Strategic Sourcing New Product Development Specialist

Strategic Sourcing Analyst
Lead Commodity Strategy New Product Development Supplier Selection
Greater Milwaukee Area, Wisconsin Onsite

This isn't a role where you'll inherit a mature commodity strategy and simply maintain it.

Our client is seeking a sourcing professional who wants to make an impact.

The person hired into this role will help shape the future direction of several critical commodity categories, influence supplier selection decisions, support new product launches, and drive meaningful improvements in cost, supplier performance, and supply chain execution.

You'll work at the intersection of sourcing, engineering, manufacturing, and supplier management while helping guide sourcing decisions representing tens of millions of dollars in annual spend.

If you enjoy understanding how products are made, evaluating supplier capabilities, influencing business decisions, and building strategies rather than simply executing them, this is the type of opportunity that doesn't come along often.

Why This Role Matters:
The sourcing team is in the process of strengthening and refining commodity strategies across several key spend categories.
The opportunity is not simply to manage suppliers that already exist. The opportunity is to evaluate them, challenge assumptions, identify better solutions, and help determine what the future supply base should look like.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Influence supplier selection and supplier consolidation decisions
• Support major new product development initiatives
• Develop and execute commodity strategies
• Improve sourcing processes and supplier evaluation methods
• Partner directly with engineering, quality, operations, and leadership teams
• Drive measurable cost savings and performance improvements
• Build supplier relationships that support long-term business growth

This is a highly visible role where your decisions will directly impact future product launches, supplier performance, and overall sourcing success.

What Success Looks Like:
Within your first year, you'll be expected to:

• Strengthen commodity strategies within assigned categories
• Improve supplier performance and supplier alignment
• Support successful product launches and development programs
• Drive measurable cost reduction initiatives
• Identify and mitigate supplier risks before they become production issues
• Improve sourcing decision quality through stronger supplier evaluation and cost analysis
• Help build a more efficient and effective supply base

Most importantly, you'll help ensure the organization is working with the right suppliers, making informed sourcing decisions, and positioning itself for long-term success.

What You'll Own:
Commodity Strategy & Supply Base Development

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for assigned commodity categories
• Evaluate supplier capabilities, capacity, risk, and competitiveness
• Identify supplier consolidation opportunities
• Build and optimize supply base strategies
• Support supplier onboarding and supplier transitions
• Partner with global sourcing teams where applicable

Cost Reduction & Commercial Leadership

• Lead supplier negotiations
• Analyze supplier quotations and cost structures
• Support should-cost and total cost of ownership evaluations
• Drive cost reduction and value engineering initiatives
• Manage commercial agreements and supplier contracts
• Support sourcing optimization initiatives

New Product Development

• Source components and tooling for new product launches
• Support supplier selection activities for development programs
• Manage supplier timelines and launch readiness
• Partner closely with engineering teams during product development
• Support supplier qualification and PPAP activities
• Identify and mitigate sourcing risks before they impact project schedules

Supplier Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary commercial contact for assigned suppliers
• Support engineering changes and product transitions
• Resolve supplier-related issues impacting production
• Ensure continuity of supply for critical components
• Build long-term supplier partnerships

Who Thrives Here:
The people who are most successful in this environment tend to be:

• Naturally curious
• Strong problem solvers
• Comfortable operating without a detailed playbook
• Resourceful and self-directed
• Capable of balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution
• Comfortable making decisions and taking ownership
• Skilled at building relationships across functions
• Able to navigate ambiguity and shifting priorities

This role is best suited for someone who enjoys figuring things out, creating structure where opportunities exist, and taking ownership of outcomes.

Ideal Background:
We're interested in sourcing professionals who understand manufacturing and enjoy working closely with suppliers, engineering teams, and operations leaders.

Experience in one or more of the following commodity areas would be highly attractive:

• Castings
• Injection molded plastics
• Metal fabrication
• Heavy fabrication
• Weldments
• Hydraulic systems
• Powertrain components
• Drivetrain components
• Industrial manufacturing supply chains

Required…