Category Manager - Kentucky, United States - StraussGroup - Executive Search Consultants

Description

THE POSITION

The Global Sourcing Manager leads the Strategic Sourcing efforts for the Nicholasville, KY, manufacturing plant. This includes creating cost estimates and forecasts, negotiating cost-effective contracts with key suppliers, and developing new supplier partnerships on a global level. This person interfaces with the supply chain team and helps them perform at a high level.

This role is also a key partner in the Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) process. He or She uses deep analytics to understand how to best align manufacturing and their suppliers to meet customer sales expectations.

This position reports to the Operations Director, and is also a member of the President's Leadership Team. The comapny requires someone in this position who is an independent thinker, is collaborative, and who takes the initiative. Someone with the experience to know what needs to be done to maintain a world-class supply chain. Government contracting experience is a plus. Knowledge and experience with global suppliers and low-cost country sourcing is required. An accomplished strategic sourcing manager will be someone whose expertise translates into higher profit margins and a competitive advantage.

Primary Responsibilities

• Managing a broad, highly mixed and/or technical category of parts, materials, equipment, and supplies, which will involve maintaining inventory levels at an appropriate level to achieve service and inventory targets. May involve contract negotiations, material deviation, and other complex considerations. Major categories include electronics, assembly, machining, stamping and casting.
• Evaluating sourcing procedures and presenting improvement strategies to senior management for approval.
• Analyzing and calculating procurement costs and developing cost reduction strategies.
• Driving purchasing decisions based on cost and scenario analysis, as well as market trends.
• Negotiating contracts with key suppliers, including costs and terms of supply, service, and quality.
• Collaborating with the engineering department to identify and pursue new supplier opportunities.
• Conducting market research, as well as creating cost estimates and forecasts.
• Estimating risks and applying risk minimizing techniques, as well as negotiating contracts that comply with industry regulations.
• Maintaining strategic sourcing relationships and developing strong partnerships.
• Promoting Safety and Environmental goals.
• Proactively challenges current processes and status quo to create a culture of continuous improvement.
• Communicates issues with material availability to the manufacturing, sales and customer service teams, and escalates appropriately to find resolution.
• Supports the SIOP process to ensure alignment between sales needs and product availability. Ensures efficient planning of new product promotions, new product introductions and product deletions.
• Manages supply base to include renewal of agreements and assisting suppliers in problem solving and tracking corrective actions.
• Drives for best practices within the Supply Chain to improve TCO.
• Maintains Quarterly Supplier Scorecard for Key Suppliers using standards of performance (KPI's). Conduct Quarterly Business Reviews with the Suppliers to go over the results.
• Administers and directs orders on a timely and economical basis with the best combination of price, quality, and delivery.
• Maintains system data accuracy, including requests for quotes.

COMPETENCIES

• Ability to "Think like the customer and deliver" is required.
• Ability to develop collaborative relationships with Planning, Sales, Customer Service, Manufacturing and Customers to improve service levels while lowering days-on-hand and meeting customer satisfaction. Being a great team player is necessary.
• Ability to independently troubleshoot issues/concerns, generate solutions and recommend a course of action that solves the underlying issue/concern.
• Ability to negotiate/ write effective commercial contracts for Purchase parts and/or service agreements.
• Ability to multi-task and demonstrate a strong sense of urgency for critical items.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to plan effectively to meet required targets.
• Ability to effectively and efficiently communicate and present to senior management through reports and presentations, simple and clear verbal, and written communication.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret documents such as general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); Power BI is beneficial.
• Must have a high level of independent judgment and analytical and leadership skills.
• Experience with Oracle NetSuite is highly preferred.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in business, economics, finance, logistics, or in a related field.
• Master's degree in business or specialization in advanced procurement management will be advantageous.
• At least four years' procurement experience in a related industry.
• Must have prior experience with global or regional sourcing processes/decisions. Prior purchasing experience involving spend of more than $20 million is beneficial. Experience sourcing from Asian suppliers strongly preferred.
• Superperb leadership and communication skills.
• Advanced ability to collaborate and negotiate.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Exceptional analytical and strategic thinking abilities.
• Willingness to travel to develop, promote, and maintain strategic sourcing relationships.
• Must have demonstrated experience with MRP/ERP/Procurement systems.
• APICS / ISM certification preferred (CPM, CPIM, CPP, CPSM).