Strategic Sourcing And Category Manager

About the role

The Strategic Sourcing and Category Manager will play a crucial role in managing and optimizing the company's procurement strategy, focusing on mechanical components and electronics. They will be responsible for developing and executing strategic agreements, managing supplier relationships, and driving cost reductions.

Responsibilities

• Understand total spend, pricing structure, commercial terms and trends for raw materials, purchased finished products, and manufactured assemblies with a particular knowledge of market dynamics and supply chain in electronics.
• Develop strategic electronics category roadmaps, which include identifying and developing new suppliers for potential savings capture and new product development opportunities.
• Review electronic assembly BOMs, technical drawings, and engineering specifications to determine strategic sourcing decisions and provide manufacturing readiness feedback.
• Manage Purchase Price Variance (PPV) containment and avoidance solutions minimizing negative P&L impact while maintaining material availability to support manufacturing operations.
• Monitor overall supplier performance with assigned categories and develop & implement corrective action and recovery plans as required alongside Supplier Quality Engineering.
• Lead Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) activities for electronics categories including the management of current year savings as well as the development of multi-year savings pipelines.
• Collaborate with various internal stakeholders including Engineering, Product Line Management, Project Management, Field Operators, and Finance partners.
• Conduct and assess RFQs/RFPs/RFIs, negotiations, supplier evaluations, and determine supplier selection for direct spend on mechanical related categories.
• Support End of Life products and part legacy support workstreams with the development and execution of strategies to sustain operations and revenue expectations.
• Implement performance management processes, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) metrics, and measurement dashboards to ensure supplier performance and key initiatives.
• Provide strong technical direction within the electrical categories by evaluating and guiding product strategy throughout the product development and manufacturing lifecycles.
• Develop & execute strategic agreements (NDA/JDA/MSA) alongside legal counsel that support business initiatives and expectations taking into account fixed and variable costs, lead-times, schedules, manufacturing capacities, and IP protection.
• Identify and develop business cases for a healthy year-over-year cost reduction pipeline with suppliers through should costing, process improvement, and innovative strategies.
• Advocate on behalf of the PSM organization function with business units and operational partners to ensure support for core business objectives.
• Analyze, select/recommend, approve, and audit suppliers based upon supplier evaluation metrics relative to procurement, engineering, quality, and manufacturing requirements.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Communicate complex information confidently to senior executives.
• Motivate self and drive results with a flexible, dynamic, and proactive approach.
• Think strategically and develop the organization’s future state strategy.
• Show strong business acumen and advocate for the organization’s objectives.
• Have a proven track record in leadership roles within sourcing and procurement organizations and transformations.
• Be willing to travel 10% or more as required including but not limited to any business-specific requirements for training or last-minute mitigation items.

Requirements

• 10+ years of strategic sourcing, procurement, and relevant category experience in direct spend, focus on mechanical domains.
• Significant background with mechanical component demand-supply cycles with varied approaches in partnering with suppliers to ensure high demand-supply alignment in a volatile environment.
• Well-versed in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis to ensure data-driven analytics tied to component and supplier selection, in a product-based ecosystem.
• Ability to interact and negotiate with Key suppliers and internal stakeholders on key contracts and services while negotiating in complex and ever-changing environments.
• Expertise across a complex set of electronics and electrical spend categories, including knowledge of marketplace dynamics, supplier profiles, current events, and technical processes/capabilities.
• Experience with ERP systems, Spend Data Analytics & Reporting, eSourcing, and contract management systems required.
• Identify and develop business cases for a healthy year-over-year cost reduction pipeline with suppliers through should costing, process improvement, and innovative strategies.
• Advocate on behalf of the PSM organization function with business units and operational partners to ensure support for core business objectives.
• Analyze, select/recommend, approve, and audit suppliers based upon supplier evaluation metrics relative to procurement, engineering, quality, and manufacturing requirements.
• Strong leadership and collaboration skills to build and maintain trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to confidently present complex information to senior executives.
• A flexible, dynamic, self-demanding, and proactive individual; able to motivate him/herself.
• Ability to think strategically and develop the organization’s future state strategy.
• Strong Business Acumen – the ability to understand challenges through the eyes of the business leaders.
• Agile and strategic leader with proven results and the ability to collaborate across multiple business functions leveraging facts and data to influence.
• Proven track record in leadership roles within sourcing and procurement organizations and transformations.
• Willingness to travel 10% or more as required including but not limited to any business-specific requirements for training or last-minute mitigation items.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree: Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or Business Administration is required; Master’s/MBA preferred.
• Certifications: Supply Chain Management, Purchasing, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt or PMP desired.
• Expert understanding of purchasing policies, procedures, practices, and the value and use of procure-to-pay (P2P) digital platforms.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Power Point, Excel, Word, Visio), SAP, Oracle and/or Ariba.
• Advanced understanding of electronics supply landscapes, manufacturing, and product lifecycles.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and adapt to changing business needs and priorities.

Skills

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent negotiation and relationship-building abilities.
• Data-driven decision-making skills.
• Supplier management and contract negotiation experience.
• Technical understanding of mechanical and electrical components.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Effective communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Benefits

Our client offers competitive compensation and benefits, including:

• $50-$65/hr salary depending on experience level.
• Flexible schedule of 40 hours per week.
• Comprehensive health insurance options.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Employee assistance programs.
• Regular performance reviews and feedback.
• Opportunities for career growth and advancement.

Pay

$50-$65/hr (depending on experience level).

Schedule

Full-time, 40 hours per week.

Benefits

Comprehensive health insurance options, paid time off and holidays, professional development opportunities, employee assistance programs, regular performance reviews and feedback, and opportunities for career growth and advancement.

Company Overview

Peterson Technology Partners (PTP) is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating a transparent, inclusive, and human-centered hiring experience. For more than 28 years, PTP has operated as a premier Information Technology (IT) staffing, consulting, and recruiting firm built on trust, long-term partnerships, and technical excellence. Based in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge, IL, our team of more than 500 employees and consultants is dedicated to helping every client make the best hiring decisions possible.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Peterson Technology Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.