agreed scope of the position, subject to approval. This range covers base pay only; any incentive compensation or benefits would be specified separately in an employment offer.

What to include in your application

Describe a sourcing decision you owned, including how you compared suppliers, negotiated terms and measured the result. Use nonconfidential examples and explain your contribution.