Strategic Sourcing Specialist

WHAT YOU’LL DO: 

The Strategic Sourcing Specialist at CoolIT Systems will work closely with the Category Manager to support the sourcing strategy, supplier management, and procurement processes. This role involves assisting and conducting supplier performance evaluations, contract negotiations, contract management, and category-specific initiatives. The focus is to enhance supply chain resiliency and efficiency in securing high-quality components, while ensuring optimal cost savings, supply reliability, and risk mitigation, in alignment with business objectives and regulatory framework. This role requires experience in sourcing and category management, along with strong analytical, problem-solving skills and the ability to create and effectively manage collaborative relationships.     

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Support Category Sourcing Strategy: Collaborate with the Category Manager to execute and refine category sourcing strategies based on business needs, market trends, and supply opportunities.  

• Supplier Relationship and Performance Management: Support ongoing supplier relationship and performance management, ensuring suppliers meet performance expectations, quality standards, and business and regulatory requirements. Actively support supplier scorecards, cost of poor performance, and cost recovery activities.   

• Contract Management: Assist with creation and renewal of agreements that deliver cost, quality, and operational value. Includes preparing and managing supplier contracts, ensuring compliance with company policies and negotiating favorable terms where applicable.  

• Data Management & Reporting: Maintain and update supplier data in the system (e.g., NetSuite) and generate reports to track supplier performance, pricing trends, and contract statuses.  

• Cost Savings and Efficiency Initiatives: Assist in identifying opportunities for cost savings and process improvements through strategic sourcing efforts, supplier negotiations and continuous improvement.  

• New Product Introduction (NPI) Support: Support NPI material and service requirements, by identifying, evaluating and sourcing materials, parts, components, and assemblies, ensuring timely and cost-effective sourcing solutions.  

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with internal teams, including Supply Chain, Engineering, and Program/Project Management, to ensure alignment on sourcing requirements and project timelines.   

• Market Research: Conduct market research to stay informed of trends, potential suppliers, and new sourcing opportunities within assigned categories.  

• Supplier Research & Analysis: Assist in identifying and evaluating potential suppliers for assigned categories, leveraging market analysis, supplier performance data, and cost assessments. Extract and analyze complex, high-volume data to develop actionable insights for procurement and supplier management.  

WHO YOU ARE:  

Basic Qualifications:   

• Experience: Minimum of 3-4 years in strategic sourcing, procurement, supply chain management.  

• Education: Post-secondary degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related field.  

• Sourcing and Procurement Knowledge: Experience in sourcing, supplier evaluation, and contract management in a diverse supplier base.  

• Analytical Skills: Strong ability to analyze data, evaluate supplier performance, and contribute to cost-saving strategies.  

• Systems Proficiency: Familiarity with procurement systems (e.g., NetSuite or similar), and Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.   

Preferred Qualifications:  

•  Certifications: SCMP, CPSM, or other relevant procurement/supply chain certifications.  

• Global Sourcing Experience: Exposure to global supplier networks and international sourcing.  

• Contract Negotiation: Some experience with negotiating supplier agreements and contracts.  

• Industry Knowledge: Understanding of technical specifications and industry-specific procurement practices, with the ability to interpret technical drawings and specifications.  

• Industry Experience: Engineering, prototype build, NPI, or manufacturing environment.  

Skills:   

•  Attention to Detail: High level of accuracy in data entry, contract management, and reporting, with a strategic mindset.  

• Effective Communication: Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with suppliers and internal teams.  

• Problem-Solving: Proactive in identifying challenges and proposing solutions to improve sourcing strategies, leveraging critical thinking capabilities.  

• Team Collaboration: Comfortable working in a team environment and supporting colleagues in achieving departmental goals.  

• Time Management: Ability to handle multiple tasks, prioritize evolving work effectively, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.  

• Adaptability: Ability to adapt to changing business needs and work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.  

• Relationship Building: Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with a diverse group of professionals.   

WHY COOLIT?  

We strive to be an employer of choice and as such we believe in rewarding our employees with career and development opportunities that will maintain and strengthen our culture while aligning to our vision and values.  

We are a company that is full of vibrant, innovative people who love what we do. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:  

• Vacation and flex days, and paid company-wide shutdown during the holiday season. 

• Comprehensive benefits including Dental, Drugs, Optical, Paramedical and Health Spending. These costs are covered by CoolIT and are enacted from your first day. 

• Dress for your day – in a casual yet professional environment. 

• Retention rewards like “The Big Coffee Break” that reward tenure with additional vacation time and a monetary bonus. 

• Company-funded RRSP contributions to support your long-term financial goals.  

We thank every candidate in advance, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.  Successful candidates for this position will be required to undergo background checks including criminal records check and education. 

About CoolIT, An Ecolab Company 

Founded in Calgary, Alberta in 2001, CoolIT Systems is the leading Direct Liquid Cooling technology provider for data centers, supercomputers, and desktop computers. We design and manufacture solutions used by the largest tech companies globally.  

Recognized as one of “The Americas’ Fastest Growing Companies 2023” by Financial Times and honored with the Deloitte Fast 50 Clean Technology award in 2022, as well as the Deloitte Fast 500 distinction in both 2021 and 2022, CoolIT's rapid growth is capturing global attention.  

As demand for generative AI, high performance computing and cloud solutions rapidly expands, there has never been a more exciting time to join our team.