Job Title: Commodity Manager

Job Location: Mankato, MN

Job Type: Fulltime/Direct Hire
Job Summary: The Commodity Manager plans, organizes, and controls the sourcing of materials and services for various commodities. Implements global supply management strategies to achieve supplier partnerships, supplier base reduction, asset management, quality improvement, delivery, and cycle time performance improvement, and early supplier involvement in new product developments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Negotiate and administer procurement contracts for cost savings and delivery. Lead negotiations on strategic sourcing contracts.
• Select, appoint, and steer a supply base to achieve cost, cash, service levels, and technology objectives.
• Develop, evaluate, and manage supplier relationships to meet material cost, availability, and inventory goals.
• Analyze/troubleshoot quality problems and influence suppliers in resolution.
• Maintain supplier quality through assessment, evaluation, and ongoing monitoring, including performance management.
• Oversee supplier performance, conduct credit/organizational reviews, site audits, and report performance metrics.
• Act as a liaison between suppliers and the company to resolve issues and avoid supply interruptions and costs.
• Procure and evaluate new materials for each phase of the design process.
• Coordinate supplier information gathering, arrange engineering samples, and lead the qualification process of new or updated materials.
• Support production and new product introduction activities as a materials resource.
• Design, develop, and implement commodity procurement plans, manage the transition to strategic suppliers.
• Develop and monitor inventory targets, forecast fluctuations, and alert teams for adjustments.
• Minimize obsolete or scrap material efficiently and cost-effectively.
• Review, design, implement, and monitor Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) programs.
• Provide leadership to cross-functional relationships with suppliers, Production, Quality, Finance, and logistics planning.
• Research new products/processes technologies and influence design/material selection for cost efficiency.
• Monitor and manage external influences to cost and performance, including economic, logistics, and environmental factors.
• Provide guidance and daily direction to buyers.
• Execute regulatory requirements, including country of origin certificates and international shipping.
• Assign Harmonized Tariff Codes to purchased parts.
• Monitor market technology and trends relevant to production and sourcing.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in business, economics, engineering, or equivalent.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in buying complex commodities and managing complex supplier relationships.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Demonstrated leadership and influence skills.
• Effective management of complex supplier relationships.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Strong customer service orientation, problem-solving skills, and ability to drive for results.
• Good knowledge of mechanical/electrical devices, manufacturing processes, and equipment.
• Experience with Manufacturing Requirements Planning (MRP) and JD Edwards (JDE).
• Knowledge of logistics and domestic/international contract writing.
• Willingness for domestic and potentially international travel.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Project management skills from concept development to implementation and evaluation.