Director, Strategic Sourcing

Director, Strategic Sourcing 

LOCATION: Avon / Ohio (US-OH), United States | BRAND: Bendix | REQUISITION ID: 5225 | JOB GRADE: 19  

| ON-SITE/REMOTE: Hybrid 

 

Want to help shape tomorrow?  At Bendix we’ve been doing it for 90 years…setting the standard with advanced dynamic solutions that drive improved commercial vehicle performance and safety.  We’re part of the Knorr-Bremse Group, the global leader in braking technologies. As part of our team, you’ll collaborate with a world of talented and dedicated colleagues whose sense of purpose complements your own. You’ll find rewarding opportunities, diverse experiences, partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity. Innovation is part of our DNA. Achievement drives our culture. Learn more today! www.bendix.com/careers

 

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Position Summary:

 

This position is responsible to lead the NA category team to contribute to profitability by driving strategic sourcing decisions for current and new products. Strategically identify, access, and position the supplier base ensuring it is competitive on a worldwide basis. Including developing excellent relationships with current and new suppliers, driving year over year productivity, and minimizing total landed costs.

 

Essential Functions:

 

• Leads the NA category team of 13 Regional Category Managers & Regional Category Buyers to manage an Annual Purchase Volume of $600M.
• Collaborates on strategy development and implementation for global category sourcing of products and services, several which are complex and of strategic importance, high value and critical to the success of the business. Strong focus on year over year productivity savings.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for categories managed; Takes active role in major, strategic negotiations and serves as a partner for the Regional Category Managers to prepare their negotiation strategies.
• Develops senior level relationships to better understand and align with business strategy and direction. Prioritize initiatives, driving synergies and savings across the categories.
• Resolve disputes and commercial issues with suppliers in conjunction with internal customers.
• Identify, manage, and mitigate risks in the supply chain, follow market conditions and collect vendor intelligence; anticipate market trends and develop strategies.
• Lead cross-functional teams that foster growth within the Category team, identifying executable actions and drive implementation plans and schedules. Direct activities of assigned group(s) to ensure optimum performance of the group/function.
• Drives the development and execution of category strategies in alignment with global strategies, the CoCs and, if relevant, other business expectations (Supply Chain, Sales) and deployed accordingly.
• Understand the organization’s strategic direction and align Purchasing and Product Group strategies to achieve company objectives.
• Collaborate with other procurement leaders to implement and maintain efficient and effective processes and systems with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Develop, negotiate and manage contractual relationships. Skillfully negotiate agreements in a timely manner, manage tough vendor situations and sensitive relationships ensuring value and minimizing risk.
• Drives productivity through supplier negotiations, supplier transitions, make/buy analysis, global sourcing, and supplier idea generation.

• Liaison to KB Global Category Purchasing organization ensuring a consistent approach to category purchasing strategies and management.
• Manage supplier relationships and serve as their key contact for contract management and service level adherence, ensure appropriate level of relationship for strategic suppliers. Acts as key interface for direct material related topics to Management.

• Utilizes a high mix, low volume purchasing strategy to increase accuracy and flexibility in the planning process.
• Participate in the development of the Strategic Planning (STRAP) and Mid-term Operating Plan (MOP).
• Implement and manage cost savings and performance measurement systems for supplier contracts. Where appropriate, track, analyze and report cost savings against investment proposals, capital expenditure and contract spend commitments.

 

Knowledge:

 

• Demonstrated knowledge of Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, and Agile and Scrum methodology.
• Experience working with all levels within the organization and has established a high-level of credibility both internally and externally.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute a major change strategy.
• Results oriented Self Starter and Pro-active.
• Organiz