We are looking for competitive people who like to win big and have fun doing it.  We place tremendous emphasis on creating a unique and positive company culture.  Most of our employees will tell you this is the best place they’ve ever worked.  We value high-energy people who like to work hard and play hard.  Our consumers are primarily rural people raising “kids, cows, and quarter horses,” so traditional values like God, family, and patriotism are essential virtues.  So, if you are enthusiastic and competitive, have a great attitude, have good communication skills, build relationships, love to win, and like ice cream – Mid-States is the place for you!  If you are not, please apply with our competitors! 

Overview

The Strategic Sourcing Specialist role is responsible for executing sourcing initiatives in a specific category; working with business stakeholders to ensure data accuracy and specification of materials and services being sourced/procured; providing customer relationship support and tracking vendor performance; and assessing elements of the supply base and help define, execute, and support strategic sourcing and procurement decisions.

What You Will Do:

• Assist with the collection, analysis, benchmarking, and reporting of category product development
• Sourcing suppliers and maintaining long-lasting relationships
• Obtain quotes from different suppliers
• Negotiating price, quantity, and delivery schedules with supplies
• Review build documents, pricing, purchase orders along with service agreements.
• Perform value analysis and total cost ownership analytic activities
• Monitor and report savings
• Provide solutions to improve company spending and outsourcing
• Participate in cross-functional teams to develop and implement product development

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, COMPETENCIES, AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in administration, logistics, supply chain, or related field or equivalent job experience
• Proven experience in sourcing processes
• Proficiency in Microsoft suits
• A thorough understanding of sourcing methodologies
• Strong negotiation skills
• Sound time-management and organizational skills
• Superior quantitative and qualitative analytical skills
• Retail or Consumer facing experience preferred

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling, some stooping, and significant fine finger dexterity.

TRAVEL: Must be able to travel internationally for weeks at a time    

OTHER DUTIES:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this position. Duties, obligations, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.Reasonable accommodations may enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

A few words from our COO:

Mid-States is truly the best company I have ever worked for.  We strive to provide a unique, exciting, fulfilling work environment for our staff.  We are cautious when we hire because we want to protect that environment.  Drama, laziness, and entitlement have no place in Mid-States.  Our company is very financially sound and growing like crazy.  If you are an enthusiastic, high-energy person with a positive attitude and the skills described above, you may have just found the last job you will ever apply for; I look forward to meeting you. – Jeff