About the Role
As a Sourcing Manager, you will play a key role in shaping the supplier network behind Specialized’s next generation of products. This role is designed for someone who can bring practical sourcing experience, strong supplier management skills, and a solid understanding of manufacturing environments to quickly contribute to ongoing programs and supplier activities.
You will partner closely with Product Management, Engineering, Quality, Partner Management, and suppliers to evaluate manufacturing capabilities, support sourcing decisions, manage RFQs, analyze costs, and follow through on supplier readiness for new product development and production scale-up. The role requires someone who can operate independently, manage multiple sourcing activities in parallel, and work effectively across both technical and commercial discussions.
Experience in the bicycle industry, especially working with component suppliers or highly engineered manufacturing processes, will be highly valuable in this role. Direct exposure to carbon frame manufacturing, composite components, or suppliers using carbon production processes will be considered a strong advantage, as the team continues to strengthen sourcing capability in this area.
How You Will Make a Difference
Manage sourcing activities for assigned components from RFQ through supplier selection, negotiation, and production support.
Lead RFQ execution, quotation collection, cost comparison, supplier follow-up, and cross-functional alignment.
Evaluate supplier capability, manufacturing readiness, cost drivers, lead time, quality risks, and capacity constraints.
Support sourcing decisions for carbon frames, composite components, and other assigned component categories.
Partner closely with Product Management, Engineering, Quality, Partner Management, and suppliers to align technical, commercial, and project requirements.
Build strong working relationships with suppliers and support timely resolution of sourcing, cost, quality, delivery, and communication issues.
Support cost target setting, cost tracking, benchmarking, and commercial negotiations within defined guidelines.
Maintain accurate supplier quotations, sourcing records, cost data, and project updates in company systems.
Identify sourcing risks and supplier performance gaps, then work with internal teams and suppliers to follow through on corrective actions.
What You Need to Win
At least 5 years of sourcing, procurement, supplier management, or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment.
Proven experience managing RFQs, supplier quotations, cost analysis, supplier follow-up, and commercial negotiations.
Experience working with Asia-based manufacturing suppliers and cross-functional product development teams.
Bicycle industry experience, especially in sourcing, supplier management, or component manufacturing, is strongly preferred.
Direct experience sourcing carbon frames, composite components, or managing suppliers using carbon manufacturing processes will be considered a significant advantage.
Good understanding of supplier capability assessment, manufacturing processes, cost drivers, quality expectations, and production readiness.
Familiarity with carbon composite manufacturing processes such as layup, molding, bonding, curing, finishing/painting, or related supplier operations is preferred.
Strong coordination skills with Engineering, Quality, Product Management, and external suppliers.
Practical knowledge of sourcing systems, PLM, Oracle, Microsoft Office tools, Confluence, or JIRA.
Clear communication, good follow-through, and the ability to manage multiple sourcing activities in parallel.
Practical, detail-oriented, and execution-focused mindset with the ability to work independently within established processes.