Global Commodity Manager

FORTNA • Mount Washington, KY

3d

About The Position

FORTNA partners with the world’s leading brands to transform omnichannel and parcel distribution operations. Known world-wide for enabling companies to keep pace with digital disruption and growth objectives, we design and deliver solutions, powered by intelligent software, to optimize fast, accurate and cost-effective order fulfillment and last mile delivery. Our people, innovative approach and proprietary algorithms and tools ensure optimal operations design and material and information flow. We deliver exceptional value every day to our customers with comprehensive services and products including network strategy, distribution center operational design and implementation, material handling automated equipment, robotics and a comprehensive suite of lifecycle services. At FORTNA, we believe in fostering a workplace that isn't just a job but a movement – a collective effort to redefine success and transform challenges into opportunities. "Join the Movement" encapsulates our commitment to a workplace culture that thrives on collaboration, celebrates diversity, and empowers every individual to contribute to something greater than themselves. Our Team. Our Passion. Our Approach. Position Summary The Global Commodity Manager (GCM) is responsible for the end-to-end strategy, sourcing execution, and supplier management for highly complex, engineered, and high-value commodity categories such as steel structures, conveyors, and other custom-fabricated systems. This role serves as the enterprise authority for assigned commodities, driving global sourcing strategies, supplier development, technical alignment, commercial performance, and long-term supply continuity across a specialized global supply base. The GCM partners closely with Engineering, Sales, Operations, Estimating, and Executive Leadership to influence design decisions, optimize cost structures, mitigate supply risk, and support strategic business growth. The ideal candidate combines strong commercial acumen with deep technical knowledge of fabrication, manufacturing processes, materials, and engineered systems.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, Operations, or related field required, or significant relevant expertise.
• 7–12+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, commodity management, or category management.
• Deep expertise in complex engineered categories such as structural steel, fabricated systems, automation equipment, industrial manufacturing, construction materials, or custom assemblies.
• Strong technical acumen with the ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and manufacturing processes.
• Demonstrated success managing high-value, high-risk, and capacity-constrained supplier ecosystems.
• Proven experience leading complex commercial negotiations and long-term supplier agreements.
• Strong analytical, financial, and strategic planning capabilities.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and executive presentation skills.
• Experience operating in global sourcing environments preferred.

Nice To Haves

• Experience within heavy industrial manufacturing, material handling, EPC, construction, automation, or engineered systems industries.
• Familiarity with steel market indices, fabrication estimating, welding standards, and structural manufacturing processes.
• Experience supporting large-scale capital projects or engineered-to-order environments.
• Knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and procurement analytics tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute global commodity strategies aligned with business objectives, growth forecasts, and project pipeline demands.
• Analyze market conditions including raw material trends, fabrication capacity, labor availability, geopolitical risks, and global supply chain dynamics.
• Build and maintain multi-year sourcing, cost reduction, capacity, and supplier development strategies.
• Establish category roadmaps focused on cost competitiveness, supply continuity, innovation, and operational scalability.
• Monitor commodity indices and market intelligence to proactively manage commercial risk and pricing strategies.
• Identify, evaluate, qualify, and develop strategic supplier partnerships across global markets.
• Lead complex commercial negotiations including master service agreements (MSAs), pricing structures, escalation clauses, long-term agreements, and risk-sharing models.
• Drive supplier performance management programs focused on quality, delivery, capacity, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.
• Influence supplier investment decisions, manufacturing capabilities, and capacity planning to support business growth.
• Develop dual-source and risk mitigation strategies for constrained or high-risk supply markets.
• Apply advanced understanding of fabrication processes, structural steel systems, engineered assemblies, coatings, welding, and manufacturing methodologies.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, and technical requirements to assess manufacturability, cost drivers, and supply risk.
• Partner with Engineering and Operations teams on design-to-cost, value engineering, standardization, and optimization initiatives.
• Support bid development, estimating activities, and project execution with commercial and technical sourcing expertise.
• Evaluate total cost of ownership (TCO) and lifecycle impacts across sourcing decisions.
• Serve as the primary commodity liaison across Engineering, Sales, Estimating, Operations, Project Management, and Procurement.
• Influence bid strategy, supplier selection, make-versus-buy decisions, and project feasibility assessments.
• Provide executive-level updates on market conditions, sourcing risks, supplier health, and strategic initiatives.
• Act as escalation point for critical supplier, commercial, or supply continuity issues.
• Define and standardize sourcing processes, category playbooks, negotiation frameworks, and supplier governance models.
• Drive procurement best practices, process improvements, and scalable sourcing methodologies across the organization.
• Mentor and develop other procurement professionals and category managers.
• Support organizational capability building in strategic sourcing, supplier management, and category strategy execution.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior