Direct Sourcing Manager

Astronautics Corporation of America; Oak Creek (WI); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Astronautics Corporation of America in Oak Creek, WI seeks a Direct Sourcing Manager to lead supplier negotiations, manage direct materials and services, and drive cost efficiencies. You will coordinate with Engineering, Operations, Customer Service, and Procurement to prepare RFQs, contracts, and supplier relationships, reporting to the Senior Manager, Procurement.

The role requires strong ERP experience, FAR/DFAR familiarity, and a strategic mindset to optimize material availability and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, finance or related field, or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum three years of experience in a procurement leadership role.
• Government procurement experience including FAR/DFAR.
• Strong understanding of the contract life cycle and types of contracts.
• Eligible to work in the US without sponsorship.
• Experienced in ERP navigation; IFS preferred.
• Purchase Order justification and documentation experience.

Responsibilities

• Follow a structured negotiation process to conduct supplier negotiations and contracting.
• Nurture supplier partnerships, track KPIs and goals, and monitor scorecards to measure supplier performance.
• Ensure PO backup documentation compliance.
• Evaluate, select, develop, aggregate spending, support sourcing efforts and maintain relationships with suppliers to ensure a reliable supply of materials.
• Study market intelligence and conduct market analysis to anticipate price fluctuations.
• Prepare and administer bids, proposals, and contracts that follow company policies and legal requirements.
• Ensure contracts are administered and monitored to maintain compliance with terms.
• Create strategic supplier management programs, emphasizing collaborative supplier relationships that control costs and manage risk.
• Develop and sustain relationships with critical suppliers through regular reviews of status and issues.
• Lead multifunctional teams in developing specifications, statements of work, and terms and conditions, including procurement of engineered products and capital equipment.
• Define escalation paths to resolve problems.
• Analyze and evaluate proposals and negotiate long-term pricing agreements.
• Negotiate commercial terms.
• Analyze complex data to identify sourcing opportunities and drive cost savings.
• Research market dynamics, cost drivers, historical spend, and industry trends to enhance negotiations.
• Ensure compliance with pricing, payment terms, volume commitments, rebates, etc.
• Manage key supplier performance goals aligned with procurement objectives.
• Provide clear feedback to drive continuous improvement in supplier performance.
• Leverage economies of scale to meet purchasing needs in terms of cost, quality, and supplier ability.
• Collaborate with Program Management and cross-functional teams.
• Help develop procurement policies, procedures, and forms.
• Work with IPTs during new product introductions to involve procurement early.

Skills

Procurement leadership

Supplier management

Contract negotiation

Cost savings

KPI tracking

Cross-functional collaboration

ERP navigation

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain / related field

Tools

IFS ERP

Job description

What You Will Do

We are seeking a Direct Sourcing Manager! In this role, you will support and coordinate activities involving the Engineering, Operations, Customer Service, and Procurement teams in preparing Request for Quotes (RFQs), negotiating contracts, and managing suppliers involved in direct materials/services. In addition, you and your team will be responsible for material availability, integral to supporting electronic component manufacturing, or other categories as assigned to support Astronautics. You will also manage processes, create efficiencies, and control costs using ERP systems and software tools.

We are seeking a Direct Sourcing Manager! In this role, you will support and coordinate activities involving the Engineering, Operations, Customer Service, and Procurement teams in preparing Request for Quotes (RFQs), negotiating contracts, and managing suppliers involved in direct materials/services. In addition, you and your team will be responsible for material availability, integral to supporting electronic component manufacturing, or other categories as assigned to support Astronautics. You will also manage processes, create efficiencies, and control costs using ERP systems and software tools. This on-site position, with some hybrid flexibility, is located at our headquarters in Oak Creek, WI. You will report directly to the Senior Manager, Procurement.

How You Will Do It

• Follow a structured negotiation process to conduct supplier negotiations and contracting.
• Nurture supplier partnerships, track KPIs and goals, and monitor scorecards to measure and evaluate supplier performance.
• Ensure PO backup documentation compliance.
• Evaluate, select, develop, aggregate spending, support sourcing efforts and maintain relationships with suppliers to ensure a reliable supply of materials.
• Studies market intelligence and conducts frequent market analysis and benchmarking to anticipate price fluctuations.
• Prepare and administer bids, proposals, and commercial and government contracts that follow company policies and legal requirements.
• Ensure contracts are administered and monitored to maintain compliance with the terms of agreements.
• Create Strategic supplier management programs, emphasizing collaborative supplier relationships that control costs, manage risk & support compliance.
• Develop & sustain relationships with critical suppliers by communicating & conducting regular reviews of status and issues.
• Lead multifunctional teams in developing specifications, statements of work, and terms and conditions, including procuring engineered products, capital equipment, and assigned categories.
• Define the escalation paths and methods to use to resolve problems.
• Analyze and evaluate proposals and negotiate long-term pricing agreements.
• Negotiate commercial terms.
• Analyze complex data to identify sourcing opportunities and drive cost savings in assigned categories.
• Research market dynamics, cost drivers, historical spend, and industry trends to enhance negotiations.
• Ensure compliance with pricing, payment terms, volume commitments, rebates, etc
• Manage key supplier performance goals and objectives consistent with procurement department goals.
• Provide clear and actionable feedback to encourage cooperation and drive continuous improvement in supplier performance.
• Leverage economies of scale to best meet the purchasing needs of the business in terms of cost, quality, and supplier ability.
• Participating as a key interface with the Program Management team and cross-functional teams.
• Participate in and assist with the development of procurement policies, procedures, and forms.
• Work with integrated product teams (IPT) during the introduction of new products to ensure procurement is involved early in the process.

Required

What We Look For:

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, finance or other related field from an accredited institution, or similar relevant work experience.
• Minimum three years of experience in a procurement leadership role.
• Government Procurement experience including FAR/DFAR
• Strong understanding of the contract life cycle and types of contracts.
• Eligible to work in the US without sponsorship.
• Experienced in ERP navigation. IFS preferred.
• Purchase Order justification and documentation experience

Desired

• Experience in an AS9100/ISO-9001 certified environment.
• Experience with FAA certified product development and manufacturing.
• Experience reviewing drawings, statements of work (SOWs) and engineering/procurement specifications.
• CPM or CPSM certification.

Who We Are

We are a team that designs computers, displays and electronic systems for aircraft of the future! At Astronautics, you will be part of a creative group of professionals who work on the cutting-edge of technology. We offer competitive pay, excellent benefits and the opportunity for professional growth in a collaborative environment. Astronautics, headquartered in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, is a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of secure avionics equipment and systems for the commercial and military aerospace industry. Key product areas include electronic primary flight and engine displays, connected aircraft and cyber solutions, electronic flight bags, and certified servers for airborne applications. Services include avionics system integration and custom software for critical applications. Since its founding in 1959, Astronautics has been providing trusted, reliable, and tailored solutions to help customers achieve mission success. Astronautics is the parent company of Kearfott Corporation, headquartered in Pine Brook, New Jersey.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.