Strategic Category & Sourcing Manager-Rubber, Plastic, Injection Molding (New Joint Venture)

3M•Monroe, NC

2d•$124,127 - $151,710•Onsite

About The Position

This position provides an opportunity to transition from other private, public, government or military experience to a 3M career. As the Strategic Category & Sourcing Manager - Plastics, Rubber & Injection Molded Direct Material parts, you will lead the development and execution of category strategies primarily for suppliers providing custom designed plastic, rubber, and injection molded components. In this role, you will be responsible for driving cost competitiveness, supplier performance, supply continuity, quality, and risk management across a specialized and critical supply base supporting custom-designed direct materials. You will work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and other stakeholders to support operational needs, new product introductions, and long-term business objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher (completed and verified prior to start)
Five (5) years of experience in sourcing, category management, procurement, supply chain, operations, engineering, manufacturing, finance, or a related field in a private, public, government, or military environment

Nice To Haves

Experience managing suppliers in a direct materials environment within a highly regulated industry
Experience sourcing custom-designed direct materials and supporting complex or engineered components
Experience leading sourcing strategies, supplier selection, and contract negotiations
Experience supporting new product introduction, supplier readiness, design for manufacturability, and engineering changes
Experience with plan for every part (PFEP) and supply chain readiness planning
Strong strategic sourcing, supplier management, negotiation, and contract management skills
Experience conducting spend analysis, market assessments, and cost improvement initiatives
Strong understanding of supplier qualification, change management, and quality requirements in regulated manufacturing environments
Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain teams
Strong analytical, project management, and problem-solving skills
Proficiency in Excel based data analysis
Strong written and verbal communication skills

Responsibilities

Develop and execute strategic category plans primarily for custom designed plastics, rubber, and injection molded parts aligned with business priorities for cost, quality, growth, supply continuity, and risk mitigation.
Lead sourcing initiatives including supplier identification, RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, negotiations, supplier selection, and implementation.
Manage supplier relationships and serve as the primary sourcing lead for assigned suppliers and commodity areas.
Negotiate pricing, commercial terms, and supply agreements to improve value, mitigate risk, and support business continuity.
Conduct spend analysis, market intelligence, cost modeling, and supplier benchmarking to identify sourcing opportunities and strengthen category competitiveness.
Partner with suppliers to improve quality, delivery, capacity, responsiveness, service, and cost performance.
Assess supplier capabilities related to tooling, molding processes, material expertise, manufacturing capacity, and quality systems.
Evaluate and manage suppliers with capabilities in injection molding, elastomer processing, tooling, secondary operations, and custom component manufacturing to support quality, capacity, cost, and innovation objectives.
Support supplier selection and development for custom molded components, elastomeric materials, and related assemblies.
Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to support Engineering, Operational and Quality business objectives.
Provide key support for new product introduction activities through early engagement on supplier selection, collaboration on design for manufacturability, development of a plan for every part (PFEP), and actions to ensure supply chain readiness in support of Project and Production launch timelines.
Identify and manage supply risks related to tooling, sole or single sourcing, capacity constraints, raw material availability, and supplier performance.
Lead supplier business reviews, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Ensure suppliers meet applicable regulatory, quality, and corporate requirements.
Responsibilities of this position include that corporate policies, procedures and security standards are complied with while performing assigned duties.
Safety is a core value at 3M. All employees are expected to contribute to a strong Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) culture by following safety policies, identifying hazards, and engaging in continuous improvement.