Job Overview

Manage sourcing activities across Komatsu North America.  Identify and qualify suppliers capable of providing products and services to meet OE and Aftermarket requirements in accordance with SLQDC principals; ensuring productivity, continuous improvement, and negotiated lowest total overall cost. 

Key Job Responsibilities

• Manage sourcing activities across Komatsu North America.  Identify and qualify suppliers capable of providing products and services to meet OE and Aftermarket requirements in accordance with SLQDC principals; ensuring productivity, continuous improvement, and negotiated lowest total overall cost. 

• Develop specific category strategies for single or multiple categories of spend. i.e. Steel, Castings, Forgings, Machining, Hydraulic, Mechanical, Electronics, etc.

• Standardise Contracts and Master Purchase Agreements for category purchases as directed by the business strategies and corporate goals.

• Analyze technical data, designs, preliminary specifications, manufacturing limitations, supplier facilities, and availability of parts and equipment.

• Lead and participate in team collaborations where category management expertise is required. Ensure category strategy is reflective of business goals, communicated, and executed.

• Monitor supply markets and commodity trending for competitive changes and prepare cost models for respective category.

• Primary owner of Supplier Relationship Management for strategic supply base within given category. 

• Be a leader and work independently to establish strategy timeline, managing deliverables, and ability to appropriately identify and escalate issues when needed.

• Perform high-level global category analysis (Full spend and segment spend into sub-category if needed). 

• Sourcing Strategy & Negotiation - Develop and implement the commodity sourcing strategy through analysis of global markets, raw materials trends, technology, value chain analysis, and long-term sourcing plans. Prepare for and lead supplier negotiations. Initiate and manage RFI’s, RFP’s, and RFQ’s.  Owner of master data.

• Perform industry research to identify qualified supplier candidates to meet Komatsu needs. Benchmark best in class suppliers. 

• Perform “Should Cost Analysis” cost models for each category group to fully understand cost make-up and drive optimal cost decisions. 

• Supplier Relationships - Understand type of supplier relationship required, ongoing oversight of supplier relationships with responsibilities for all commercial aspects including negotiations, contracts, partnerships, continuous improvements, etc. Manage the supplier relationship to develop the best value proposition with coordination of key internal and external stakeholders. Manage, maintain and update all Supplier contracts. Develop plans for partnership relationship management for selected suppliers, to improve financials, reduce in house/total costs, improve quality/6S, and OTD. Provide direction and support in order to foster a mentoring relationship to suppliers and adapt tactics based upon maturity and the track record of the supplier. Ensure delivery against savings targets at required quality levels. 

• Support cost reduction goals established by top management and develop and drive actions to meet the short term and long-term cost reduction goals.

• Manage and utilize TCO/TLC to leverage sourcing opportunities - by including considerations of local content, taxes, duties, geo-political dimensions, Intellectual Property, and other factors determined by business strategies. 

Qualifications/Requirements

• Ideal candidates will possess a bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, or Business. An associate’s degree in combination with relevant experience in Purchasing, Materials, or Engineering background with a specialized knowledge on a focused group of commodities will be considered.  Must possess analytical/critical thinking skills.
• CPIM, CSCP or CPM Certification a plus.
• 10+ years of relevant working experience. 
• Experience working in an ERP environment (SAP a plus).  
• MS Office aptitude Technical Skills. 
• The position requires a broad knowledge and thorough understanding and experience commodity knowledge, and experience in category or commodity management with strong negotiation skills, demonstration of supplier relationship management and leadership capabilities.
• Very self-motivated, must be a good communicator with strong analytical skill and the ability to build a highly professional working relationship with each supplier and internally to promote maximum benefit of the supplier agreements.
• Critical Thinking – Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and technical specifications preferred.
• Knowledge of Komatsu products is desired but not necessary. 
• Knowledge of Supply Chain programs (Consignment, Kanban, JIT, VMI, Lean, CI, etc.) and ability to manage project execution of these programs.
• Personal Attributes: Professional and Positive attitude. 
• Strong relational skills, ability to work with all departments, fosters teamwork and a positive work environment.
• Ability to work independently and be self-motivated. 
• Must be able to prioritize assignments. 
• Excellent presentation and communication skills (written and verbal) with a strong focus on customer service.
• Ability to influence peers and lead cross functional teams. 
• Systems skills: SAP, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Ariba

Additional Information