Sourcing Commodity Manager

Wabtec•Kansas City, MO

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Wabtec Corporation is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions, and value-added services for freight and transit rail as well as the mining, marine, and industrial markets. In this role, you will drive the overall sourcing and cost-out strategy for the Wabtec Global Services businesses by leading the development and execution of material productivity projects across multiple sites. You will play a critical role in reducing total cost, improving supplier performance, and aligning sourcing decisions with operational and commercial needs. Your ability to influence cross-functional teams, analyze complex data, negotiate effectively, and build strong supplier relationships will directly support Wabtec’s financial objectives and long-term sourcing strategy. Through strategic planning, supplier optimization, and active collaboration with Finance, Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Commercial teams, you will enable cost deflation, supply continuity, and improved competitiveness across all service business units.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, Operations, or a related field OR 5+ years of equivalent experience in Sourcing, Procurement, Supply Chain, or Program Management.
Minimum 3 years of experience in sourcing, procurement, or commodity management within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
Demonstrated experience managing supplier negotiations involving cost, quality, lead time, payment terms, and contract conditions.
Experience developing and executing cost-out or cost-reduction projects.
Familiarity with sourcing tools, ERP/MRP systems (Oracle preferred), supplier onboarding processes, and contract/tollgate reviews.
Knowledge of PPV (Purchase Price Variance), raw material indices, and cost drivers such as logistics, labor, and metals.
Strong analytical and financial skills, including the ability to interpret cost models, pricing structures, and market trends.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, with the ability to develop clear reporting, dashboards, and executive-level presentations.
Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex information in a concise manner.
Skilled in cross-functional collaboration with teams such as Finance, Operations, Engineering, and Quality.
Highly organized with the ability to prioritize, manage multiple projects, and meet deadlines.

Nice To Haves

Additional coursework or certification in Supply Chain, Procurement, or Finance is a plus (e.g., APICS, ISM, CPSM).
Experience with supplier qualification processes (e.g., PPAP) is preferred.

Responsibilities

Build a commodity strategy to support supply continuity and sourcing alignment across Wabtec Global Services.
Review raw material indices, market trends, and PPV performance to assess progress against cost-out targets.
Collaborate daily with Finance, Operations, Engineering, Quality, and site purchasing teams to support sourcing decisions and resolve supplier-related issues.
Develop, evaluate, and manage RFQs, supplier bids, and negotiation strategies to secure competitive cost, quality, and delivery terms.
Analyze supplier proposals, should-cost models, and total cost considerations to support strategic sourcing recommendations.
Facilitate the first article inspection process using corporate tools to track the WGS and supplier approval process to qualify samples.
Enter and update cost-out and deflation projects in sourcing tools, ensuring accuracy and alignment with business objectives.
Prepare executive-ready PowerPoint presentations that summarize project status, risks, opportunities, and financial impact.
Communicate supplier cost pressures, market changes, and price-adjustment requirements to Commercial and Operations teams.
Lead supplier discussions to address performance concerns, escalations, delivery issues, or opportunities for cost reduction.
Identify and qualify new suppliers; support supplier rationalization activities, onboarding, and exit plans.
Participate in cross-functional meetings to drive alignment on project timelines, sourcing strategy, and cost-out deliverables.
Support integration initiatives tied to the One Wabtec Sourcing model and ensure consistent application of sourcing policies and processes.
Conduct supplier risk assessments related to sole/single sourcing, capacity, quality, and financial stability.
Drive continuous improvement in sourcing processes, documentation, and supplier performance management.
Maintain strong visibility to monthly spend, monthly inflation/deflation performance to budget and sourcing strategy across Global Services sites.