Strategic Sourcing Specialist

Principal Strategic Sourcing Manager (12-Month Contract)Location: Galway (Hybrid)

Contract: 12 Months

Start Date: September 2026

Working Arrangement:

Hybrid with intermittent onsite attendance required to support stakeholder meetings, supplier engagement and business priorities.

Our client is seeking an experienced Principal Strategic Sourcing Manager to provide maternity leave cover within their Global Procurement organisation.

This is a senior individual contributor position responsible for managing a critical Metals commodity portfolio. The successful contractor will lead strategic supplier relationships, commercial negotiations, supply continuity initiatives and cross-functional sourcing activities across a complex global manufacturing environment.

The role requires an experienced procurement professional capable of operating autonomously within a highly regulated medical device environment while partnering with senior stakeholders across Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing and Quality.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage strategic supplier relationships within the Metals category
• Lead commercial negotiations including pricing, contracts and long-term agreements
• Ensure continuity of supply for critical manufacturing operations
• Manage supplier escalations and resolve complex commercial issues
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks
• Drive supplier performance improvements
• Deliver cost reduction and value engineering initiatives
• Support new product development and manufacturing projects
• Develop sourcing strategies aligned with business objectives
• Monitor supplier KPIs and performance metrics
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Planning and Finance teams
• Present sourcing strategies and supplier updates to senior leadership
• Support capacity planning and supplier readiness activities
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies and regulatory requirements

Required Experience

• 10+ years' experience within Procurement, Strategic Sourcing or Supply Chain
• Extensive strategic supplier management experience
• Proven commercial negotiation expertise
• Experience negotiating high-value supplier contracts
• Demonstrated experience managing annual supplier spend exceeding $50M-$100M
• Strong supplier relationship management skills
• Experience managing supplier escalations
• Supply continuity planning experience
• Risk assessment and mitigation experience
• Strong analytical and commercial decision-making ability
• Excellent stakeholder management skills
• Ability to influence at senior leadership level
• Experience working within complex global manufacturing organisations