Sr. Manager, Supplier Relations & Primary Contact

SUMMARY: Manage both strategic and tactical sourcing activities, serving as the primary liaison for all direct category suppliers, including outsourcing and raw materials. Drive cost savings, ensure supply continuity, and manages supplier performance across key categories. Partners closely with manufacturing plants, operations teams, NPD sourcing, business unit leaders, and global and regional stakeholders. Focus on developing a robust supplier base aligned with evolving business and technology needs. Strong collaboration, supplier relationship management, and leadership in team development and succession planning.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the primary point of contact for multiple ADS manufacturing locations f for procurement , strategic sourcing   & supplier issues.
• Analyze spend, conduct RFQ, lead price negotiations on regular basis with suppliers. Aggressively negotiate terms in accordance with internal policies. Build a robust pipeline of savings opportunities with internal & external stakeholders using multiple levers & tactics (e.g., negotiations, change of suppliers, value analysis/value engineering etc.)
• Manage the supplier base for all mass production products, ensuring timely production ramp-up and delivery readiness. Respond to plant escalations with a strong sense of urgency, addressing supply disruptions, quality concerns, and driving delivery performance improvements in collaboration with internal stakeholders.
• Build mutually beneficial, long-term partnerships with key suppliers. Establish and maintain supplier contracts and agreements, and organize annual business review meetings with critical partners.
• Develop and manage a robust & dynamic supplier for outsourcing & raw materials categories, including components suppliers for: Assembly, Injection Molding, Stamping, Plating etc. to support business objectives, evolving technology requirements, plant needs, and expectations for cost, quality, delivery and service. 
• Support the transformation of the divisional manufacturing footprint.
• Maintain strong alignment with global and divisional category managers across key commodities (e.g., metals, plastics, electronics, outsourcing).
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders—including engineering, product management, operations, plant teams, quality, finance, and legal as needed.
• Be the business partner of manufacturing plants and ADS teams with expertise on costing and supplier networking
• Conduct should-cost and make vs. buy analyses to support sourcing decision.
• Build up mutual benefit between Molex business and external partners, create and sustain a virtuous circle.
• Manage team development and succession planning by deploying Principle Based Management (PBM), developing key talent, and building a strong leadership pipeline.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES  

• Completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Procurement or Engineering or a related discipline from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Ten years of related experience and/or training; and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in procurement for mechanical components & raw materials for the connector industry.
• Strong management and leadership skills with the ability to motivate and drive accountability.
• Clear and concise verbal and written communication skills with the ability to interact at all levels within the organization as well as deliver oral presentations on moderately complex subject matter.
• Demonstrated experience driving cross functional collaboration across business units.

QUALIFICATIONS  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, talk, hear, walk, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, and controls, and reach with arms and hands. The employee may be required to occasionally lift and/or move from 10 to 25 pounds. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee rarely works near moving mechanical parts and is rarely exposed to fumes or airborne particles.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and travel is usually limited to 10 -20%.

ITAR COMPLIANCE  This position requires access to or use of information which is subject to the federal International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).  All applicants for this position must be U.S. Persons within the meaning of ITAR.  ITAR defines “U.S. Person” as U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., person admitted as a refugee to the U.S., person granted asylum in the U.S., or person granted the status of alien lawfully admitted for temporary residence to the U.S. under 8 U.S.C. §1160(a) (for special agricultural workers) or 8 U.S.C. §1255(a)(1) (an amnesty program).

[Equal Opportunity Employer - Disability/Vet]

This job may require applicant to conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.  Learn more about the ITAR here.