Commodity Manager

Novanta Inc.; Apex (NC); On-site; USD 89,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Novanta Inc. is seeking a driven Commodity Manager to own a portfolio of commodities across our multi‑site manufacturing footprint.

You will develop category strategies, negotiate supplier agreements, and deliver measurable cost savings and supply assurance while partnering with Engineering, Operations, and Quality to optimize value. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Procurement, you will leverage spend data, run RFx events, and manage supplier performance through scorecards and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• 5+ years of procurement/sourcing/commodity management in manufacturing.
• Proven track record of cost savings through strategic sourcing.
• Strong analytical skills including spend analysis and should-cost modeling.
• Solid negotiation and supplier-management capability.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and data-analysis tools (Oracle EBS, Power BI, Excel).

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies aligned to business objectives.
• Own savings targets and manage price, terms, lead time, and total cost of ownership.
• Negotiate and administer supplier agreements and ensure contract compliance.
• Qualify, onboard, and rationalize suppliers to reduce risk and complexity.
• Support NPI by sourcing suppliers for new components and prototypes.
• Identify and mitigate supply risks with contingency planning.

Skills

Analytical skills

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

ERP/MRP experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Oracle EBS

Power BI

Excel

Job description

Build a career powered by innovations that matter! At Novanta, our innovations power technology products that are transforming healthcare and advanced manufacturing—improving productivity, enhancing people’s lives and redefining what’s possible. We create for our global customers engineered components and sub-systems that deliver extreme precision and performance for a range of mission‑critical applications—from minimally invasive surgery to robotics to 3D metal printing. Novanta is one global team with over 26 offices located in The Americas, Europe and Asia‑Pacific. Looking for a great place to work? You have found it with a culture that embraces teamwork, collaboration and empowerment. Come explore Novanta. Novanta is a leading global supplier of core technology solutions that give medical and advanced industrial original‑equipment manufacturers a competitive advantage. We are seeking a driven Commodity Manager to own the strategy and performance of an assigned portfolio of commodities across our multi‑site manufacturing footprint. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Procurement, the Commodity Manager is accountable for developing category strategies, negotiating and managing supplier agreements, and delivering measurable cost savings and supply assurance within their commodity book. This role blends analytical rigor – leveraging spend and transaction data to identify opportunity – with the commercial and relationship skills needed to execute with suppliers and partner across Engineering, Operations, and Quality. It is an ideal opportunity for a commercially minded sourcing professional who wants clear ownership of a category and direct impact on cost and supply.

Key Responsibilities

• Commodity & Category Strategy Develop, document, and execute category strategies for an assigned portfolio of commodities, aligned to the broader procurement and business‑unit objectives set by the Senior Manager, Procurement. Analyze spend, demand, market conditions, and the supply base to identify consolidation, standardization, and cost‑reduction opportunities across sites. Maintain a rolling pipeline of sourcing initiatives and savings projects for the assigned commodities, with clear owners, timelines, and expected value.
• Cost Management & Savings Own the annual savings and purchase‑price‑index (PPI) targets for the assigned commodities and deliver year‑over‑year cost reduction. Lead negotiations on price, payment terms, lead time, and total cost of ownership; prepare should‑cost models and run competitive bid (RFx) events. Track, validate, and report realized savings in partnership with Finance to ensure benefits reach the P&L, and drive value‑engineering and cost‑avoidance opportunities with Engineering and Operations.
• Supplier Management & Negotiation Manage day‑to‑day supplier relationships within the commodity portfolio, including performance reviews, scorecards, and continuous‑improvement plans. Negotiate and administer supply agreements, pricing agreements, and terms; ensure contract compliance and resolve commercial issues. Qualify, onboard, and rationalize suppliers to strengthen the supply base and reduce risk and complexity.
• Sourcing & New Product Introduction (NPI) Support new product introduction by sourcing and qualifying suppliers for new and prototype components within the assigned commodities. Partner with Engineering early in development to influence design‑for‑cost and design‑for‑supply‑chain decisions and to avoid sole‑source or long‑lead exposure. Ensure timely material availability for prototype and pilot builds without disrupting production supply.
• Risk, Trade & Supply Continuity Proactively identify and mitigate supply risk within the commodity portfolio – including single‑source, geopolitical, tariff, and supplier financial‑health exposures. Support tariff and trade‑cost mitigation by evaluating alternative sources, country‑of‑origin options, and landed‑cost trade‑offs in partnership with Trade Compliance and Logistics. Develop and maintain contingency and dual‑source plans for critical components.
• Data, Systems & Reporting Leverage ERP and analytics tools (e.g., Oracle EBS, Power BI, Excel) to analyze spend and transaction data, build the fact base for negotiations, monitor commodity performance, and maintain accurate item, cost, and supplier data. Prepare clear, executive‑ready reporting on savings, supplier performance, and commodity risk.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration Partner with Engineering, Operations, Planning, Quality, and Finance to align commodity decisions with production, quality, and working‑capital goals. Represent procurement in cross‑functional projects and act as the subject‑matter expert for the assigned commodities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• 5+ years of procurement, sourcing, or commodity/category management experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated track record of delivering cost savings through negotiation and strategic sourcing.
• Strong analytical skills, including spend analysis, should‑cost modeling, and total‑cost‑of‑ownership evaluation.
• Solid negotiation, contract, and supplier‑management capability.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and data‑analysis tools (e.g., Oracle EBS, Power BI, advanced Excel).

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional certification (CPSM, CSCP, or APICS) and/or progress toward an advanced degree.
• Experience managing electronics, PCBA, motors, mechanical, or other engineered‑product commodities.
• Familiarity with Oracle EBS R12 (transaction and cost data) and spend‑analytics reporting.
• Exposure to global trade, tariffs, HTS classification, and landed‑cost analysis.
• Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous‑improvement training.

Key Competencies

• Analytical and fact‑based, with strong financial and commercial acumen.
• Skilled negotiator who builds effective supplier and cross‑functional relationships.
• Organized and self‑directed, able to manage a portfolio of initiatives to deadlines.
• Sound judgment in balancing cost, quality, risk, and supply continuity.

Performance Measures

• Annual cost savings and PPI performance delivered for the assigned commodities.
• Supplier performance (quality, delivery, and risk) within the portfolio.
• On‑time supplier readiness and cost performance for NPI components.
• Reduction in single‑source and supply‑risk exposure.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $88,660 to $115,000 annually based on full‑time employment.

Compensation offers are determined based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to location, relevant skills, training, experience, and education.

Certain positions may be eligible for performance‑based incentive compensation and/or long‑term incentive programs.

Incentive eligibility and structure may vary depending on the applicable plan and may be discretionary or non‑discretionary.

Novanta supports all aspects of employees' well‑being.

• This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, financial, and other programs designed to support quality of life.

Equal Opportunity

Novanta is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected‑veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Novanta is proud to be an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action workplace.

We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, military and veteran status, disability, genetics, or any other category protected by federal law or Novanta policy.

Please call [phone] if you need a disability accommodation for any part of the employment process.

Solving complex challenges, delivering innovations that matter! Novanta is a leading global supplier of core technology solutions that give medical, life science, and advanced industrial original equipment manufacturers a competitive advantage. We combine deep proprietary expertise and competencies in precision medicine, precision manufacturing, robotics and automation, and advanced surgery with a proven ability to solve complex technical challenges. This enables Novanta to engineer proprietary technology solutions that deliver extreme precision and performance, tailored to our customers' demanding applications. The driving force behind our growth is the team of innovative professionals who share a commitment to innovation, the Novanta Growth System, and our customers’ success. Novanta’s common shares are quoted on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "NOVT".