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Strategic Sourcing Lead Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Strategic Sourcing Manager

Wilmington, DE · On-site

$125K - $162K/yr

Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing activities, including RFI/RFP/RFQ processes, supplier evaluations, and negotiations. * Establish and manage global framework agreements to drive standardization ...

Strategic Sourcing Manager

Wilmington, DE

$125K - $162K/yr

Lead endtoend strategic sourcing activities, including RFI/RFP/RFQ processes, supplier evaluations, and negotiations. * Establish and manage global framework agreements to drive standardization ...

Showing results 21-40

Strategic Sourcing Lead information

See salary details

$69K

$149.3K

$168K

How much do strategic sourcing lead jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for strategic sourcing lead in the United States is $149,309.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $129,000.00 and $167,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a strategic sourcing lead?

A Strategic Sourcing Lead is a professional responsible for developing and implementing sourcing strategies to acquire goods and services for an organization efficiently and cost-effectively. They analyze market trends, negotiate with suppliers, and collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure the best possible value and quality. Their role often involves managing supplier relationships, mitigating risks in the supply chain, and driving continuous improvement in procurement processes.

What is the difference between Strategic Sourcing Lead vs Procurement Specialist?

AspectStrategic Sourcing LeadProcurement Specialist
ResponsibilitiesDevelops sourcing strategies, negotiates contracts, manages supplier relationshipsExecutes purchasing orders, manages supplier communications, ensures timely delivery
Required SkillsStrategic thinking, negotiation, supplier managementOrder processing, vendor communication, basic negotiation
CertificationsCPM, CPSM, or similar certifications often preferredProcurement certifications like CPSM may be beneficial
Work EnvironmentStrategic, cross-functional teams, high-level decision makingOperational, transactional tasks, day-to-day purchasing

The main difference is that the Strategic Sourcing Lead focuses on developing sourcing strategies and managing supplier relationships at a strategic level, while the Procurement Specialist handles the day-to-day purchasing activities. Both roles require procurement knowledge, but the Lead is more strategic and analytical, whereas the Specialist is more operational.

How does a strategic sourcing lead typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during the supplier selection process?

A Strategic Sourcing Lead works closely with cross-functional teams such as procurement, engineering, quality assurance, and finance throughout the supplier selection process. They facilitate joint meetings to define requirements, evaluate supplier proposals, and assess risk factors. By leveraging insights from each department, the Strategic Sourcing Lead ensures that supplier decisions align with both technical specifications and organizational goals. This collaborative approach helps to optimize cost, quality, and supply chain continuity.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a strategic sourcing lead?

To thrive as a Strategic Sourcing Lead, you need strong analytical, negotiation, and project management skills, typically supported by a bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business, or a related field. Familiarity with procurement software (such as SAP Ariba or Coupa), contract management systems, and certifications like CPSM or CIPS are commonly required. Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving abilities are critical soft skills that set top performers apart. These capabilities ensure optimal supplier relationships, cost savings, and the effective execution of sourcing strategies that directly impact organizational success.

What does a strategic sourcing lead do?

A strategic sourcing lead is responsible for developing and implementing procurement strategies to acquire goods and services at optimal cost and quality. They analyze market trends, negotiate with suppliers, and collaborate with internal teams to ensure supply chain efficiency and cost savings. Strong analytical skills and knowledge of procurement tools are essential for this role.
More about Strategic Sourcing Lead jobs
What cities are hiring for Strategic Sourcing Lead jobs? Cities with the most Strategic Sourcing Lead job openings:
What states have the most Strategic Sourcing Lead jobs? States with the most job openings for Strategic Sourcing Lead jobs include:
Infographic showing various Strategic Sourcing Lead job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,309 per year, or $71.8 per hour.

Strategic Sourcing Lead, Warehouse Robotics

Skild AI

San Mateo, CA

$146K - $190K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 27 days ago


Job description

Position Overview

We are seeking a Strategic Sourcing Lead to own supply chain and procurement strategy for our warehouse robotics platform as we scale from prototype to production. You will help build a resilient global supply chain across electromechanical systems, compute, PCBAs, and structural hardware while partnering closely with engineering and manufacturing teams.

This role is ideal for someone who has successfully scaled complex hardware products and brings deep supplier relationships across motors, actuators, sensors, compute, and contract manufacturing.

Responsibilities
  • Own sourcing strategy and supplier execution across the full robot BOM, including actuators, motors, sensors, compute modules, PCBAs, harnessing, and mechanical assemblies
  • Lead the transition from prototype and in-house manufacturing toward contract manufacturing, including CM selection, qualification, onboarding, and operational scaling
  • Negotiate pricing, lead times, allocation, and commercial agreements to support aggressive cost, quality, and production targets
  • Build and expand strategic supplier relationships to unlock pricing advantages, engineering support, and supply continuity
  • Partner closely with mechanical, electrical, firmware, and compute engineering teams to drive design for manufacturability, supply chain resilience, and cost optimization
  • Develop multi-source strategies for critical components and proactively mitigate allocation, geopolitical, and single-source risks
  • Own BOM cost targets as the platform scales from pilot builds to large-scale deployment
  • Support NPI and production ramp activities with suppliers and manufacturing partners across Asia Pacific and other global regions
  • Establish sourcing processes, metrics, and supplier performance management frameworks appropriate for a rapidly scaling robotics organization
Preferred Qualifications
  • 8+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain management for hardware products
  • Proven track record taking hardware products from prototype through production ramp at scale
  • Direct experience with electromechanical components, PCBAs, and high-performance compute systems
  • Experience transitioning products from in-house builds to contract manufacturing
  • Strong supplier relationships across motors, actuators, sensors, PCBAs, compute, or robotics hardware ecosystems
  • Demonstrated success negotiating pricing, lead times, allocation, and commercial agreements
  • Experience in robotics, warehouse automation, autonomous systems, drones, industrial automation, or related hardware industries
  • Familiarity with NPI, DFM/DFA, and manufacturing scale-up workflows
  • Experience sourcing constrained or allocation-sensitive compute platforms (e.g. NVIDIA, Qualcomm, AMD)
  • Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, high-ownership environment with international travel, primarily across Asia Pacific