Innovation Sourcing Manager

Trystar Inc•Burnsville, MN

10d•$130,000 - $150,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Trystar is seeking an Innovation Sourcing Manager to join their Research, Development, and Engineering team. This role is responsible for sourcing partners, parts, and processes to transform new power-product ideas into buildable hardware. The position involves working closely with engineering during the design phase, identifying and developing new suppliers and technologies, and managing the sourcing process from concept through production readiness. The ideal candidate will collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Operations, and Product Management to ensure new products meet market needs at the required speed. This role is also referred to as technical sourcing or R&D sourcing.

Requirements

8+ years of experience in technical sourcing, strategic sourcing, commodity management, new product introduction, or product development sourcing.
Proven experience collaborating with electrical and/or mechanical Engineering, Quality, and Operations on manufacturability, supplier capability, cost, lead time, and quality.
Demonstrated negotiation of pricing, commercial terms, statements of work, and supplier agreements, including NDAs and supply agreements.
Hands-on technical sourcing or NPD or NPI experience from prototype or early development through production readiness, including supplier identification, RFQs, qualification, and source selection.
Ability to source categories relevant to the product, such as fabricated metal and weldments, electromechanical assemblies, engineered components, or power and electrical hardware, and to learn new technologies quickly.
Willingness to travel approximately 20% annually. Work from an established Trystar site is preferred; an exceptional U.S.-based candidate may work remotely if they will travel at that level.
Working knowledge of ERP and sourcing data (Epicor or equivalent) to manage cost, supplier performance, lead time, and project status.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, supply chain, or a related field. An engineering degree is advantageous; equivalent experience working in tight partnership with Engineering is accepted.
Knowledge of ISO quality systems, DFM collaboration, and/or should-cost or total-cost analysis.
PMI certification or comparable program-management credential.
ISM certification (CPSM, CPSD, or equivalent).
Lean, Lean Sigma, or Six Sigma experience (Green Belt or Black Belt certifications preferred).

Responsibilities

Identify and communicate sourcing risks early in the development cycle, at concept and through prototype, to drive mitigating designs, qualified alternates, and focused supplier development before the critical path locks.
Align with Commodity / Category Managers and Enterprise Sourcing on supplier evaluation, selection, development, qualification, and a clean handoff from prototype into production ramp-up, aligned to program milestones.
Thoroughly vet and qualify new suppliers for quality, delivery, capability, and compliance, including components and processes with no established Trystar source.
Own the RFQ and quoting process for new-product and prototype buys: bid packages, capability assessment, source selection, and commercial negotiations to cost and lead-time targets.
Identify and develop new sources and technologies where existing supplier relationships do not yet exist. Evaluate capability, pricing, quality, and capacity with Category Managers and negotiate contracts that secure the best total value.
Document and manage project sourcing strategies. Provide regular updates on sourcing status, material cost, supplier risk, and open issues so Engineering, Quality, Operations, and Product Management can make phase-gate decisions.
Track and manage quality, supply risk, material cost, response / lead time, and technology movement across the full device bill of material, new and legacy components, to support production readiness.
Partner with Engineering on technical requirements, manufacturability, supplier capability, cost, lead time, quality, and supply risk, and run prototype-to-production sourcing so launches hit quality and schedule.
Implement and keep current supplier commercial documents—NDAs/CDAs, MSAs, project or research agreements, and related terms, covering IP protection, supply conditions, and environmental and quality requirements.
Support funds setup, invoice reconciliation, payments, and remittance reporting for early-stage and new-product buys.
Improve technical sourcing process, BOM cost visibility, and project tracking using ERP and sourcing data (Epicor or equivalent), including make-versus-buy and outsourcing of internally made content when that is the right call.