Strategic Sourcing Specialist

About Valdera:

At Valdera, we empower innovators to turn ideas into reality by transforming how manufacturers source materials. We make it effortless for companies to find the best materials and suppliers for their needs, enabling them to build high-quality products at scale and deliver them to millions of consumers worldwide.

We are a team of ambitious, results-driven individuals with a proven track record of working with Fortune 500 industrial manufacturers, beauty brands, and chemical companies. We are a fast-growing company that hires talented, hardworking people who excel in high-performance environments and want to grow their careers quickly.

Our culture is built for exceptional individuals to take on meaningful challenges, collaborate with the top minds in our industry, and see the direct impact of their work. If you’re looking for a fast-paced environment where your ideas will drive real change, Valdera is the place for you.

Join us, and let’s shape the future of manufacturing together.

Role Description:

As a Strategic Sourcing Specialist, you will be instrumental in helping build the industry's most robust network of specialty chemical and raw material suppliers! You will be partnering with Valdera buyers' and supporting their strategic sourcing needs by discovering and developing relationships with global suppliers. 

This role is a perfect opportunity for an experienced self-motivated sourcing professional who is interested in being a part of a global fast-paced technology company that is disrupting the supply chain industry. In this role, you will be a part of our sourcing operations team that provides white glove service to our customers. This role reports to the Sourcing Manager, and works closely with sales, customer success, engineering, and senior leadership.

The Strategic Sourcing Specialist is responsible for the strategic sourcing and the building of relationships within Valdera’s network of suppliers. This includes deeply understanding buyer requirements, ability to discover high-quality global sources to meet those requirements, working with suppliers across timezones, and staying up to date on industry trends.

Role Responsibilities:

• Assess and understand the needs of the buyers and manufacturers that Valdera serves
• Source, build, and maintain strong relationships with new suppliers
• Rapidly find and connect a high volume of relevant suppliers to each of our buyers' needs
• Help buyers close deals and execute high volume, multi-geography raw material purchases (specifications, finance & logistics)
• Develop and implement negotiation strategies to deliver cost savings, reduced lead time, and a wide range of options for buyers
• Build scalable methods and best practices for managing several sourcing and raw material projects simultaneously
• Onboard suppliers onto the Valdera platform and provide a frictionless experience integrating with our system

Experience & Qualifications:

• 3-5 years of experience in a strategic sourcing or direct materials procurement role.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, chemistry, chemical engineering, supply chain, or related field a nice to have
• Extensive knowledge of chemicals / raw materials and relevant technical expertise in reviewing RFQs (TDS, SDS, COA, etc.). 
• Experience owning several technical raw material projects and stakeholders simultaneously as an individual contributor. 
• Strong ability to identify alternate or offset materials by reviewing technical documentation and product chemistry.
• Experience managing supplier relationships and providing continued support.
• Strong understanding of buyer requirements as it pertains to their material end use.
• Proactive problem solving ability - you are experienced in identifying and tracking any market challenges and using that knowledge to inform decision making.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• History of quickly learning new skills required to deliver value in (almost) any business situation
• Experience with navigating ambiguous problems

Salary Range: $60-90k USD

Salary ranges are determined by multiple factors, including the labor market, market compensation bands, internal parity, and budget considerations. The final offer will be based on the candidate’s individual skills, qualifications, location, and experience relative to the requirements of the role.

Benefits:

Valdera offers generous benefits to employees. Full time employees are eligible for premium healthcare, dental, and vision insurance coverage. You will be provided a more detailed breakdown of your options prior to joining Valdera.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

Valdera is an equal-opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and celebrate a culture that values varied perspectives, skills, and experiences. We are dedicated to maintaining a workplace free from discrimination, where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute.