Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Sourcing & Category Management
- Develop and execute global sourcing and category strategies aligned with business objectives.
- Lead strategic sourcing activities for:
- Metals and metal-related components
- Machined parts
- High-volume parts suppliers
- Mechanical assemblies
- Fabricated components
- OEM/distribution products
- Miscellaneous mechanical components
- Tier 2 mechanical suppliers
- Support strategic sourcing and supplier management initiatives for IT hardware and software, professional services, travel/P-Card spend, legal services, and marketing services.
- Analyze spend, market conditions, supplier capabilities, cost drivers, and business requirements to identify opportunities for cost reduction, supplier consolidation, and improved commercial terms.
- Develop category strategies, sourcing roadmaps, and pipelines of cost savings and cost-avoidance initiatives.
- Lead RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, competitive bidding, supplier evaluations, and sourcing events.
- Identify opportunities to leverage enterprise-wide purchasing volume and optimize the supplier base.
Direct Material Procurement- Manage strategic sourcing for metals, machined parts, fabricated components, mechanical assemblies, high-volume parts, OEM/distribution products, and other direct materials.
- Develop a strong understanding of manufacturing processes, materials, supplier capabilities, capacity constraints, and industry trends.
- Partner with Engineering and Operations on value engineering/value analysis, design optimization, product cost initiatives, and make-versus-buy decisions.
- Ensure suppliers can support current and future production requirements and business growth.
- Develop sourcing strategies that balance cost, quality, delivery, capacity, technology, and supply risk.
Supplier Relationship & Performance Management- Establish and maintain strong strategic relationships with key suppliers.
- Lead supplier selection, qualification, onboarding, development, and performance management.
- Monitor supplier quality, delivery, capacity, cost, service, and overall performance.
- Conduct regular supplier performance reviews and Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs).
- Establish measurable supplier performance objectives and drive corrective actions when requirements are not met.
- Serve as the primary escalation point for significant supplier quality, delivery, capacity, commercial, and service issues.
- Collaborate with suppliers on capacity planning, technology capabilities, product roadmaps, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Develop and execute negotiation strategies that achieve business objectives and reduce total cost of ownership.
- Drive year-over-year cost savings and cost avoidance through competitive sourcing, supplier negotiations, supplier consolidation, benchmarking, value engineering, process improvements, and market intelligence.
- Conduct total cost, pricing, benchmarking, and should-cost analysis.
- Monitor commodity, raw material, labor, logistics, technology, and market trends affecting supplier pricing.
- Negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times, capacity commitments, service levels, warranties, and other commercial terms.
- Establish measurable savings targets and maintain visibility to the sourcing pipeline and realized savings.
Contract & Commercial Management- Negotiate and manage supplier commercial agreements across assigned categories.
- Ensure NDAs, SOWs, purchase agreements, master service agreements, software agreements, and other applicable contracts are executed in a timely manner.
- Manage the contract lifecycle, including renewals, amendments, pricing reviews, and changes to commercial terms.
- Partner with Legal and internal stakeholders to ensure appropriate contractual protections and compliance.
- Maintain accurate documentation of sourcing decisions, supplier agreements, pricing, and commercial terms.
Required Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, Finance, or a related discipline.
- Master's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Supply Chain, or a related field preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, category management, procurement, or supplier management.
- Significant experience managing direct procurement and manufacturing-related categories, particularly metals, machined parts, mechanical components, fabrication, assemblies, and/or high-volume parts.
- Experience with strategic sourcing and supplier management across global supply markets.
- Experience with one or more strategic indirect categories such as IT, software, professional services, legal, marketing, travel, or P-Card spend.
- Strong technical understanding of mechanical manufacturing processes, materials, supplier capabilities, and cost drivers.
- Proven experience selecting, developing, and managing strategic suppliers.
- Strong contract and commercial negotiation experience.
- Demonstrated track record of measurable annual cost savings and cost avoidance.
- Experience with benchmarking, should-cost analysis, pricing analysis, and total cost of ownership.
- Proven ability to manage supplier capacity, performance, and supply-chain risk.
- Excellent negotiation, communication, influencing, and stakeholder-management skills.
- Demonstrated ability to influence and communicate effectively with senior leadership.
- Strong analytical and project management capabilities.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Microsoft Excel.
- Ability to prioritize multiple initiatives and operate effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
