The Global Category Leader is responsible for developing, implementing, and executing global sourcing strategies for assigned categories and suppliers. This includes supplier selection, supplier management and development, contract agreements and ensuring excellent purchasing operations. Additionally, the Global Category Leader constantly drives continuous improvement initiatives in the field of transformation, processes, quality, cost effectiveness and internal coordination/communication, hence is to be considered an important change agent across INNIO. Delivering quantitative and qualitative, measurable, and felt value across INNIO, managing its supply base and 3rd party costs, is the ultimate attribute of this role.
The Global Category Leader is strategic individual contributor role reporting directly to the Senior Global Sourcing Manager. It is a hybrid work structure to include a combination of working days onsite at our headquarters in Waukesha, WI & remote from home.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute INNIO sourcing strategies for assigned categories and suppliers
- Excellent manufacturing processes understanding/acumen for assigned categories
- Develop negotiation strategies and lead negotiations to achieve company OTD, quality, cost savings, and sustainability goals
- Lead supplier segmentation, selection, support supplier development and ensure high quality supplier relationship and operational management
- Manage and control CAPEX for assigned categories
- Understand business compliance requirements and drive opportunities to eliminate/minimize supply chain risks
- Drive sourcing initiatives including best cost country sourcing (BCC), productivity, rationalization of supply base, sole source reduction, lead time reduction, on-time delivery and quality improvements, Six Sigma/Lean requirements and cash flow improvements, total cost of ownership (TCO)
- Negotiate long term agreements with suppliers which outline our business strategy and requirements
- Proactive engagement and interface with business sourcing leaders and functional owners to lay out strategies, ensure business buy-in and ensure optimized internal coordination and communication; active facilitation of solution identification and implementation
- Proactively support project/initiative leaders in NPI (New Product Introduction) and product cost out processes in order to contribute in achieving sourcing and business goals
- Act as multiplayer and facilitator between supply base and INNIO businesses to actively enable innovation and collaboration
- Develop and execute recovery plan for suppliers that fall short on expectations
- Own, drive and report progress/bottlenecks on Value Creation Plan (VCP) initiatives
Qualifications/Requirements:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations or Engineering from an accredited university/college or equivalent knowledge/experience
- 5+ years working experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, supply chain or operations (preferred)
- Proven experience in project management and strategy development
- Excellent technical aptitude, complemented by strong business acumen, as well as influencing, negotiation, and facilitating skills
- Reciprocating engine knowledge/skills (preferred)
- Strong knowledge/skills in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint; Oracle ERP experience is preferred
- Strong communication and presentation skills at all levels
- Strong customer service mindset with ability to improve internal customer relationships
- Entrepreneurial, intrinsically motivated mindset with demonstrated ownership of responsibilities
- Team player mentality and continuous improvement mindset
- Willingness to travel at least 20% of the time to our global supply base
