Strategic Supplier LeaderContract Manufacturing, North AmericaPosition SummaryThis role sits within a growing and strategically important area of Schneider Electric's supply chain, with the opportunity to shape supplier partnerships, commercial strategies, and capabilities that support future business growth.
The Senior Manager, Strategic Supplier Leader owns the commercial relationship and multi-million-dollar spend portfolio for key contract manufacturers supporting North America. Working in a highly matrixed organization, this role partners with Line of Business leaders, manufacturing clusters, Procurement, and cross-functional teams to drive supplier competitiveness, productivity, capacity, risk management, and long-term value creation.
Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Supplier Leadership- Develop and execute multi-year supplier roadmaps aligned with business priorities, covering growth, competitiveness, capacity, technology, productivity, and risk.
- Build strategic relationships with supplier leadership and ensure capacity, investment, and technology plans support current and future business needs.
- Lead executive supplier governance and Supplier Business Reviews.
- Lead the commercial aspects of new product introductions, supplier transfers, outsourcing initiatives, and business transitions.
Strategic Sourcing & Commercial Management- Lead strategic RFQs, supplier selections, commercial negotiations, sourcing decisions, and business awards.
- Develop fact-based negotiation strategies using should-cost analysis, cost transparency, market intelligence, benchmarks, volume leverage, and competitive alternatives.
- Negotiate pricing, productivity, payment terms, capacity commitments, and other key commercial conditions.
Contracts & Commercial Governance- Lead the negotiation and management of Master Services Agreements (MSAs), Statements of Work (SOWs), Business Agreements (BAs), and other supplier commercial agreements.
- Partner with Legal and key stakeholders to establish appropriate commercial protections, performance requirements, and supplier commitments.
- Ensure contractual commitments are implemented and remain aligned with evolving business requirements.
Productivity & Value Creation- Own the supplier productivity roadmap, including Quality Value Engineering (QVE), Change of Supplier (CoS), commercial negotiations, and other cost-reduction initiatives.
- Build and execute a sustainable productivity pipeline through cost transparency, supplier collaboration, competitive sourcing, and commercial optimization.
Supplier Performance & Risk- Drive supplier performance across Quality, Service, Cost, Cash, Productivity, and Sustainability.
- Lead commercial escalations and supplier recovery when commitments are not met.
- Identify and mitigate commercial, capacity, financial, geopolitical, tariff, and supply continuity risks.
Key Performance IndicatorsSuccess in this role will be measured through:
- Achievement of annual productivity and cost savings targets, including QVE, CoS, negotiated savings, cost competitiveness, and cost transparency.
- Supplier performance across Quality, Service, Cost, Cash, Productivity, and Sustainability.
- Strategic sourcing and commercial execution, including RFQs, business awards, contract coverage, and compliance.
- Supplier readiness and risk mitigation supporting business growth and continuity.
- Commercial escalation and supplier recovery effectiveness.
- Execution of multi-year supplier roadmaps and governance.
Required Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related field.
- Minimum 10 years of experience in strategic procurement, sourcing, supplier management, contract manufacturing, or commercial leadership.
- Proven experience leading complex, high-value RFQs, supplier selections, commercial negotiations, and sourcing decisions in a contract manufacturing environment.
- Experience negotiating and managing complex supplier commercial agreements, including MSAs, SOWs, and BAs.
- Experience developing should-cost, landed-cost, and total cost of ownership models, including tariffs, duties, logistics, and other key cost drivers.
- Working knowledge of USMCA requirements, Mexico's IMMEX program, and tariff mitigation strategies.
- Strong financial and business acumen with demonstrated ability to evaluate commercial trade-offs, investments, and business cases.
- Strong leadership, negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with demonstrated ability to influence across a highly matrixed, cross-functional, and cross-cultural organization.
- Fluent written and spoken English.
Preferred Qualifications- Master's degree or MBA.
- Spanish or Mandarin Chinese language proficiency.
Travel & RelocationApproximately 25-30% travel within North America.
Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates.
What's in it for me?- High-impact role with visibility and the opportunity to shape global supply chain strategy
- Lead sustainability initiatives and drive meaningful change across the supplier network
- Collaborative, innovative culture that values expertise and invests in your growth
- Access to development programs, mentorship, and global career opportunities
Bring your procurement expertise to a team that's ready to welcome you - apply today!
