Strategic Sourcing Manager - Pumps & Chemicals

Daikin Applied Americas•Plymouth, MN

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Daikin Applied, the world's largest HVAC company and a Forbes' America's Best-In-State Employer 2025, is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Manager for Pumps and Chemicals. This role involves proactively managing assigned direct material categories, including critical component parts and raw materials, from a global supply base. The manager will be responsible for developing strategic supplier relationships, ensuring supply continuity to support Daikin Applied’s growth, maintaining premier quality and on-time delivery, driving competitive costs, identifying new technologies, and enabling new product development. Daikin Applied is a global technology powerhouse focused on building a more sustainable planet and creating comfortable, healthy spaces. The company fosters an innovative and supportive environment where individuals can grow their careers and make an impact, valuing diverse and groundbreaking ideas to solve pressing challenges.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required (Business, Economics, Engineering, or Finance)
5–7 years of sourcing/procurement experience or equivalent
Experience with domestic and international sourcing and supplier management
Experience creating and implementing category strategies
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
Strong relationship-management and communication skills
Bias for action; adaptable in a dynamic environment
Work visa sponsorship is not available

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in business, supply chain, or engineering preferred

Responsibilities

Prepare and execute category strategies that mitigate supply risk, ensure business continuity, and support Daikin’s growth trajectory
Assess multi-tiered supply chain risk (1, 2, 3) and develop mitigation strategies
Identify and develop strategic supplier relationships, including OEM partners
Understand supplier cost structures and market dynamics to optimize quality, delivery, and price to facilitate fact based best value conversations
Implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and green initiatives to improve carbon footprint and ensure compliance
Drive improvements in supplier performance through supplier development and quarterly business reviews
Negotiate Master Supply Agreements and other supply contracts within budgetary and authority limits
Act as lead negotiator when delivery or quality issues are escalated by site material managers
Collaborate with suppliers to obtain information on price, availability, capacity, lead times, and delivery schedules
Monitor Market commodity prices and ensure supply agreements and component prices remain competitive through fluctuations
Develop Should Cost estimates to evaluate market pricing, ensuring competitive sourcing decisions
Lead cost-reduction and cost-productivity initiatives to deliver year-over-year savings aligned with DAA’s business plan
Drive supply chain redundancy through dual sourcing and localization
Drive improvements in supplier quality performance through cross-functional collaboration
Identify new suppliers, develop RFQs, analyze proposals, and optimize the global supply base
Ensure NPI projects are fully supported and key suppliers are engaged early