Director Supply Chain, Automotive

At Gentherm, we say, “It’s about the person .” We’re with you on a cold winter day when you turn on your heated seat and steering wheel or helping manage patient body temperature in the operating room, recovering room or intensive care units. We take a human approach with everything we do.

As the global market leader of innovative thermal management and pneumatic comfort technologies for the automotive industry we embrace the opportunity to create and deliver extraordinary solutions that make meaningful differences in everyday life. We do this by improving health, wellness, comfort and energy efficiency.

We embrace an entrepreneurial spirit and combine that with our global leadership to deliver results. Working at Gentherm provides you the opportunity to not only shape the future of the automotive and medical industries, but also influence your career throughout the company. You will be engaged, challenged and inspired by our team to deliver leading thermal technologies that positively impact lives around the world.

IMPACT and OPPORTUNITY

Lead regional activities for the extended Supply Chain including Logistics to create a coherent strategy, develop standard processes and drive continuous improvement towards world class performance. Optimize the total cost of ownership (including but not limited to inventory, planning, freight, duty, warehousing, etc.), resolve global supply chain issues, lead SIOP process within the region, improve customer service and demand planning, improve supplier performance, and supply planning, and drive continuous improvement. This position will lead, mentor, and coach the Supply Chain Managers and Logistics warehouses in best practices to improve key performance indicators for production plan adherence, on-time delivery, freight, and inventory management.

Support Strategy

• Develop a harmonized and highly competitive Supply Chain which is built on end-to-end value stream orientation, lean principles and the total cost of ownership.
• Define a coherent regional Supply Chain strategy including Logistics to achieve breakthrough improvements.
• Develop and lead the Sales, Inventory and Operational Planning (SIOP) process to drive attainment of delivery, revenue, inventory, freight and duty, and other performance targets.
• Monitor regional supply planning and forecasting of demand to ensure resource requirements are met.
• Manage supply of critical materials to all regional locations to ensure supply through accurate, real-time inventory management and continuous inbound and outbound tracking.
• Maintain accurate forecast models for inventory based upon incoming receipts and outbound shipments.
• Ensure all suppliers are compliant with local, regional, and international regulatory and import/export requirements.
• Manage Supply Chain throughout the entire product life cycle to prevent obsolete inventory from engineering changes and the End of Production life cycle.
• Coordinate physical inventory and cycle counting processes with regional locations and finance team.
• Accountable for Advance Ship Notices (ASN) to customers.
• Incorporate total cost of ownership and logistical aspects in the Request for Quote process.
• Support safe launch plans, program build outs, and product transfers.

Standardization

• Support the development and implementation of Global standard Supply Chain business processes based upon best practices.
• Incorporate standard processes for Logistics based upon lean principles and practices.

Continuous improvement

• Optimize Supply Chain business processes including Master Scheduling and Material Requirements Planning (MRP) to meet customer demand while reducing inventory and freight.
• Accommodate variability, align logistics, and forecast demand planning and supply planning sourcing to ensure the correct balance between service, cost, and cash.
• Develop and implement business process improvements utilizing enterprise software and MRP.
• Coordinate / support training and development of our employees in all Supply Chain aspects and ensure creation / maintaining of relevant training documents.
• Coach and mentor the Plant Supply Chain Managers and next level Supply Chain Plant Leaders.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain/Logistics, Business, or related discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant Supply Chain, international logistics, master scheduling and planning for production in the Automotive industry.
• Multi-site experience.
• Comprehensive data analytics to develop trends and insights to make informed decisions considering the Total Cost of Ownership.
• Profound knowledge of Supply Chain principles and practices utilizing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.
• Master Scheduling, Supply Planning, Inventory Control and Global Logistics / Warehousing.
• Technical application experience with SAP preferred.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of Automotive Supply Chain and life cycle.
• Experience managing critical supplier and customer escalations.
• Distribution experience with a solid understanding of trade compliance and cross-border administrative processes.
• Business fluent English communication skills (written and verbal).

• Transparent verbal and written communication skills.
• Leads by example with a high level of integrity.
• Works actively across boundaries in a matrix structure and creates shared ownership.
• Ability to flex, accept other perspectives and apply situational leadership.
• Fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Is a skilled problem solver; works to understand the root cause of issues and develops sustainable solutions to overcome them.
• Curious, self-motivated and willing to travel as needed.
• Six Sigma Black belt / Lean Professional is preferred.
• APICS Certification and/or CPIM or CPM or equivalent international certifications preferred.
• Language Skills: Spanish is a plus; Other Languages are a plus.

TRAVEL: 25%

LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES: Dotted line leadership of Plant Supply Chain Managers.

• Deliver Results
  • Understand the mission and output of your team; set SMART objectives and deliver.
• Drive Change
  • Focus on agility and commitment to continuous improvement; Understand and act on internal and external drivers of change.
• Build Capability
  • Foster a culture of learning and development; Support individual growth through continuous feedback to achieve personal and professional goals.
• Cultivate Innovation
  • Openly embrace, create, implement and support new and innovative ideas, processes and technology that deliver business results.

All positions in our office require interaction with people and technology while either standing or sitting. To best service our customers, internal and external, all associates must be able to communicate face-to-face and on the phone with or without reasonable accommodation. Gentherm is committed to compliance with its obligations under all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. In keeping with this commitment, it attempts to reasonably accommodate applicants and employees in accordance with the requirements of the disability discrimination laws. It also invites individuals with disabilities to participate in a good faith, interactive process to identify reasonable accommodations that can be made without imposing an undue hardship.

Gentherm is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.