Strategic Sourcing Specialist - Contract Manufactring

A client of ours in Elk Grove Village is looking for a 1st shift Strategic Sourcing Category Manager (Contract Manufacturing) for their world HQ in Elk Grove Village. They will be working from 8AM to 5:30PM and be working hand in hand with the Director of Procurement to stock and making $75k to the low $90k a year. See below for Director's notes.

Core Responsibilities:

The Strategic Sourcing Category Manager – Contract Manufacturing is responsible for leading the strategic sourcing, procurement and category management of the clients subcontract manufacturing supply base. This role will spend significant time with business unit partners to understand current and future needs for outsourced manufacturing. This role will determine the contract manufacturing strategy and design strategic procurement solutions to cover our external manufacturing needs. The role will work very closely with Project Management, Production, Estimating and other cross-functional stakeholders to determine appropriate manufacturing location (in/outsource decision process). In addition, this role will own and manage the strategic relationships with subcontract/contract manufacturers.

Project & Business Segment Support:

• Responsible for working with the Project Management, Production and Estimating teams starting as early as the project Ideation phase to understand manufacturing requirements as part of the input to the “Make vs. Buy” decision.
• Support the management of cost, schedule, and technical performance requirements on behalf of the company with existing and potential subcontract manufacturers.
• Act as subject matter expert (SME) for contract manufacturing including in-depth knowledge of market capabilities, economic and process cost drivers, supplier financials and market competition.
• Benchmark supply alternatives to competitively position best cost solutions.
• Gain a deep understanding of the company’s internal manufacturing capabilities and costs to model “Make vs. Buy” scenarios and decisions to maximize profitability.
• Lead/administer Request for Information, Proposals and Quotations (RFx) in support of potential revenue generating projects, business segment objectives and category management goals.
• Benchmark supply alternatives to competitively position best cost solutions; Build and maintain “should cost” financial models to understand cost structures in support of sourcing events and efforts to identify cost savings opportunities.
• Build consensus and drive alignment amongst key stakeholders in support of business segment goals and objectives.

Supply Base Category Management:

• Sourcing strategy development and deployment; rationalize/optimize the supply base; develop a pipeline of qualified, potential contract manufacturers capable of meeting the current and future business requirements.
• Lead supplier development and qualification including supplier assessments, improvement plans, and qualifications; Conduct ongoing business reviews and ensure suppliers are performing to contracted obligations and expected service levels.
• Ensure all contract manufacturing relationships are governed by commercial terms & conditions or contracts that align with company’s short and long-term business objectives; Negotiate, implement and manage contracts to ensure optimum costs and reliable supply.
• Management of supplier relationships; Identify opportunities to leverage existing supplier relationships, obtain price/cost reductions.
• Assess supplier and platform risks and develop appropriate contingency plans; Identifies all program level risks, issues and mitigation plans communicating / escalating all relevant items to the appropriate stakeholders

Skills & Abilities:

• Exceptional organizational and analytical skills, and a proven ability to drive complex projects with minimal oversight; Ability to set priorities, meet deadlines and multi-task with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated project management skills; Ability to manage multiple projects successfully.
• Flexible, self-starter, motivated and proactive individual with the ability to deal with ambiguity and changing priorities.
• Be a driving force, inspiration and coordinator for continuous process improvements; Identify opportunities to increase efficiency and eliminate non-value add activities
• Relentless drive for results; Bias for action.
• Removes barriers to move faster; Experiments and adapts; Thrives under pressure and fast pace.
• Highly logical and methodical problem-solving skills; Proactive problem-solver.
• Uses sound judgment, coupled with excellent negotiation skills up to the executive levels.

Qualifications/Experience:

• 6 to 8 years of experience in Sourcing or Category Management; preferably in category management of Subcontract/Contract Manufacturers.
• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• Make-to-Order (MTO) / Job Shop manufacturing experience highly desirable.
• Experience negotiating different types of contracting vehicles such as Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Statement of Work (SOW), Long Term Agreements (LTA) and Master Supply Agreement (MSA).
• Highly proficient verbal & written Communication skills
• Highly proficient with Microsoft Excel (e.g., Pivot tables, VLookup, formulas, etc.).