Procurement Sourcing Specialist

As a Procurement Sourcing Specialist at Forge, your primary responsibilities involve sourcing and securing all critical materials essential for cGMP manufacturing programs. This includes developing relationships with manufacturers, negotiating material availability and costs, and ensuring that all sourced materials meet quality and regulatory standards. You will also analyze inventory trends and collaborate with internal and external teams to enhance procurement processes.

To qualify for the Procurement Sourcing Specialist role at Forge, you must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in a related field and have at least three years of experience in procurement and supply chain management. Knowledge of procurement processes, strategic supplier management, and familiarity with ISO or similar systems is required. Experience in biopharmaceutical manufacturing is preferred, but a self-motivated attitude and strong teamwork skills are essential.

The Procurement Sourcing Specialist significantly impacts Forge's supply chain operations by ensuring the availability of high-quality materials to support gene therapy manufacturing. By identifying risks and implementing new sourcing strategies, the Specialist minimizes financial and operational risks, enabling teams to meet project deadlines and maintain production efficiency.

Success as a Procurement Sourcing Specialist at Forge requires strong negotiation skills, analytical thinking to assess inventory trends and vendor performance, and the ability to build relationships with suppliers. Additionally, proficiency with ERP/MRP systems, a keen attention to detail, and the capacity to work autonomously or in teams are crucial for thriving in this role.

The work environment for a Procurement Sourcing Specialist at Forge is collaborative and dynamic. You will work with skilled professionals across various departments, allowing for a team-oriented approach to problem-solving. Forge values a patient-first philosophy, and this commitment fosters a culture of innovation, making it an exciting place to contribute to meaningful projects in gene therapy.

In your response, highlight specific experiences where you've managed the procurement cycle, detailing how you sourced materials, negotiated with suppliers, and ensured compliance with quality standards. Emphasize your ability to handle challenges and how you prioritized vendor relationships to enhance supply chain efficiency.

Discuss your strategies for identifying potential risks in the supply chain and the steps you take to mitigate them. Mention any tools or metrics you use to assess suppliers and how your proactive approach has led to sustained supply chain security in past roles.

Share specific techniques you've applied in past negotiations, such as gathering competitive pricing data, understanding supplier limitations, and building mutually beneficial contracts. Provide examples that demonstrate your negotiation success and how these strategies benefitted your previous employer.

Describe your approach to ensuring quality control, including how you evaluate suppliers and materials against quality standards and regulatory requirements. Mention any inspection processes or audits you've overseen or participated in that helped maintain high-quality supply chains.

Explain how you leverage data analysis in procurement processes, such as analyzing inventory trends and supplier performance metrics. Discuss how changes you made based on data insights led to improved efficiency or cost savings, demonstrating your analytical skills.

Provide a detailed account of a sourcing project you managed, from inception to completion. Highlight the challenges you faced, the solutions you implemented, and the outcomes of the project. This will illustrate your leadership skills and ability to drive results.

Describe a specific instance where you faced a conflict, detailing how you approached the situation to find a resolution. Showcase your diplomacy and problem-solving skills while demonstrating your commitment to maintaining strong supplier relationships.

Discuss your familiarity with specific ERP or MRP systems and how these tools have been beneficial in managing procurement processes. Highlight dates, examples of how you utilized these systems for tracking orders, managing inventory, and improving supplier communication.

Explain your time management skills and how you would assess project urgency and impact when prioritizing. Provide examples of past scenarios where you successfully managed competing deadlines while still maintaining quality and meeting goals.

Be honest about the challenges you face, whether it's vendor negotiations, quality assurance, or supply chain disruptions. Which areas do you find most rewarding? This way, you can display your genuine interest in the position and your proactive mindset towards overcoming obstacles.