Commodity Manager

Location: Mankato, MN

Security Clearance: N/A

Job Summary:

The Commodity Manager plans, organizes and controls the sourcing of materials and services for a variety of commodities.
Implements global supply management strategies to achieve supplier partnerships, supplier base reduction, effective asset management, continuous quality improvement, delivery and cycle time performance improvement, and early supplier involvement in new product developments.

Key Responsibilities:

Negotiates and administers procurement contracts that encompass cost savings and delivery. Leads negotiations on strategic sourcing contracts, ensuring legally binding and auditable elements are accurately documented and retained. Selects, appoints and steers a supply base that progresses the objectives on cost, cash, service levels and technology platforms.
Develops, evaluates, and manages supplier relationships to accomplish material cost, availability and inventory goals.
Must analyze / troubleshoot quality problems and influence suppliers in the resolution process.
Maintains supplier quality through assessment, evaluation and ongoing monitoring which includes supplier performance management in the areas of delivery, process flexibility and total cost management.
Additionally, oversees supplier performance by performing periodic credit/organizational reviews, ensuring supplier site audits, and developing and reporting supplier performance metrics.
Acts like a liaison between suppliers and the company to troubleshoot, analyze and resolve issues as well as to deliver solutions to avoid supply interruption and adverse costs.
Procures and evaluates all necessary new materials for each phase of design process.
Coordinates supplier information gathering and visits: arranges engineering samples and leads the qualification process of new, updated or troublesome materials with suppliers and the company's inspection.
Supports production/new product introduction activity by serving as a member and/or materials resource on product development teams.
Designs, develops and implements commodity procurement plans, this includes managing the transition of new and existing business to the strategic suppliers.
Ensures a smooth and positive transition to customers.
Develops inventory targets, monitors phases of all processes to forecast fluctuations, and alerts teams of needed inventory adjustments
Develops and regularly monitors plan to minimize obsolete, out of date or any other scrap material in most efficient and cost effective manner.
Reviews, researches, designs, implements and monitors Vendor Managed inventory (VMI) programs (existing and future).
Provides leadership and direction to cross functional relationships with suppliers and Production, Quality, Finance departments as well as logistics planning.
Provides leadership in the research of new products/processes technologies.
Works closely with sales and engineering influencing design and material selection to ensure lowest cost materials/services at highest quality and on time delivery.
Monitors and manages external influences to cost and performance (short and long term) including economical, logistics, and environmental.
Routinely provides guidance and daily direction to buyers relative to business partners and suppliers.
Executes designated regulatory requirements, including country of origin certificates and other international shipping requirements.
Researches and assigns Harmonized Tariff Codes to purchased parts.
Monitors market technology and trends. Keeps the business aware of necessary movement in the industry relevant to the production and sourcing/purchasing markets.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Education:
Bachelor's degree in business, economics, engineering or equivalent.

Experience:

Typically requires a minimum of 5 years of experience buying complex commodities and managing more complex supplier relationships.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

Demonstrated leadership skills and abilities to influence others, lead work teams and provide guidance to other staff.
Skills and ability to effectively manage complex internal and external supplier relationships requiring diplomacy and negotiation skills and a depth of specialized knowledge.
Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills to effectively communicate with all levels throughout the organization and external vendors, strong customer service orientation, excellent problem solving skills and the ability to drive for results.
Good working knowledge of a wide variety of mechanical / electrical devices, capability to perform specialized analysis/calculations, and knowledge of applicable manufacturing processes and equipment.
Experience in Manufacturing Requirements Planning (MRP), and JD Edwards (JDE), logistics and domestic/international contract writing.
Requires some domestic and potentially some international travel.
Advanced skills and proficiency in using the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Outlook).
Demonstrated skills in managing projects from concept development to implementation and evaluation.

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