Commodity Manager

This position will be based out of Byron Center, MI, Hazel Park, MI, Milwaukee, WI, Mayville, WI, or Fond du Lac, WI, with up to 25% travel to other MEC locations and supplier sites.  As a team member at MEC, you will lead and drive the sourcing process across the organization. You will need to ensure products meet cost, quality, delivery, and specification requirements. The Commodity Manager will develop and implement long-term sourcing strategies, to obtain optimal value for the enterprise, while building strong supplier relationships. 

We're looking for:

• Commodity Strategy Development and Execution: Develop and implement sound commodity strategies that will bring optimal value to the enterprise. Bring your deep commodity knowledge and market intel on board to ensure best-in-class supply chain management of MEC’s critical raw materials and components.
• Negotiation: Apply firm but fair negotiation practices utilizing an organized data-driven approach for optimal results that drive the lowest total landed cost, on-time delivery, all while meeting or exceeding MEC quality standards.
• Total Cost Management: Attain Lean, Continuous Improvement, and cost reduction goals through detailed cost/spend analysis, cost model development and implementation, supplier Kaizen events, or through the use of various other cost management tools.
• Optimize Commodity Execution: Reduce complexity and redundancy by identifying materials as candidates for potential SKU count reduction, identify and execute supply base optimization opportunities, and develop and implement a robust process to ensure continuity with the internal sales team.
• Cross-Functional Commodity Councils: Lead and coordinate activities across all sites to identify and qualify suppliers capable of providing products and services to meet business requirements, ensuring productivity, continuous improvement and negotiated lowest total cost of ownership.
• Commodity Subject Matter Expertise: Lead and participate in team collaboration where Commodity expertise is required. Ensure Commodity strategy is understood, supported and implemented. Monitor supply markets and commodity trending for competitive changes and prepare cost models for respective Commodity.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Be the primary owner of the strategic supply base within given Commodity, creating and leading strategic initiatives, timelines, managing deliverables, and ability to appropriately identify and escalate issues when needed.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive continuous performance and process improvements.

• Performs high-level global Commodity analysis (Full spend and segment spend into sub-Commodity if needed).
• Develops and implements the sourcing strategy through analysis of global markets, raw materials trends, technology, value chain analysis, and long-term sourcing plans.
• Key areas of focus in this role across the enterprise will be Outside Processing and some areas of Indirect spend.
• Perform industry research to identify qualified supplier candidates to meet Commodity needs. Benchmark best in class suppliers.
• Perform “Should Cost Analysis” cost models for each Commodity group to fully understand true cost
• Understand type of supplier relationship required, ongoing oversight of supplier relationships with responsibilities for all commercial aspects including negotiations, contracts, partnerships etc.
• Develop plans for partnership relation management for selected supplier
• Communicate and conduct regular reviews and meetings with suppliers, regions, and group personnel at all management levels. Work with suppliers and regional teams to resolve open local issues.
• Travel to various supplier locations to investigate new opportunities, improve manufacturing efficiencies, and resolve any supply chain or quality issues
• Monitor various supplier performance metrics including related value elements, performance trends and risk analysis to ensure Commodity strategy is working and corrective action taken when needed.
• Drive continuous improvement cost reductions through the life of the supplier contracts.
• Review supplier performance in accordance to established metrics. Report monthly results to user groups along with recommendations to correct deficiencies (i.e. own the relationship with the supplier).
• Ensure progress against all metrics to meet or exceed defined goals and objectives.
• Manage, maintain and update all Supplier Agreements
• Evaluates and utilizes E-sourcing tools if appropriate.

Bachelor’s degree in business related field, Supply Chain Management or related Engineering function with at least 3+ years of related professional experience in Purchasing, Strategic Sourcing, and/or manufacturing operation environments.

The position requires thorough knowledge, understanding and experience in sourcing knowledge, and experience in commodity or commodity management with strong negotiation skills, demonstration of supplier relationship management and leadership capabilities.

Self-motivated, must be a good communicator with strong analytical skills and the ability to build a highly professional working relationship with each supplier and internally to promote maximum benefit of the supplier agreements.

Strong interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, including the ability to communicate effectively at all levels within the organization.

Excellent project management capabilities, able to lead cross-functional teams to produce high-level work product within tight timeframes.

Proficient to expert level in MS Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and data analytics.