Strategic Sourcing Specialist jobs in Duluth, MN

This opportunity is located in Duluth, Minnesota. As the home to our corporate headquarters, Duluth is a four-season city on the western tip of Lake Superior and was voted “Best Town” by Outside Magazine. The splendor of the largest freshwater lake in the world offers a multitude of outdoor activities for adventure or rejuvenation. The North Shore lifestyle is known its year-round activities, including bicycle and snowmobile trails, kayaking, rock climbing, fishing, hiking, golfing, sailing and skiing. And as a top employer in the area, Cirrus Aircraft was recently named “Best Overall Large Company to Work for in the Northland” and “Best Workplace Culture” by the Duluth News Tribune readers.

Job Description 

Cirrus Aircraft is seeking a highly organized, goal-oriented Strategic Sourcing Category Manager (Commodity Lead) to join our growing organization.  The Commodity Lead is responsible for managing the strategic sourcing aspect in new product introduction activity. This role is responsible for overseeing and facilitating a cross-functional team to accomplish annual goals and objectives, develop and align the strategy for the program across the organization and negotiate long term agreements with the supply base. They serve as the primary interface between suppliers and have responsibility for managing the Cirrus relationship with these suppliers. Periodic updates to the Cirrus Executive Leadership Team on progress towards annual goals and objectives as well as providing category specific guidance to the annual budgeting process is required. These teams will also be responsible for designating suppliers as either strategic or non-strategic and be responsible for defining, prioritizing, and coordinating assistance to strategic suppliers, as needed, in support of category-focused goals and objectives.

The commodity groups at Cirrus include:  Avionics, Electrical, Metal Fabrication, Composites, Propulsion, Landing Gear, Interiors, Safety Systems, Environmental Control Systems, Indirect.  

Duties and Responsibilities/Essential Functions 

• Develop, communicate and execute a global strategy for the program to achieve annual goals and objectives.
• Lead cross functional teams including IT, engineering, marketing & sales, supply chain, manufacturing, human resources and suppliers through the full project lifecycle from discovery, requirements, design, development, pilot, production, commercialization through financial tracking close-out.
• Lead the strategic sourcing process including the identification of potential new sources of supply that achieve Cirrus metrics in quality, delivery, value and innovation.
• Own the supplier relationship.
• Investigates new cost savings ideas with appropriate stakeholders and drive decision making with appropriate business information from a cross-functional team.
• Work with area executives to assign team leaders and team members to projects with appropriate skill sets needed.
• Perform reviews with strategic suppliers, monitoring their adherence to Cirrus quality, delivery, cost and innovation performance metrics
• Negotiate long term agreements and lead the implementation, coordination and enforcement of contractual obligations for the program.
• Lead the integrated project team for the programs evaluating the company’s needs and align the supply base.
• Facilitate regular meetings to define the strategy for the program and ensure that it aligns with the overall commodity strategy.
• Assume the role of “expert” for the program. Understand, track, and forecast the global supply base, market, technology, cost structure/drivers, and competition of the commodity.
• Support critical shortages as they are escalated to maintain program milestones.
• Lead sourcing activity for projects following the established Cirrus process including providing guidance on cost modeling early in the development process.
• Solve problems and issues and track program progress.
• Develop and utilize project KPI’s to drive results to meet annual goals and objectives.
• Represent Cirrus in a highly professional manner internally and externally.
• Travel may be required up to 25-50% (domestic and international).

Qualifications

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

• Bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.S.) from four-year college or university, and 7 years of strategic sourcing experience in the procurement field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Advanced knowledge of supply contracts with domestic and international suppliers.
• Effective negotiation, communication, decision making and problem-solving skills.
• Program/Project management with strong experience in the delivery of complex program management, cross-functional business/capability development and change initiatives.
• Master’s degree and related experience preferred.
  

Job Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities:

• Good organizational skills and the ability to coordinate between disparate tasks.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Timely completion of scheduled work.
• Excellent and professional communication skills in all forms and formats (public speaking, team meetings, PowerPoint, memos, emails, charters, internal/external, etc.).
• Exceptional facilitation skills to bring a cross-functional team together to accomplish tasks and goals.
• Good problem-solving skills with knowledge of six-sigma or lean office tools.
• Proficiency in:

• MS Office suite, particularly in Excel
• ERP systems use and functionality, Avante or JD Edwards experience preferred
• Engineering systems use and functionality, Jira, Creo, Windchill, Solumina preferred
• MES systems use and functionality, Solumina preferred

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies: 

• Drives Results: Consistently achieves results, even under tough circumstances.
• Drives Engagement:  Creates a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives.
• Decision Quality:  Makes good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward·
• Financial Acumen:  Interprets and applies understanding of key financial indicators to make better business decisions.

Other Duties

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 position.  Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.  Work beyond 40 hours per week may be required.  

Cirrus is dedicated to a drug free work environment promoting equal employment opportunity.  Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, national origin, color, age, disability, religion, pregnancy, veteran status, marital and family status, sexual orientation, receipt of public assistance, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.