Senior Sourcing Specialist in Nailsea

• Job Type: Full-time contract, 6 months
• Work Model: Onsite

Summary

• The ITO (Inquiry to Order) Fabrication Sourcing Specialist is responsible for supporting the commercial and technical evaluation of supplier quotations for fabrication, machining, welding, assembly, and manufacturing scopes during the bid phase.

The role works closely with Sales, Commercial Operations, Engineering, Quality, Project Management, and Suppliers to develop competitive sourcing strategies that maximize Client' chances of winning business while ensuring compliance with quality, delivery, and commercial requirements.

• The position is accountable for obtaining supplier quotations, analysing cost drivers, identifying savings opportunities, assessing supplier capability, mitigating supply chain risk, and delivering sourcing recommendations to support bid submissions and strategic growth objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Bid and Proposal Support
• Lead sourcing activities for fabrication-related RFQs during the ITO phase.
• Develop sourcing strategies that achieve competitive pricing while maintaining required technical and quality standards.
• Engage suppliers early in the bidding process to secure budgetary and firm quotations.
• Support commercial bid reviews by providing sourcing recommendations, market intelligence, and risk assessments.
• Drive supplier participation and ensure quotation responses are received within required bid timelines.
• Collaborate with Commercial Operations and Sales teams to support proposal development and bid submission.
• Supplier Quotation Management
• Issue RFQs to approved suppliers for fabrication, machining, welding, coating, pressure-containing components, and assembly services.
• Evaluate supplier quotations for commercial competitiveness, technical compliance, delivery capability, and contractual alignment.
• Conduct total cost analysis, including logistics, duties, local content requirements, and commercial terms.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times, warranty provisions, and commercial conditions.
• Maintain accurate bid documentation and quotation evaluation records.
• Cost Optimization
• Identify cost reduction opportunities through competitive bidding, supplier consolidation, alternative sourcing strategies, and market benchmarking.
• Challenge supplier pricing and cost assumptions to improve bid competitiveness.
• Support development and implementation of Long-Term Agreements (LTAs) and framework agreements with key fabrication suppliers.
• Leverage should-cost principles and market knowledge to improve overall sourcing performance.
• Supplier Management
• Maintain relationships with strategic fabrication suppliers globally.
• Assess supplier capacity, financial stability, technical capability, and execution risk.
• Support supplier qualification, development, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Monitor market conditions affecting fabrication costs, raw materials, labour, and manufacturing capacity.
• Work closely with Supplier Quality and Engineering teams to ensure supplier compliance with Client requirements.
• Risk Management
• Identify and communicate sourcing risks associated with capacity constraints, long lead materials, geopolitical issues, financial exposure, and delivery performance.
• Develop mitigation plans to address identified risks.
• Support supplier financial risk reviews and due diligence activities.
• Ensure business continuity plans are considered for critical fabrication scopes.
• Stakeholder Collaboration

• Work cross-functionally with

o Commercial Operations o Sales o Engineering o Supplier Quality o Manufacturing o Project Management o Finance o Legal and Contracting

• Participate in bid review meetings and provide sourcing guidance throughout the proposal process.
• Support transition of awarded projects from ITO to OTR (Order to Remittance).

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, or equivalent experience.
• Significant experience in sourcing, procurement, fabrication supply chain management, or manufacturing environments.
• Experience supporting commercial bids, proposals, or project execution activities.
• Knowledge of fabrication processes including welding, machining, assembly, coating, and pressure-containing equipment manufacturing.
• Strong commercial negotiation and supplier management experience.
• Experience with ERP systems and sourcing tools.

Desired Characteristics

• Strong analytical and financial acumen.
• Ability to influence stakeholders across multiple functions.
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills.
• Effective project and time management capability.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced bid environment with multiple competing priorities.
• Strong understanding of supplier cost structures and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to identify and mitigate sourcing risks proactively.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on value creation.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• ITO savings and cost avoidance achieved.
• Bid competitiveness improvement.
• RFQ response rate.
• On-time quotation completion.
• Supplier engagement and participation levels.
• Risk identification and mitigation effectiveness.
• Strategic supplier coverage and capacity agreements.
• Compliance to sourcing and quotation evaluation processes.

Typical Scope of Influence

• Fabrication and manufacturing supplier spend associated with bid opportunities.
• Strategic supplier selection decisions during the proposal phase.
• Cost competitiveness of Client bids.
• Supply chain risk management for fabrication scopes.
• Supplier capacity and market intelligence supporting growth objectives.

This role serves as the primary sourcing focal point for fabrication-related bid activities, ensuring Client secures competitive, technically compliant, and commercially robust supplier solutions during the Inquiry-to-Order process.