Indirect Material Advisor

Job Description

Who will you be working with?

In this role, you will work closely with the Plant Manager
, Indirect Sourcing leadership
, Finance/AP
, Maintenance
, Production and other departments to ensure all indirect materials and services needed to support the plant are purchased efficiently, compliantly, and on time. You will regularly collaborate with internal requestors, preferred suppliers, and cross‑functional teams, becoming the central point of contact for all indirect procurement activity at the site.

Your work will directly impact production continuity, cost performance, supplier quality, and the overall stability of plant operations.

As the Indirect Material Advisor, you are responsible for all indirect materials and services used at the plant—including MRO supplies, tooling, consumables, IT/telecom needs, facilities services, logistics, uniforms, and other non-production categories that support day-to-day operations.

You will act as the site’s procurement expert, ensuring we achieve competitive pricing, enforce Wabtec sourcing standards, and secure cost savings through negotiations, supplier consolidation, and contract optimization. You will play a key role in ensuring operational readiness by preventing shortages, improving supplier performance, and streamlining purchasing processes.

This position is critical to maintaining operational excellence, supporting cost-out initiatives, and ensuring that our sourcing practices align with safety, compliance, and ethical standards.

4800 Deramus Ave, Kansas City, MO 64120

• Own and manage all indirect materials and services for the plant, serving as the primary contact for internal requestors and suppliers.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies aligned with Wabtec’s global indirect procurement policy.
• Solicit bids, negotiate pricing and contract terms, and prepare supplier recommendations. Manage vendor relationships to ensure quality, delivery reliability, and competitive cost.
• Ensure all suppliers meet compliance requirements, including COIs, legal terms, and safety documentation.

• Identify cost‑out opportunities through vendor consolidation, competitive bidding, and contract renegotiation.
• Analyze spend data, monitor price changes, and report savings, inflation/deflation, and cost avoidance in alignment with corporate KPIs.
• Evaluate long‑term agreements, service levels, and contract execution to ensure operational and financial value.

• Participate in daily/weekly Gemba walks with plant leadership to understand operational needs, identify sourcing gaps, and proactively support the production floor.
• Work closely with maintenance and engineering to ensure MRO and facility needs are purchased efficiently and without interruption.
• Follow all safety protocols, including required PPE, when entering production areas.
• Support plant operations with quick turnarounds on urgent sourcing needs while maintaining compliance.
• Provide training to operations, and other departments on the indirect purchasing process and policies.

• Monitor supplier performance, evaluate risk, and elevate issues when necessary.
• Support supplier audits, performance reviews, and compliance checks.
• Reinforce Wabtec standards on ethics, diversity, safety, and legal compliance.

• Support operational improvement projects, cost‑out initiatives, and cross-functional teams.
• Assist with emergencies, system outages, or urgent procurement needs following policy guidelines.
• Provide backup support to other Supply Chain or Sourcing roles as needed.

• This position is primarily an office-based role; however, it requires regular movement throughout the facility to support employees and operational needs.
• Regular walking to and from production areas, meeting rooms, and common spaces.
• Occasional standing, bending, or reaching while organizing supplies, setting up events, or updating communication boards.
• Light physical work, such as carrying office supplies, event…