Procurement Design Redesign Director

Xylem•Morrisville, NC

14d•$130,000 - $150,000

About The Position

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions. 1. New Product Development (NPD): Partner with Engineering, R&D, and Product Management teams to align procurement strategies with product design and innovation objectives. Source and qualify suppliers for new product launches, focusing on cost, quality, and lead time. Negotiate contracts, pricing, and terms for prototype and production materials. Ensure alignment of supplier capabilities with NPD requirements, including compliance with technical specifications and sustainability goals. 2. Value Engineering (VE): Drive cost-reduction initiatives through re-engineering, alternate materials, and design simplifications on existing product portfolio and components. Collaborate with cross-functional teams and suppliers to identify and implement VE opportunities without compromising quality or performance. Facilitate Vale Engineering workshops and deploy Should Costing and Teardown sessions for Idea Generation. Benchmark industry trends and conduct spend analyses to identify savings potential. Monitor the performance of VE initiatives and ensure measurable outcomes. 3. Supplier Management: Develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to foster innovation and continuous improvement. Conduct supplier performance evaluations and implement corrective actions when necessary. Negotiate and manage contracts with an emphasis on Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). 4. Process Optimization: Establish and refine procurement processes to support efficient NPD and VE workflows. Develop KPIs to measure and improve project timelines, cost savings, and supplier performance. Implement tools and systems to improve data transparency and decision-making in procurement activities. 5. Stakeholder Engagement: Act as the primary liaison between Procurement and internal stakeholders, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives. Lead cross-functional meetings and present project progress, challenges, and solutions to senior management. Advocate for procurement's role in driving innovation and value creation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field (MBA or advanced degree preferred).
10+ years of experience in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain management in a manufacturing environment.
Proven track record in managing NPD and VE projects.
Strong negotiation, communication, and analytical skills.
Familiarity with cost modeling, supplier qualification processes, and project management tools.
Knowledge of industrial manufacturing processes, materials, and supply markets.
Experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and procurement software.
Fluent in oral and written English.
Strategic and analytical mindset with a focus on results.
Exceptional problem-solving skills and ability to work under tight deadlines.
Strong collaboration skills and ability to influence cross-functional teams.
Commitment to sustainability and continuous improvement.
Project management skills.
Ability to focus on cooperate targets and drive these throughout the organization.
Passionate about drive change and improvements.
Capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously.
Capable of working in a team environment involving multiple cultures.
Capable of working closely with internal stakeholder, especially Operations, R&D, Product Management and Finance.
Capable to interact with different organizational levels

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree preferred

Responsibilities

Partner with Engineering, R&D, and Product Management teams to align procurement strategies with product design and innovation objectives.
Source and qualify suppliers for new product launches, focusing on cost, quality, and lead time.
Negotiate contracts, pricing, and terms for prototype and production materials.
Ensure alignment of supplier capabilities with NPD requirements, including compliance with technical specifications and sustainability goals.
Drive cost-reduction initiatives through re-engineering, alternate materials, and design simplifications on existing product portfolio and components.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams and suppliers to identify and implement VE opportunities without compromising quality or performance.
Facilitate Vale Engineering workshops and deploy Should Costing and Teardown sessions for Idea Generation.
Benchmark industry trends and conduct spend analyses to identify savings potential.
Monitor the performance of VE initiatives and ensure measurable outcomes.
Develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to foster innovation and continuous improvement.
Conduct supplier performance evaluations and implement corrective actions when necessary.
Negotiate and manage contracts with an emphasis on Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Establish and refine procurement processes to support efficient NPD and VE workflows.
Develop KPIs to measure and improve project timelines, cost savings, and supplier performance.
Implement tools and systems to improve data transparency and decision-making in procurement activities.
Act as the primary liaison between Procurement and internal stakeholders, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives.
Lead cross-functional meetings and present project progress, challenges, and solutions to senior management.
Advocate for procurement's role in driving innovation and value creation.