Commodity Manager

Every day, MTI Motion associates around the world set the future in motion by solving our customers’ most vexing motion-control challenges. Serving various industries including commercial aerospace, defense, oil and gas, and transportation, MTI Motion designs and manufactures an innovative portfolio of custom, precision motion-control products and solutions, including high-performance motors, drives and controllers, as well as windings, gears and ball screws.

We’re committed to promoting a collaborative team environment that focuses on accountability, respect, integrity, and teamwork to ensure customer satisfaction. We take pride in the work we perform and are committed to continuous improvement. In addition to offering a competitive benefits package, we strive to offer our employees opportunities to achieve career advancement.

MTI Motion is a wholly owned operating company within the Steel Partners family of companies and is headquartered in Pleasant Prairie, WI, with facilities worldwide.

The Commodity Manager will manage the sourcing of assigned category portfolio and associated activities. This includes, but is not limited to, maximizing supplier performance, cost, quality, and speed of execution, leading cost-savings and avoidance projects, and other sourcing-related activities. This role leads negotiations of long-term supply agreements and other contracts, which include pricing, terms and conditions, risk mitigations, working-capital strategies, and warranties.

The Commodity Manager will develop, implement, and manage global strategies to provide value in supply assurance, pricing, flexibility, quality, and delivery performance. This position benchmarks new processes, approaches, and technology. The Commodity Manager researches, identifies, and analyzes current and emerging procurement trends, develops a deep understanding of market conditions, and develops proposed global supply chain solutions focusing on total cost of ownership.

• Responsible for all areas of category management, including category business plans, global market and pricing analysis, and procurement support.
• Contribute to development of the company’s strategic category objectives and goals.
• Develop global category strategies with defined plans for cost savings, risk assessment and mitigation, and service-level agreements.
• Develop and execute category negotiation strategies with suppliers, including specific targets for purchasing, pricing, service, quality, intellectual property, tool ownership, exclusivity, and inventory to ensure continuity of supply and minimize risk.
• Monitor current category market conditions and technology roadmaps, identifying supply/demand challenges and opportunities to mitigate supply and demand challenges.
• Become a subject matter expert in assigned commodities through external research, benchmarking, and analyzing cost drivers and life-cycle costs. Provide market intelligence and category price trends. Develop deep understanding where our competition sources their components and materials, as well as determining the respective costs of same.
• Assist in the development and maintenance of should-cost models that are relevant to the global marketplace.

• Use strategic sourcing process to manage assigned categories and finished products. Identify all stakeholders for each major category and form cross-functional teams to define and implement a strategy that reduces cost, improves quality and delivery performance, and improves MTI Motion’s competitive position. Build a case for significant change and develop consensus among key stakeholders.
• Conduct comprehensive supplier analysis, including strategic direction, capacity, market and industry position, and risk assessment.
• Provide rigorous analysis of spend data and market trends and dynamics to prioritize and launch sourcing initiatives within designated spend/category categories.
• Analyze current spend and evaluate current suppliers. Consolidate spend across multiple manufacturing locations to create leverage, analyze purchasing trends, and develop sourcing alternatives. Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation and new high-potential suppliers on a global basis.
• Deliver 5% year-over-year net-cost reductions for commodities and programs that fall within assigned responsibility.
• Manage respective supplier relationships and performance, including but not limited to dispute resolution.
• Act as supplier interface for all RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs.
• Visit supplier facilities and accurately assess operational capacity, financial health, and capacity to award contracts in support of new product development (NPI) and production.

• Provide guidance on recommended suppliers for new product introductions (NPI)
• Support new product introduction (NPI) programs as a team member by coordinating all sourcing and supplier qualification activities on a global basis.
• Manage multiple projects, coordinate activities of team, and track progress/schedules.
• Partner cross functionally to drive urgent closure of supplier performance and or quality concerns.

• Bachelor’s degree (preferred in Business, Finance, Engineering, or Supply Chain Management) from an accredited college or university is required. An associate degree in combination with relevant experience in Purchasing, Materials, or Engineering background with a specialized knowledge of a focused group of commodities will be considered.
• Minimum of six years of relevant, progressive strategic sourcing, category management, supply chain, or equivalent work experience and expertise, with ITAR, EAR, export-controlled, or regulated supply chains, across NPI and mass production, preferably with defense and aerospace technologies/suppliers.
• Demonstrated knowledge of strategic-sourcing processes and tools and their application in restructuring purchases of a global supply chain and multi-plant manufacturing business.
• Proven record negotiating long-term contracts with safeguards against identified risks and including preferred pricing.
• Exceptional analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities using contemporary tools and methods (cost modeling, quotation analysis, capacity management).
• Experience reading technical drawing, data sheets, fabrication drawings, BOMs, and related files.
• Track record of delivering significant cost-reduction and service-level improvements.
• Ability to identify, measure, and modify KPIs aligned with the business strategy.
• Strong project management skills with a demonstrated ability to multi-task, set priorities, and adhere to schedules in a fast-paced and demanding environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead teams attaining cross-functional consensus.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to clearly articulate position with all levels of the organization.
• Highly accountable, agile, self-motivated, and detail-oriented, with a strong bias for action and drive for results.
• Some travel required to develop and support global supply base and MTI Motion facilities, estimated at 20% of the time or as needed.

Please note: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

MTI Motion is an equal employment opportunity (EEOC) employer such that all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age or other legally protected status.

We will ensure individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact MTI Motion to request accommodation.