Reporting to the Manager, Sourcing, this position is driven by overall commodity responsibility. The Commodity Management Specialist will be responsible for the development and execution of a commodity strategy focused on managing Cost, Quality, Service, and Delivery (CQSD). Typical commodities to include a broad range of sheet metal and enclosures, electromechanical/electronic components and assemblies, and plastic components.

• Manage supply base through prospecting, qualification, contract execution and on-going management within commodity responsibility to drive best value for the organization in terms of “total cost of acquisition” 
• Evaluate and negotiate contracts, supply agreements, project buys and/or individual purchases for best combination of quality, price, and delivery. Participate in supplier qualifications and audits as required.
• Act as a liaison between engineering, sales, operations and product management to clearly understand customer expectations and deliver a commodity strategy to supports those needs.
• Monitor external global markets, economic and technological developments, and logistics to anticipate and proactively react to changes.
• Manage ongoing supplier performance and drive continuous improvement within the supply chain through the use of Corrective Action Requests (CAR’s) and advanced Procurement/Materials management techniques such as: VMI, Consignment, Kan Ban and Ecommerce.
• Manage all purchasing related items on cross-functional teams. These teams to include, but not limited to, new product development, cost reductions, value engineering, and continuous improvement.
• Work internally on new product development with a focus on early supplier involvement.
• Determine and manage lead-times for components/materials as well as revise as required for commodities due to changing market conditions
• Create and maintain part numbers and structures in ERP and place orders to ensure component availability through first article approval (FFA) to support prototype and preproduction requirements.
• Interact with managers, engineers, production control and other personnel to effectively perform duties. Analyze, evaluate and follow-up engineering changes as they pertain to commodities purchased either as current open orders or pending orders.
• Keep abreast of professional “best practices” and recommend and deploy based on “best practices.”

• Requires a Bachelor's Degree or four years of college with job related coursework and seven to nine years of progressively responsible related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Previous experience in commodities management required. 
• Engineering background or aptitude preferred. 
• Possess project management experience and advanced procurement and materials management techniques.