Commodity Manager, Indirect Categories

States Manufacturing Corporation; Dayton (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Forgent Power in Dayton, MN is seeking a Commodities Manager to develop sourcing strategies and manage supplier relationships for cost-efficient, quality-compliant materials. The role emphasizes market analysis, negotiation, and collaboration across engineering, operations, and finance to optimize procurement and forecast demand.

The position involves leading supplier selection, contract negotiations, and performance monitoring, with up to 50% travel and a focus on mitigating supply risk while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering or related field required.
• 7+ years of experience in commodity management, strategic sourcing, or procurement.
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
• Strong Data Center Industry Experience.
• Experience with ERP/procurement systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and spend analytics tools.
• Solid understanding of market analysis, cost modeling, and total cost of ownership.
• Excellent communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category strategies for assigned commodities, aligning with production, engineering, and business goals.
• Monitor, prepare and present commodity markets analysis, pricing trends, and supply/demand dynamics to anticipate risk and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Lead supplier selection, qualification, and contract negotiations, including pricing, terms, and service-level agreements.
• Manage ongoing supplier performance through scorecards covering quality, delivery, cost, and responsiveness.
• Build and maintain a diversified, resilient supplier base to reduce single-source and geopolitical risk.
• Partner with engineering, operations, and finance teams to forecast demand and align procurement plans.
• Drive cost reduction and value engineering initiatives without compromising quality or supply continuity.
• Manage hedging or forward-buying strategies where applicable for volatile commodities.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, ethical sourcing standards, and relevant trade regulations.
• Support new product introduction (NPI) by sourcing materials early in the design cycle.
• Resolve supply disruptions, quality issues, and contract disputes in a timely manner.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Contract management

Cross-functional collaboration

Data Center industry experience

ERP/Procurement systems

Market analysis & cost modeling

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering

Master's degree or MBA

Certification: ISM CPSM CSCP or similar

Tools

ERP systems (SAP, Oracle)

Job description

Position Summary

The Commodities Manager is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for assigned commodity categories, managing supplier relationships, and mitigating cost and supply risk across the organization. This role combines market analysis, negotiation, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure reliable, cost-effective, and quality-compliant supply of materials.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category strategies for assigned commodities, aligning with production, engineering, and business goals
• Monitor, prepare and present commodity markets analysis, pricing trends, and supply/demand dynamics to anticipate risk and identify cost‑saving opportunities
• Lead supplier selection, qualification, and contract negotiations, including pricing, terms, and service‑level agreements
• Manage ongoing supplier performance through scorecards covering quality, delivery, cost, and responsiveness
• Build and maintain a diversified, resilient supplier base to reduce single‑source and geopolitical risk
• Partner with engineering, operations, and finance teams to forecast demand and align procurement plans
• Drive cost reduction and value engineering initiatives without compromising quality or supply continuity
• Manage hedging or forward‑buying strategies where applicable for volatile commodities
• Ensure compliance with company policies, ethical sourcing standards, and relevant trade regulations
• Support new product introduction (NPI) by sourcing materials early in the design cycle
• Resolve supply disruptions, quality issues, and contract disputes in a timely manner

Qualifications

• Required:
  • Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or related field
  • 7+ years of experience in commodity management, strategic sourcing, or procurement
  • Strong negotiation and contract management skills
  • Strong Data Center Industry Experience
  • Experience with ERP/procurement systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and spend analytics tools
  • Solid understanding of market analysis, cost modeling, and total cost of ownership
  • Excellent communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills
• Preferred:
  • Master's degree or MBA
  • Professional certification (ISM, CPSM, CSCP, or similar)
  • Experience in indirect Categories, electronics, metals, energy commodities
  • Familiarity with international trade, tariffs, and import/export regulations

Working Conditions

The typical work environment is a standard office setting. The employee is frequently required to perform work in a manufacturing environment. Frequently required to sit for extended periods of time at computer.

Up to 50% travel for site based role, 75% for remote team members.

Performance Metrics Categories

• Spend Under Management
• OTD/OTIF
• Savings and Productivity
• Quality
• Safety
• Replenishment and Lead‑Time
• Supplier Rationalization
• Innovation and Continuous Improvement

Disclaimer

The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required. Forgent Power reserves the right to modify, interpret, or apply this job description as needed.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Forgent Power is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected class.

Core Competencies & Behaviors

• Highlight key values expected of all Forgent Power team members: safety, quality, continuous improvement, collaboration, accountability, and customer focus.
• Analytical and data‑driven decision‑making
• Strategic thinking with attention to execution detail
• Risk management and problem‑solving under pressure
• Strong relationship management with internal stakeholders and external suppliers
• Adaptable and Resilient in fast‑changing market condition
• Ability to work autonomously with strong ownership, discipline and accountability
• Proactively driving outcomes with stakeholder groups to achieve deliverables