Direct Sourcing Manager

Alliance Laundry System•Ripon, WI

About The Position

Responsibilities Primary duties: Leading, coaching, and developing a team of Category Managers, providing direction, feedback, and support to achieve category and company objectives. Managing the company supply chain for assigned categories by sourcing, reviewing, and purchasing commodities and materials. Defining and driving category strategies, including make/buy decisions, supplier segmentation, and long-term sourcing roadmaps. Updating inventory and category strategies where needed to increase sales, manage stock quantities, and improve working capital. Overseeing the evaluation, selection, and recommendation of new vendors, and approving supplier strategies developed by Category Managers. Negotiating or overseeing negotiations to secure favorable prices, terms, and conditions that maximize best commodity and category sourcing practices. Building and maintaining strong relationships with key suppliers and distributors, including executive-level supplier contacts. Studying market and industry trends, and guiding the team in identifying and mitigating risks when sourcing and procuring commodities. Ensuring that project-approved and departmental budgets are adhered to, and tracking savings and value creation targets. Establishing and maintaining procurement and category management processes, tools, and KPIs for the team. Supervising department personnel when they prepare contracts and purchase orders, and providing guidance on complex or high-value agreements. Resolving escalated vendor disputes and any complex commodity- or category-related issues. Collaborating with Operations, Engineering, Finance, and other functions to align sourcing strategies with business needs and product roadmaps. Qualifications Knowledge/Experience/Education: Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, economics, business, or a similar field. At least six to eight years’ experience in supply chain, strategic sourcing, or commodity/category management, with prior people-leadership responsibility preferred. Solid knowledge of financial and commodity markets that influence category and commodity prices. Skills and Abilities: Strong leadership and people-management skills, with the ability to coach, develop, and motivate a team. Excellent negotiation skills and the ability to communicate effectively with vendors, suppliers, and internal stakeholders at all levels. Advanced analytical and strategic thinking skills, including total cost of ownership and should-cost analysis. Ability to work cross-functionally and influence without direct authority across various departments. Physical Requirements: Position involves sitting for long periods, standing, manual dexterity, stooping, bending, and minimal lifting.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, economics, business, or a similar field.
At least six to eight years’ experience in supply chain, strategic sourcing, or commodity/category management, with prior people-leadership responsibility preferred.
Solid knowledge of financial and commodity markets that influence category and commodity prices.
Strong leadership and people-management skills, with the ability to coach, develop, and motivate a team.
Excellent negotiation skills and the ability to communicate effectively with vendors, suppliers, and internal stakeholders at all levels.
Advanced analytical and strategic thinking skills, including total cost of ownership and should-cost analysis.
Ability to work cross-functionally and influence without direct authority across various departments.
Position involves sitting for long periods, standing, manual dexterity, stooping, bending, and minimal lifting.

Responsibilities

Leading, coaching, and developing a team of Category Managers, providing direction, feedback, and support to achieve category and company objectives.
Managing the company supply chain for assigned categories by sourcing, reviewing, and purchasing commodities and materials.
Defining and driving category strategies, including make/buy decisions, supplier segmentation, and long-term sourcing roadmaps.
Updating inventory and category strategies where needed to increase sales, manage stock quantities, and improve working capital.
Overseeing the evaluation, selection, and recommendation of new vendors, and approving supplier strategies developed by Category Managers.
Negotiating or overseeing negotiations to secure favorable prices, terms, and conditions that maximize best commodity and category sourcing practices.
Building and maintaining strong relationships with key suppliers and distributors, including executive-level supplier contacts.
Studying market and industry trends, and guiding the team in identifying and mitigating risks when sourcing and procuring commodities.
Ensuring that project-approved and departmental budgets are adhered to, and tracking savings and value creation targets.
Establishing and maintaining procurement and category management processes, tools, and KPIs for the team.
Supervising department personnel when they prepare contracts and purchase orders, and providing guidance on complex or high-value agreements.
Resolving escalated vendor disputes and any complex commodity- or category-related issues.
Collaborating with Operations, Engineering, Finance, and other functions to align sourcing strategies with business needs and product roadmaps.