Sourcing Specialist

Career Area:

Job Description:

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Job Purpose
This position is responsible for executing the sourcing activities for a particular commodity assuring reliable primary and alternate sources of worldwide supply. They initiate the sourcing process by monitoring and assessing Solar’s current supply base and identifying new potential suppliers for qualification. The Sourcing Specialist is responsible for leading the supplier evaluation, selection and qualification processes. This individual will also leverage their expertise to optimize the supply base to address local content or regional needs, support growth initiatives, mitigate risk, and implement business continuation plans. Dimensions
Value Stream Spend & Suppliers: Typically ranges between $30M-$200M across 40+ suppliers.
People: Sourcing Specialist will support multiple internal and external business groups, engage in cross functional interactions across the business, and can provide back-up coverage for Buyers, Sourcing Specialists, and Supply Chain Managers.
Leadership: Is a Technical Coach in the role identifying and implementing best-in-class sourcing processes and tools. Acts as a coach/mentor in the areas of supply chain management and strategic sourcing. Leads 6-Sigma and/or cross functional teams.
Suppliers: Can be Sole, Single, Dual, or Multiple source. Can provide direct and/or indirect goods & services and may involve Third Party Intermediaries (TPIs).
Buyer-Supplier Relationships: Arms-Length, Preferred Suppliers, Partnerships, Strategic Alliances.
Supplier Complexity & Risk: Works with suppliers that fall within the following Portfolio Analysis categories: Acquisition, Leverage, Critical, Strategic.
Balance of Power: Works across the supplier balance of power spectrum (Buyer, Neutral, Seller).

Nature and Scope
This position is the sourcing focal point for a commodity strategy that could support New Production, Balance of Plant (BOP), Construction Services, Customer Services, regional and local content requirements, NPI programs, and other key projects. The incumbent is responsible for applying their expertise to drive and communicate strategic and/or project sourcing plans in support of cost, quality, and velocity objectives. The Sourcing Specialist will also ensure engagement of Solar and Supplier staff at management, technical, and operational levels. It is a requirement to act with a sense of urgency and diligently provide timely support to internal clients.

The major function of this role includes sourcing for assigned commodities with knowledge of viable global suppliers, emerging technologies, innovative processes, as well as environmental and geo-political factors. This involves actively consulting with internal clients, industry experts, and customers (where appropriate) to understand the VOB, VOC, and VOS as inputs to build robust commodity and sourcing strategies. Developed strategies are to be documented via the Supply Chain Strategy Document, implemented, and communicated. This also includes identifying, assessing, mitigating and reporting key financial and operational risks while ensuring reliable sources of worldwide supply.

The decisions that are made by the Sourcing Specialist will be based on: industry, category, and supplier analyses, Supply Chain Management input or direction, Our Values in Action, Worldwide Procedures, Solar Policies, Quality Management System, process documentation, Import/Export compliance guidelines as well as adherence to State, Federal, and international regulations. Erroneous decisions would typically result in failure to achieve goals critical to the organization and/or Customers and seriously affect Supply Chain performance.

This individual operates in compliance with corporate and Supply Chain policies and procedures. This position may be located centrally or in regional offices. This individual has no direct reports, but works within a team structure typically including Buyers, Supply Chain Coordinators/Planners, Supplier Technical Engineers, Supplier Development Engineers, and reports directly to a Site Sourcing Manager or Supply Chain Manager. There is an expectation to improve processes, related tools, and lead initiatives that directly support organizational objectives.

Internal clients include, but not limited to, the following: Oil and Gas, Power Generation, Customer Services, Turbomachinery Products, Legal, and Finance. The work environment is office-based, however the Sourcing Specialist should expect to visit internal production areas and external supplier sites, which will involve domestic and/or international travel.

This position could use all or any of the following tools: ERP software (P2P), E-Request, Windchill, Cognos/Tableau (or other analytical or cloud based tools), MS Office Suite, contract management tools, Virtual Conferencing (WebEx / Skype), industry research tools and codes, supplier evaluation and selection tools, cost analysis and make/buy decision tools, supplier financial health reporting (D&B, 10-k, 10-Q, etc), travel expense reporting tools.

Principal Accountabilities:

Sourcing Execution & Management –
Acts as the expert for supplier sourcing (discovery, evaluation, selection, and onboarding).
Leads and documents the supplier selection and re-evaluation processes.
Interprets, develops, and provides training on relevant processes and procedures.
Identifies opportunities to optimize the supply base and source globally where appropriate.
Analyzes supplier capabilities, market data, and financial positioning to develop hypotheses to use in strategy development and supplier negotiations.

Supplier Management –
Provides guidance for managing and building the relationships of new and existing suppliers.
Develops solutions to sourcing and/or supplier relationship issues.
Coaches teams, peers, and management on supplier relationship strategies.

Supply Chain Management –
Applies advanced Supply Chain knowledge to manage processes, establish policies, and develop value-adding strategies.
Develops criteria and gathers data to perform spend, market share, and demand analyses.
Develops and maintains influential relationships with suppliers’ management and internal clients as the Supply Chain and Solar ambassador.
Proactively works with clients and customers (where appropriate) to identify problems, resolutions, and opportunities.
Demonstrates, by example, the importance of building long-term supportive professional relationships that optimize value and mutual loyalty.
Monitors and manages supplier risk from financial, operational, and compliance perspectives.
Executes risk mitigation strategies to avoid supply chain disruption.

Contract Management –
Leads discussions for complex and potentially high value agreements.
Develops and implements solutions to improve contract compliance. Proactively identifies issues during and after contract completion and manages resolution.
Works to create incentives by defining supplier measurements and reporting frameworks.
Leads the transition process when changing contracted suppliers.

Negotiation –
Creates negotiation strategies based on thorough knowledge of business requirements.
Establishes the negotiation team, defines individual roles, and communicates the strategy.
Coaches and leads teams to ethically execute negotiation strategies.
Performs an assessment of the results and lessons learned after completing an agreement.

Cost Management –
Uses market and product knowledge to achieve business goals.
Develops business cases for make-buy decisions.
Analyzes data and identifies innovative solutions to reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Anticipates market opportunities, competitive responses, and develops counterstrategies & contingency plans.

Interpersonal and Analytical Skills
Well-developed interpersonal skills for dealing with sensitive issues and reaching consensus.
Capability to influence and persuade suppliers and internal clients to effective solutions.
Ability to collaborate in order to build constructive and inclusive business relationships.
Demonstrates responsiveness and acts with a sense of urgency.
Ability to lead teams, coach, mentor, as well as provide and accept constructive criticism.
Effective communicator in written and oral form.
Dedicated to meeting and exceeding the expectations of internal clients and external customers.
Ability to cope with change effectively and adjust to accommodate the unknown or unproven.
Capable of setting priorities in order to support business requirements; can sense what will help or hinder achieving a goal, eliminates roadblocks, and creates focus.
Holds self and others accountable to commitments in support of business objectives.
Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems.
Can unearth root cause to assess risk to the business and develop business continuation plans.

Required Qualifications
The position requires a Master’s degree with 5-7 years of experience or a Bachelor’s degree with 7-10 years of experience.
Experience with ERP software and proficient with MS Office Suite (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Visio)
Fluent in Business English in written and oral form and locally mandated languages as required.

Preferred Qualifications
Master’s Degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain or other related field.
Supply Chain Certification from a professional institution (ie. APICS, IIPMR, ISCEA, ISM, etc)
Understanding and demonstration of 6-Sigma and Lean Manufacturing principles.
6-Sigma Blackbelt Certification

Posting Dates:

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO).

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