Sourcing Project Lead

Sourcing Project Lead | Onsite in Glen Allen, VA | Pay: $27 - $38/hr | 6-month contract-to-hire Job Description The Sourcing Project Lead coordinates and drives all external supply chain activities from project kick-off through execution and close-out, ensuring alignment with the overall project strategy and objectives. This role maintains and executes the sourcing strategy, leads and coordinates external supply chain activities within the project team, and ensures that cost, schedule, quality, and contractual commitments are consistently achieved. Responsibilities • Define and execute the external supply chain strategy with key stakeholders in line with project requirements, timelines, and objectives. • Prepare a comprehensive external supply chain project plan that covers strategy, schedule, budget, and all relevant information needed from the external supply chain for the project. • Achieve project savings targets by applying standard sourcing levers while meeting cost, schedule, and quality requirements. • Coordinate external supply chain activities with category managers for assigned projects to ensure alignment and consistency. • Collaborate with Category Managers to develop new suppliers and identify alternative sources of materials and raw materials, with a focus on high quality, low cost, and best cost country (BCC) sourcing. • Participate in project planning, scheduling, and production control to ensure supply chain activities support overall project milestones. • Maintain the project purchasing dashboard using standard tools, ensuring data accuracy and timely updates. • Consolidate and validate internal and external budgets related to sourcing, logistics, and quality for the project. • Track project costs and schedule variances, and take proactive actions to prevent or correct deviations from budget and plan. • Interface regularly with project management and engineering teams to maintain material targets and sourcing resource requirements. • Identify critical and strategic suppliers in collaboration with category management to support project success. • Maintain a strong focus on project objectives, including contractual conditions, purchasing budgets, planning, and quality targets. • Anticipate available discounts and ensure adherence to the committed budget. • Set and manage external supply chain planning for purchasing and delivery teams, ensuring consistency with overall project planning. • Work closely with the external supply chain team to achieve project milestones, on-time deliveries, and compliance with internal and external deadlines for supply chain deliverables. • Summarize and report on external supply chain activities for the project, providing clear updates to stakeholders. • Review the project external supply chain budget, risk and opportunities matrix with stakeholders and functional management, and ensure progress, updates, and mitigation actions are in place. • Comply with and enforce company procedures and processes related to sourcing, procurement, and supply chain. • Participate in best cost country (BCC) sourcing initiatives to optimize purchasing value. • Identify underperforming or non-performing suppliers during the project life cycle and support corrective actions or supplier changes as needed. • Participate in Value Analysis projects and Kaizen blitz initiatives to improve sourcing performance and efficiency. • Use company software applications such as SAP, Pyramid, DMT, Vault Document Storage, and Microsoft applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) to manage sourcing and project documentation. • Perform other related duties as assigned by management to support project and organizational objectives. Essential Skills • Bachelor’s degree. • Minimum of 5 years of experience in progressively responsible roles in purchasing, strategic sourcing, or supply chain, or a combination of recent internships and experience with a demonstrated strategic mindset. • Proven project-based purchasing experience, not limited to transactional or surface-level purchasing of materials. • Demonstrated negotiation experience, including familiarity with legal and contractual language beyond basic price and date terms. • Strong communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to interact effectively with internal and external stakeholders. • ERP system experience, preferably with SAP, and the ability to work effectively within such systems. • Solid analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret data and drive decisions. • Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, prioritize tasks, multi-task, and organize work effectively. • Ability to operate in a “triangle” model, collaborating closely with Engineering and Project Management teams. • Capability to read and understand engineering drawings and communicate technical information clearly to internal and external customers. • Flexibility and adaptability to changing priorities and project demands. Additional Skills & Qualifications • Experience in strategic sourcing within a project environment. • Exposure to or experience with best cost country (BCC) sourcing. • Experience participating in Value Analysis and continuous improvement initiatives such as Kaizen blitz projects. • Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. • Experience using enterprise tools such as SAP, Pyramid, DMT, and document management systems like Vault. • Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to align multiple functions around sourcing and supply chain objectives. Work Environment This role is based in an office environment within a modern, well-appointed building that offers a collaborative and supportive culture. You will work closely with approximately 10 other Sourcing Project Leads on-site, as well as additional colleagues who collaborate virtually. The workspace is primarily a cubicle-based office setting, designed to support focused work and frequent interaction with project, engineering, and supply chain teams. The position offers a hybrid work arrangement, typically requiring two days per week in the office, with a slightly higher on-site presence during initial training. Standard office technologies and equipment are used, including ERP systems, document management tools, and Microsoft Office applications. The culture emphasizes growth, professional development, and long-term opportunities, with the potential to transition from contract to a permanent role for strong performers. Attire is typical of a professional office environment. Job Type & Location This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Glen Allen, VA. Pay And Benefits The pay range for this position is $27.50 - $38.50/hr. Requirements Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Glen Allen,VA. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Jul 20, 2026. About Aston Carter Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options. San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.