Lead, Strategic Sourcing NPI Sr.

About the role

Polaris Inc. is a global leader in powersports, pioneering product breakthroughs and enriching experiences and services that invite people to discover the joy of being outdoors. This role is part of the Strategic Business Unit focused on driving change and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing activities for new product programs from development through production launch, ensuring achievement of key milestones, quality standards, and schedule commitments.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies that align vehicle platform needs with broader category sourcing objectives and long-term business plans.
• Manage supplier selection, pilot builds, quality planning activities, PPAP completion, and production ramp-up readiness.
• Absess supply chain risks, develop mitigation plans, and provide regular project status updates to leadership teams.
• Manage sourcing-related financial objectives, including Bill of Materials (BOM), Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), should-cost analysis, tooling expenditures, and overall cost performance.
• Cook up cross-functional efforts among Engineering, Operations, Product Management, Strategic Sourcing, and suppliers to achieve program objectives and resolve issues.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities against program requirements and partner with sourcing teams to address gaps or identify new supplier solutions as needed.
• Facilitate the transition of materials management responsibilities from development teams to production teams to support stable manufacturing operations.
• Develop, standardize, and continuously improve NPI sourcing processes and best practices.
• Mentor and support less experienced team members while contributing to organizational sourcing strategy and capability development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in product development, supply chain, sourcing, project management or related disciplines.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to influence stakeholders without direct authority.
• Experience managing complex projects with competing priorities and multiple stakeholders.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, including the ability to present information to senior and executive leadership.
• Demonstrated analytical, decision-making, negotiation, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Effective time management, prioritization, and organizational skills.

Desired Competencies

• Leadership: Inspire, guide, and empower others to achieve their best by setting clear direction, fostering trust, and creating an environment where people feel supported, motivated, and accountable for delivering results.
• Critical Thinking: Analyze information objectively, evaluate options, and apply sound judgment to solve problems and make informed decisions.
• Collaboration: Work effectively with others across functions and levels, contributing to shared goals while respecting different perspectives.
• Project Management: Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional projects through a structured product development or phase-gate process, ensuring milestones, deliverables, risks, and stakeholder expectations are effectively managed.