Commodity Manager, Indirect Categories

Forgent•Dayton, MN

About The Position

The Commodity Manager is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for assigned commodity categories, managing supplier relationships, and mitigating cost and supply risk across the organization. The role combines market analysis, negotiation, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure reliable, cost-effective, and quality-compliant supply of materials. The position works with production, engineering, operations, and finance teams to align commodity strategies and procurement plans with business needs. It also supports new product introductions by sourcing materials early in the design cycle and resolves supply disruptions, quality issues, and contract disputes. The typical work environment is a standard office setting, with frequent work in a manufacturing environment and extended periods seated at a computer. Travel may be up to 50% for site-based roles or 75% for remote team members. Performance measures include categories spend under management, on-time delivery, savings and productivity, quality, safety, replenishment and lead time, supplier rationalization, and innovation and continuous improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
At least 7 years of experience in commodity management, strategic sourcing, or procurement.
Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
Strong data center industry experience.
Experience with ERP or procurement systems such as SAP or Oracle, and spend analytics tools.
Solid understanding of market analysis, cost modeling, and total cost of ownership.
Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Demonstrated analytical, data-driven decision-making.
Strategic thinking with attention to execution detail.
Risk management and problem-solving under pressure.
Strong relationship management with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
Adaptability and resilience in fast-changing market conditions.
Ability to work autonomously with ownership, discipline, and accountability.
Ability to proactively drive outcomes with stakeholder groups to achieve deliverables.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or MBA.
Professional certification such as ISM, CPSM, CSCP, or similar.
Experience in indirect categories, electronics, metals, or energy commodities.
Familiarity with international trade, tariffs, and import/export regulations.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement category strategies for assigned commodities, aligning them with production, engineering, and business goals.
Monitor, prepare, and present commodity market analyses, pricing trends, and supply-and-demand dynamics to anticipate risks and identify cost-saving opportunities.
Lead supplier selection, qualification, and contract negotiations, including pricing, terms, and service-level agreements.
Manage ongoing supplier performance through scorecards covering quality, delivery, cost, and responsiveness.
Build and maintain a diversified, resilient supplier base to reduce single-source and geopolitical risk.
Partner with engineering, operations, and finance teams to forecast demand and align procurement plans.
Drive cost-reduction and value-engineering initiatives without compromising quality or supply continuity.
Manage hedging or forward-buying strategies where applicable for volatile commodities.
Ensure compliance with company policies, ethical sourcing standards, and relevant trade regulations.
Support new product introduction by sourcing materials early in the design cycle.
Resolve supply disruptions, quality issues, and contract disputes in a timely manner.