Job Listing

JOB DESCRIPTION

Summary

The collaboration between material sourcing and product development is critical to the Company's goal of Customer Service Excellence. The Product Development Sourcing Manager role is a key bridge between the engineering and materials functions and will work closely with Engineers and Project Managers to ensure on-time and on-budget design projects. Managing this important collaboration early in the product development process will lead to favourable cost management and a smooth transition during the Commercialization phase of the Plexus Product Realization Value Stream.

Responsibilities

1. Unit Cost Management: Responsible for ensuring Bill of Material (BOM) cost remains on target throughout all phases of product development. Mitigate BOM cost revisions caused by project scope changes, and make sure all stakeholders agree on revised costs and/or product feature tradeoffs. Lead supplier negotiations and management of part costs when necessary. Support Engineering and Customer Management during the planning and concept development phases of product development to provide cost estimations for custom-engineered components where specifications do not yet exist, or are not yet developed to the point where Materials Costing could provide a detailed quotation.

2. Strategic Sourcing: Collaborate with commodity managers/specialists to provide the engineering development team with sourcing direction and solutions that meet their technical needs while still fitting within the Plexus commodity management strategy. Each project is unique and the appropriate sourcing strategy will need to support the unique application/design requirement.

3. Supplier Project Management: Facilitate effective supplier involvement in design for manufacturability efforts and design revision proposals. Lead collaboration between suppliers, Manufacturing, Quality and Engineering to ensure on-time and successful completion of tooling, product build and qualification.

4. Customer Team: Work proactively with the Project Manager and design team to drive Design for Supply Chain activities. Examples of these activities include providing input to the supply chain phase gate reviews, and ensuring milestone updates on cost management and Preferred Manufacturer Utilization are accurate and up-to-date. Hold all stakeholders accountable for these deliverables.

Other Accountabilities

• Work closely with the Sector Supply Chain Director, the Supply Chain Productivity Manager and/or the Regional Supply Chain Team to ensure Customer Pricing (QC) is in line with the strategic objective as set for the account.
• Provide feedback and assistance to Commodity Managers/Specialists to close identified sourcing gaps and other gaps in preferred supplier performance.
• Provide input as required for make/buy analysis.
• Collaborate with Engineering and suppliers to determine appropriate manufacturing methods for prototypes when schedule constraints prohibit mass production methods.
• Lead all communication and interface with suppliers to ensure on-time completion of supplier commitments and deliverables.
• Liaise with Supplier’s Senior Management to anticipate and resolve problems that jeopardize on-time delivery of prototypes and/or parts for production launch.
• Occasional travel may be required to meet the needs of the business (estimated 25%).
• Additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

• A minimum of a Bachelor's degree is required; a Bachelor's degree in business or engineering is preferred.
• Five (5) years of related experience is required; Two (2) years of related experience is preferred.
• Experience in custom mechanical or electromechanical components processing is highly desired.
• A demonstrated level of project management success is preferred.
• Some knowledge of tooling and manufacturing processes (such as moulding, metal fabrication and surface finish, machining, extrusion, die cutting, and cable assemblies) for customised mechanical products.
• Advanced decision-making and problem-solving skills, especially in an environment of complexity, ambiguity and compressed timescales.
• Ability to influence others, within the Company, at suppliers, and customers and able to lead both with and without formal authority in a matrixed organization.
• Strong reasoning and cognitive skills, including decision-making, conflict resolution and leadership competencies.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and in a team environment. Must be able to follow through on assignments with little to no supervision.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, quantitative analysis ability, attention to detail, time management skills, and organizational skills.
• Strong presentation skills and the ability to represent the Company professionally to suppliers and customers.
• Individuals must meet the Company's Values and exhibit strength in the Company's Leadership Behaviors.
• Working knowledge of MS Office, including advanced computer skills in MS Excel and MS PowerPoint.
• General office equipment and materials.