Education:

Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Purchasing, Engineering, or equivalent field experience in Heat Treat, HIP, EDM, and Metal Finishing. Commercial experience (in Purchasing or Sales) preferred.

Personal Characteristics:

Able to meet deadlines and be accountable for quality/ quantity. Able to work flexible hours with a history of dependability as demonstrated with strong attendance record. Comfortable using a team approach to problem solving. Have strong sense of urgency. Individual must be a motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently. Maintain a positive work atmosphere by behaving and communicating in a manner that gets along with customers, clients, co-workers and supervisors. Able to work independently and without direct supervision. Accountable for agreed upon deadlines in a constantly changing work environment.

Work Experience:

Five years of vendor management experience. Must have Supplier Quality, Purchasing, Production Control, and Technical experience. Strong financial understanding and background. Individual is able to apply creative solutions to Technical, Quality, and Supplier Scheduling issues. Has experience with negotiation strategies and tactics. Able to generate and implement cost reduction initiatives. Has a workable knowledge of inventory control and management. Understands pricing theory, policies and practices. Has proven ability to interface between Manufacturing, Engineering, and Production Control departments.

Principal Area of Responsibility:

Support Manufacturing and Production Control through the selection and managing of sub-contracted operations. Work closely with Manufacturing management and Process Engineering to provide best value and quality to the organization. Work closely with Production Control on customer priorities while still maintaining the needs of the manufacturing product flow, lead-times, and costs. Identify and develop strategic supply base—outline short/long-term strategies, select suppliers, and establish terms. Develop and lead cost reduction programs within supply base.

Specific Duties:

• Develop and manage daily activities and requirements of the outside service vendors.
• Identify preferred sources and alternatives for sub-contracted services.
• Facilitate negotiations on supplier contracts for costs, delivery and quality.
• Establish and maintain good supplier relationships. Resolve supplier concerns involving pricing, delivery dates, supplier rating, etc.
• Recover supplier cost of poor quality and help determine root cause analysis and correction.
• Work with manufacturing and vendors to maintain the proper levels of inventory in production.
• Provide leadership, direction, and communicate vendor needs, schedules, and issues to management.
• Develop and lead cost reduction and/or value generation programs within supply base. Liaison with other functional areas to obtain cross-functional participation and approval.
• Provide daily and weekly production requirements to outside vendors. Communicate vendor commitments daily to Manufacturing and Production Control.
• Provide costing support for Sales and Engineering for new components.
• Any and all additional responsibilities as required or assigned.

• Expected to learn various other duties as needed so as to enable back-filling of key roles for vacation and other time off or during heavy workload periods.
• The ability to handle high stress associated with high activity with tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated Negotiating skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills