Supplier Development Manager - North America

Eaton Corporation•Lathrup Village, MI

7d•$146,000 - $185,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Eaton's IS VEH Functions division is seeking a Supplier Development Manager - North America. This role is responsible for ensuring suppliers have the capability, capacity, quality systems, and performance needed to meet business needs throughout the supplier lifecycle. The position serves as the key technical and operational link to suppliers, supporting qualification, sourcing, risk assessment, APQP, launch readiness, capacity validation, and ongoing improvement. The manager also reduces supplier risk, improves performance, and supports supply continuity through cross-functional collaboration. The role involves ownership of the supplier lifecycle, including pre-launch evaluation and qualification, during-launch monitoring and escalation management, and post-launch continuous improvement initiatives. The position requires leading a regional team to ensure suppliers have the technical capability, capacity, quality systems, and operational excellence to meet requirements, developing supplier improvement strategies, and ensuring suppliers maintain continuity, capacity planning, workforce development, and operational excellence programs. It also involves establishing regional supplier development governance, conducting reviews, ensuring closure of corrective actions, monitoring performance trends, and supporting escalation management. The role requires close collaboration with Supply Chain Management, Purchasing, Engineering, Manufacturing, Supplier Quality, Program Management, and Operations Leadership to align supplier development priorities with business and customer needs, provide executive updates, and support new supplier, transfer, localization, and capacity expansion initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
Minimum 10 years in Supplier Development, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, OR Supply Chain experience required
Minimum 3 years of leadership experience managing teams
Eaton will not consider applicants for employment immigration sponsorship or support for this position. This means that Eaton will not support any CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT plans, F-1 to H-1B, H-1B cap registration, O-1, E-3, TN status, I-485 job portability, etc.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial, Quality Engineering from an accredited institution
Master's degree preferred.
Experience leading APQP, supplier qualification, sourcing support, and launch management and problem solving
Strong experience with global suppliers and cross-functional teams.
Technical knowledge: APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, Process Flow Diagrams, MSA, SPC, Supplier Auditing, Launch Readiness Assessments, Supplier Risk Management
Working knowledge of: IATF 16949, ISO 9001, AIAG Core Tools, Customer-Specific Requirements, Lean Manufacturing, Problem Solving Methodologies (Six Sigma, RedX, etc)
Leadership Competencies: Strategic Thinking, Talent Development, Supplier Relationship Management, Risk-Based Decision Making, Executive Communication, Change Leadership

Responsibilities

Evaluate and qualify supplier capabilities during sourcing activities.
Assess manufacturing readiness, capacity, quality systems, and project management.
Lead supplier risk assessments and mitigation activities.
Ensure APQP and production readiness requirements are completed.
Validate supplier capacity and scalability to meet forecasted demand.
Monitor supplier launch readiness and execution.
Lead escalation management and recovery activities for at-risk suppliers.
Support production trials, Run-at-Rate, PPAP approval, and launch containment.
Ensure suppliers meet quality, delivery, capacity, and stability targets.
Drive continuous improvement and supplier development initiatives.
Monitor supplier performance, capacity utilization, and operational effectiveness.
Ensure capacity supports demand changes, growth, and continuity needs.
Lead improvement plans focused on quality, delivery, productivity, and risk reduction.
Support resiliency, localization, and strategic supplier growth initiatives.
Lead the regional team in ensuring suppliers have the technical capability, capacity, quality systems, and operational excellence to meet requirements.
Develop supplier improvement strategies that strengthen pre-launch performance, launch stability, and long-term competitiveness.
Ensure suppliers maintain continuity, capacity planning, workforce development, and operational excellence programs.
Establish regional supplier development governance.
Conduct regular supplier business and development reviews.
Ensure timely closure of corrective actions and development plans.
Monitor performance trends and escalate critical issues.
Support regional escalation management and executive supplier reviews.
Align supplier development priorities with business and customer needs.
Provide executive updates on supplier readiness, launches, and risks.
Support new supplier, transfer, localization, and capacity expansion initiatives.