Sourcing Specialist at AKG North America Inc – Mebane, North Carolina

Join a Legacy of Innovation

At AKG, we are a 100+ year-old, privately owned leader in the heat exchange industry, providing state-of-the-art cooling solutions for critical infrastructure. If you are a proactive, detail-oriented individual with a strong work ethic and a desire to be part of a dynamic team, we want you to join us!

Position Summary

The Sourcing Specialist is a procurement professional responsible for independently leading sourcing initiatives, identifying new suppliers, and executing cost-reduction projects across multiple commodities. This position is a key member of the Supply Chain team, reporting directly to the Director, Supply Chain, and acts as the company’s frontline for supplier discovery, market intelligence, and cost optimization.

Key Responsibilities

1. Sourcing Activities

• Lead sourcing projects from end-to-end, including: opportunity identification, market research, supplier identification, RFQ/RFP execution, evaluation, and recommendation.
• Identify cost-down opportunities and execute savings initiatives independently.
• Manage multiple sourcing projects simultaneously.

2. Market Analysis and Intelligence

• Proactively identify new suppliers, both locally and internationally.
• Attend industry exhibitions, trade shows, and supplier events to scout technologies, materials, and sourcing opportunities.
• Build and maintain a pipeline of potential suppliers for strategic evaluation.

3. RFQ Execution & Evaluation

• Prepare RFQs, manage supplier communications, and perform total cost comparisons.
• Collaborate with Commodity Managers, Engineering, Supplier Quality, and Operations when evaluating supplier capabilities.
• Deliver structured sourcing recommendations to Commodity Managers for decision-making.

4. Cost Reduction, Risk Mitigation & Value Creation

• Develop and execute projects aimed at cost reduction, improved supplier terms, or better total cost of ownership.
• Prepare business cases, sourcing reports, and presentations summarizing opportunities and results.
• Track and report cost savings from sourcing initiatives.
• Lead supply base expansions initiatives, including identifying and qualifying second- and third source suppliers for single-sourced or high-risk purchase parts.

Qualifications5. Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field.
• 3–5 years of sourcing or procurement experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience leading sourcing projects and identifying cost-down opportunities.
• Exposure to trade shows, supplier events, or international sourcing is a plus.

6. Skills & Competencies

• Strong independent project management and execution skills.
• Excellent sourcing, negotiation, and analytical capabilities.
• Confident, proactive communication with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to identify new suppliers and market opportunities.
• Proficiency in SAP or similar ERP systems and Excel.
• Comfortable with occasional travel for supplier visits and industry events.