US Steel Sourcing Director

Nextpower • Nashville, TN

10d • Onsite

About The Position

Nextpower is a global clean-energy technology company that designs, engineers, and supplies intelligent systems for utility-scale solar power plants. The US Steel Sourcing Director is responsible for leading the US steel sourcing team and developing Nextpower’s steel sourcing strategy across the United States. This role collaborates with senior executive leadership on long-term supply chain strategy and translates corporate objectives into actionable US sourcing plans. The Director owns the total cost of ownership for all steel commodity-related parts and raw materials, ensuring a competitive, resilient, and technically capable supplier base for utility-scale solar projects. This role has final decision-making authority on US steel sourcing strategy, supplier selection, and commercial frameworks within the category. The mission is to ensure Nextpower's US supply chain is set up for success by establishing partnerships with best-in-class US suppliers, integrating the right skill sets, anticipating business needs, and contributing to enterprise-level supply chain governance and long-range sourcing roadmaps.

Requirements

• 15+ years of experience in sourcing or strategic category management.
• Steel/metal experience preferred but not mandatory.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field.
• Advanced negotiation skills and strong understanding of US commercial contracts.
• Manufacturing and logistics background required.
• Ability to communicate and present sourcing strategies at an executive level.
• Ability to lead multi-cultural teams and thrive in an international environment.
• Strong strategic mindset.
• Proficiency in total cost of ownership modeling, should-cost analysis, and supplier performance analytics.
• High attention to detail in contracts, specifications, and commercial terms; disciplined approach to risk and compliance.
• Excellent communication skills to translate sourcing strategy and market dynamics to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, supply chain, logistics, finance, and commercial teams.
• Executive presence and strong relationship-building skills with senior supplier stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate steel sourcing strategy to senior executives of the company and represent it.
• Strong organizational skills; ability to prioritize and manage multiple negotiations, initiatives, and time-sensitive project needs.
• Ability to operate under pressure and ambiguity while maintaining rigor, speed, and accountability.
• Demonstrated ability to drive continuous improvement and deliver measurable results across cost, quality, and delivery.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in contract manufacturing.
• Experience in renewable energy, solar, or industrial equipment manufacturing.
• Exposure to US and international steel trade.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing US steel sourcing team.
• Direct the activities of the US steel sourcing function through managers and senior individual contributors, ensuring strategy execution and development of future leaders.
• Coordinate closely with global sourcing counterparts for alignment and knowledge sharing.
• Reconcile multiple stakeholder perspectives (Sales, Engineering, Finance, Operations) to drive optimal business outcomes.
• Act as the senior sourcing representative with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Interact regularly with senior management and executives to align sourcing strategy with enterprise priorities and resolve complex trade-offs across functions.
• Develop and deploy US steel sourcing strategies by product, category, and supplier.
• Translate business segment strategy into functional sourcing plans and execution roadmaps.
• Lead sourcing decisions across mills, processors, and service centers to balance cost, risk, and supply continuity.
• Ensure capacity, cost competitiveness, and risk mitigation to meet business needs on a forward basis.
• Develop and standardize sourcing methodologies, supplier evaluation frameworks, and risk assessment models used across the organization.
• Negotiate, execute, and manage long-term Master Supply Agreements and commercial frameworks.
• Establish and maintain executive-level relationships with key US steel suppliers and market stakeholders.
• Qualify and onboard new suppliers, including capacity, quality, and risk assessments.
• Drive supplier performance across cost, quality, delivery, and responsiveness.
• Partner with Sales, Planning, and Operations to understand demand trends and project pipelines.
• Allocate demand across suppliers to optimize cost, capacity, lead time, and geographic risk.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) and engineering changes with early sourcing engagement.
• Track US steel market trends, raw material indices, trade actions, and capacity developments.
• Identify and mitigate supply, pricing, and geopolitical risks through diversified sourcing strategies.
• Provide executive-level reporting on market conditions, sourcing strategy, and performance.

Benefits

• Nextpower is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director