Hitachi Rail is looking for an enthusiastic self-motivated Head of Procurement - Direct Materials Americas who thrives in a fast-paced environment. The successful candidate is comfortable performing a wide range of tasks from administrative to strategic. The position is based in Pittsburgh, PA.

About Us:

A career at Hitachi Rail will help create a legacy. With operations in every corner of the world, our work goes to the cutting-edge of digital transformation and technology. From the multi-cultural strength of our global organization to the sustainable and innovative ways we work to bring people together, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into. And that’s where you come in.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain excellent professional relationships and networks with business partners, suppliers and internal stakeholders to deliver financial benefit through strong presentation and facilitation skills.
• Excellent communicator, committed to ensuring the procurement delivers outstanding customer service and creates value through cost and/or service improvement.
• Own the category planning cycle for a portfolio of spend categories developing a bottoms-up plan detailing in-year and long term commercial targets aligned to business operating plans
• Execute management strategies for long term breakthrough value achieving competitive advantage through cost reduction, quality, compliance, sustainability, risk mitigation and innovation from existing and new suppliers
• Accountable for sourcing, benchmarking, and negotiation activities within the category, ensuring compliance to all Hitachi Rail processes, continuous improvement in terms of quality, service, and total cost of ownership in-line with business requirements.
• Ensure financial targets for all spend categories are achieved within the portfolio.
• Apply advanced procurement methods (such as gain sharing, clean sheeting, reduced cost to serve) to improve the results of strategic sourcing.
• Identify strategic suppliers and partners through segmentation of spend on the basis of risk, criticality and volume of spend allocating time to areas that derive value.
• Approval of suitable suppliers for the commodity portfolio, ensuring Hitachi Rail on-boarding process is followed.
• Establish roles and responsibilities for supplier governance to improve the alignment of supplier agreements with business partner objectives
• Develop continuous improvement plans with strategic suppliers to accelerate the development of supplier capabilities through collaboration, increasing value and pursuing further cost reduction.
• Undertake contract reviews of existing agreements and exploit opportunities to make in-contract life savings.
• Collaborate with other procurement managers to share learnings
• Be a leading example of the Hitachi Rail mission, vision and values
• Adhere to company and functional policies and procedures
• Manage the performance of direct reports (if applicable) conducting regular 1:1 meetings, coaching and mentoring personal development, and provide constructive feedback through appraisals.

Required skills/experience:

• Good time management skills: managing priorities and keeping to deadlines.
• Experienced procurement practitioner with the knowledge of strategic sourcing, category management processes and supplier management tools and techniques (although not specifically in the rail industry).
• Knowledge of manufacturing process flow and budgeting processes
• Advanced knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and their use in business planning and procurement execution.
• Able to negotiate directly with suppliers for all contract provisions.
• Experience of leading and developing cross-functional project teams.
• Negotiate, implement, and manage agreements based on long-term volume planning, while achieving the best quality, delivery, and commercial savings
• Closely follow market trends, industry best practices, and technological advancements to continuously improve downstream procurement operations.
• Work closely with the Planning and Quality to understanding supplier constraints and issues. Assure the buying team is following any action plan implementation that may affect future business.
• Collaborate with inventory/planning team to develop an effective supply plan and ensure risk management plan is in place and kept up to date for critical materials.
• Lead the development and implementation of strategic procurement plans, aligned with organizational objectives.
• Ability to work under frequently changing priorities and to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong management skills including the ability to make decisions, set goals, delegate, coach, and motive.
• Strong analytical skills and action focused to capitalize on identified opportunities
• Robust understanding of Contract law and contract drafting for different types of Product/Services.
• Appreciation of cost saving methodologies such as should-be cost modelling, value engineering, and logistics optimization.
• Strong commercial acumen and data presentation skills with an ability to influence and persuade stakeholders
• Excellent knowledge of SAP, Excel and other Microsoft office packages
• Experience and understanding of Contract Lifecycle Management tools (preferably Bravo Solutions)

• Strong work ethic, highly motivated and able to work with minimum supervision
• Builds effective relationships collaborating at all levels underpinned by openness, honesty & respect.
• Takes commitment seriously and does what they say they will do whilst holding others to account.
• Desire to understand working with different business cultures
• Strong influencing, networking and team working skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrates perseverance, patience and commitment for long term success
• Good organization/time management
• Enjoys challenges and problem solving.
• Highly organized and methodical

Desired:

• Member of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS), or Institute of Supply Management (CPSM, or CPM) or another appropriate professional institute or relevant experience.

Education:

Bachelor's Degree in a related field

Language:

English proficiency

Benefits

Hitachi Rail employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package including Competitive Pay, Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance, Short & Long Term Disability, Life & Accident Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, a Retirement Savings Plan, and Paid Vacation. We also offer a number of Work/Life Programs such as Flextime and a variety of Training and Development opportunities.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those under consideration will be contacted. Join us at www.hitachirail.com/careers

It is our commitment at Hitachi Rail to create a diverse environment and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

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Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE)-Females/Minorities/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

If you need a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job at Hitachi, please send the nature of request and contact information to hrunitedstates@hitachirail.com. Queries other than accommodation requests will not be responded to.

In accordance with the DOT’s FRA and FTA programs, Hitachi’s substance screening program tests pre-employment candidates and current employees, as required for safety-sensitive positions.