POSITIONSUMMARY:
The Strategic Sourcing Manager - Indirect is responsible for leading sourcing and supplier-management activities for assigned indirect categories across Stoneridge sites. The role covers the full sourcing cycle, from business-needs definition and market analysis through tendering, negotiation, contracting, implementation, supplier performance management and continuous improvement. The scope may be regional and/or global and includes, but is not limited to, Packaging, Chemicals, Solder Paste, Software and IT services, CAPEX investments and other assigned indirect spend categories.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
Work with the Global Category Manager to provide input to and execute the indirect category strategy.
- Define current and future business needs for assigned indirect categories in collaboration with key stakeholders and site functions.
- Perform market, supplier, cost-driver and technology analysis for assigned categories, including benchmarking and total-cost-of-ownership evaluation.
- Source in accordance with approved category strategies, sourcing policies, delegated authority and business requirements.
- Interact with internal stakeholders to drive standardization and strategy execution.
Define and execute strategic sourcing decisions.
- Perform market, supplier, cost-driver and technology analysis for assigned categories, including benchmarking and total-cost-of-ownership evaluation.
- Lead RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, competitive tenders and negotiations to achieve the best total cost, quality, service, risk and contractual outcome.
- Manage sourcing and supplier involvement for CAPEX projects and other business initiatives, ensuring procurement is engaged early and commercial requirements are defined before supplier commitment.
- Ensure continuity of critical indirect supply and services. Establish mitigation plans, expedite where necessary and negotiate supplier compensation or corrective action for non-performance.
- Deliver measurable cost savings, cost avoidance, working-capital improvements, process efficiencies and supplier-base optimization.
- Manage commercial conditions and pricing: 1) establish and maintain agreed prices and; 2) validate and challenge supplier price-change requests; 3) perform cost breakdown and total-cost analysis; 4) support annual budgeting and standard-setting activities where applicable.
- Manage contracts and commercial documentation: 1) negotiate suitable terms and conditions; 2) ensure contracts, statements of work, service-level agreements and CAPEX commitments are approved and stored correctly; 3) monitor contract expiry, compliance, utilization and renewal or termination requirements.
- Manage assigned sourcing projects and purchases, including Packaging, Chemicals, Solder Paste, Software, IT and professional services, CAPEX investments and other indirect requirements.
- Evaluate suppliers and participate in qualification, risk assessment, due diligence, sustainability, compliance and onboarding processes.
- Maintain accurate supplier, contract, pricing, sourcing-project and purchasing data in relevant systems, including JD Edwards, Proceedo, contract databases and other procurement tools.
- Lead contract review and negotiation in cooperation with Legal, Finance, IT, Quality and other relevant stakeholders.
- Manage supplier relationships and performance through business reviews, KPI monitoring, corrective actions, risk mitigation and continuous-improvement plans.
- Support purchase-to-pay compliance, preferred-supplier utilization and resolution of commercial or invoice-related issues in collaboration with Finance and Accounts Payable.
- Support stakeholder training and compliance with Procurement policies, approval workflows and the No-PO/No-Pay principle, where applicable.
- Ensure sourcing decisions address regulatory, environmental, health and safety, information-security and business-continuity requirements relevant to the category.
- Identify opportunities to consolidate suppliers, standardize specifications and aggregate demand across sites and functions.
- Develop and maintain category plans, sourcing pipelines, savings forecasts and implementation trackers for the assigned indirect spend.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or related field; MBA preferred
- Five to ten years of strategic sourcing or category-management experience, preferably including indirect procurement within a multinational manufacturing or automotive environment.
- Ability to create and deliver clear, persuasive presentations
- Demonstrated experience sourcing and contracting complex indirect categories such as software/services, CAPEX, packaging, chemicals or MRO.
- Strong commercial, analytical and negotiation capability, including the ability to negotiate with senior supplier and internal stakeholders.
- Experience working in global and cross-functional project teams and managing multiple sourcing projects and priorities.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to build effective stakeholder relationships at all organizational levels.
- Fluent English; additional languages are an advantage.
- Ability to work independently, exercise sound commercial judgement and collaborate effectively within a team.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:
- Up to 25% travel, depending on category and project requirements.
