Commodity Manager- Steel
About the role
Altec is a leading provider of products and services for the electric utility, telecommunications, tree care, lights and signs, and contractor markets. For nearly a century, Altec has been committed to helping customers safely and reliably build and maintain critical infrastructure. At Altec, our values guide everything we do: Customer First, Enjoyment of Work, Family, Financial Stability, Integrity, People Are Our Greatest Strength, Quality, Spiritual Development, Teamwork. We offer a collaborative environment where associates are empowered to innovate, solve complex challenges, and make meaningful contributions to our customers and communities.
Altec is seeking an experienced professional to join our Strategic Sourcing team, located in St. Joseph, Missouri, as a Commodity Manager – Steel. This role is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies, managing supplier relationships, negotiating agreements, identifying cost reduction opportunities, and ensuring continuity of supply for steel commodities supporting manufacturing operations. While steel is the primary focus of this position, the Commodity Manager may also support other commodity categories. Category assignments and areas of responsibility may be adjusted over time based on business needs, organizational structure, workload, and staffing. The successful candidate will partner closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Materials, and Quality teams across the organization to support both current production and future business growth.
As part of our long-term succession planning and procurement strategy, Altec is recruiting for multiple Commodity Manager disciplines, including: Steel, Composites, Electrical Components, MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Operations), Market Pricing & Commodity Intelligence. Candidates whose experience aligns with more than one discipline are encouraged to review and apply for other Commodity Manager opportunities that match their background and interests.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute sourcing strategies for steel commodities supporting manufacturing operations.
- Create, negotiate, implement, and manage short- and long-term commodity supply agreements.
- Develop, identify, and implement cost reduction strategies that deliver measurable results.
- Research and evaluate suppliers, market conditions, pricing trends, availability, and supply chain risks.
- Develop and maintain a robust supplier network that supports quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
- Lead supplier qualification, development, and performance improvement initiatives.
- Partner closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to support current production and future business needs.
- Monitor industry trends and maintain awareness of developments affecting steel supply, pricing, and availability.
- Drive year-over-year material cost improvements within assigned commodity areas.
- Serve as the primary escalation point for supplier-related quality, delivery, and service concerns.
- Support new product development activities through supplier engagement and sourcing expertise.
- Coach and support purchasing and materials team members on commodity trends, supplier capabilities, and cost management opportunities.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree.
- Six years of applicable experience in procurement, supply chain, manufacturing, engineering, materials management, operations, or a related field.
- Strong supplier-management and negotiation experience.
- Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to develop sourcing strategies and evaluate supplier performance.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
- Should the selected candidate meet the qualifications of a more experienced level within the career path, the job level may be adjusted.