Sourcing Manager/Procurement Specialist

Sourcing Manager/Procurement Specialist

Knoxville, TN

Full Time

The sourcers under this job travel to 50% some weeks, we think this leadership role travels less, but could be high travel in “sprints” of time.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

Strategic Sourcing & Procurement Oversight

Lead sourcing efforts across multiple sites with a large annual spend on complex categories, including structural steel, electrical components, and precision metal fabrication (welding, bending, drilling, tapping, etc.).

Develop and execute sourcing strategies that align with corporate goals while delivering measurable improvements in cost, quality, availability, and risk mitigation.

Leverage detailed understanding of global commodities markets to drive long-term sourcing decisions and forecast spend and risk 1–3 years in advance.

Build and manage multi-tiered sourcing strategies that include primary, secondary, and tertiary suppliers for critical commodities, with attention to regional capacity, geopolitical risks, tariffs, and logistics constraints.

Use economic indicators and market intelligence to proactively mitigate material shortages, price spikes, and disruptions by diversifying sources and leveraging global vendor partnerships.

Vendor Management & Negotiation

Establish and maintain robust vendor relationships with both domestic and international suppliers, focusing on performance, reliability, and long-term value creation.

Negotiate pricing, terms, and long-term agreements to secure competitive advantages, capacity guarantees, and supply continuity.

Be direct, transparent, and firm in supplier discussions, ensuring accountability and alignment with contractual commitments.

Evaluate supplier financial health, operational capacity, and contingency planning as part of the onboarding and ongoing risk management process.

Leadership & Team Development

Lead and mentor a team of 6 direct reports and up to 12 indirect reports (5 sourcing specialists and 1 MRO supervisor) across multiple manufacturing sites, promoting a high-performance, accountable culture.

Delegate projects and initiatives in a structured way, ensuring clear goals, timelines, and measurable outcomes.

Solve behavioral or performance issues within the team swiftly and fairly, setting the tone for professionalism, urgency, and teamwork.

Serve as a role model of integrity, clear communication, and execution-focused leadership.

Operational Excellence

Track and report sourcing KPIs such as cost savings, lead time reduction, OTD, and supplier scorecards.

Implement standard work and continuous improvement processes across sites to optimize sourcing operations.

Ensure alignment of sourcing activity with business priorities such as working capital targets, production uptime, and quality standards.

Risk Management & Compliance

Proactively identify and address global sourcing risks including tariff changes, regulatory shifts, transportation bottlenecks, and natural disasters.

Design commodity-specific sourcing strategies that account for regional risk, shipping constraints, and supplier capacity, enabling business continuity.

Establish formal risk mitigation plans including alternative vendor development, dual sourcing, and regional diversification.

Maintain ethical sourcing practices and ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and company policies.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

To ensure Kelvion’s Standard of Excellence, which includes quality, is incorporated into every product we produce.

Follow all company policies and procedures, including but not limited to Global Code of Business Principles, Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, Vision and Values, Operational Framework

REQUIREMENTS (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES)

Minimum 3–5 years of strategic sourcing experience, preferably in heavy industrial or heat exchanger/manufacturing sectors.

Proven management of $100M+ in annual spend and multi-site supervision experience, preferably within a global organization.

High integrity, leadership presence, and the ability to set the cultural tone of the team.

Strong technical understanding of complex fabricated components, including weldments, steel structures, electrical systems, and mechanical assemblies