Since 1965, Stoneridge has designed and manufactured advanced, award-winning technologies including driveline and transmission actuation systems, vision systems, emissions control systems, safety systems, and security and monitoring systems for vehicle OEMs in the commercial vehicle, automotive, off-highway and agricultural vehicle markets. We’re focused on the areas of greatest market need – both today and tomorrow. Our core products and technologies are aligned with industry megatrends including safety and security, vehicle intelligence, fuel efficiency and emissions. Join the Stoneridge Team as we continue to build upon our strong history and reputation for quality products to deliver innovative products and systems that address a need, exceed our customers’ expectations, and motivate our team.
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.
