Lead External Supply Planner - Contract Manufacturing

S&C Electric Company

Chicago (IL)

Hybrid

USD 117,000 - 175,000

Full time

2 days ago

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Job summary

S&C Electric Company is seeking a Lead External Supply Planner to manage contract manufacturing supply plans, optimize supplier performance, and mitigate risks across a global network. The role emphasizes data-driven decisions and cross-functional collaboration to meet production commitments.

You will work hybrid, with formal responsibility for CTB readiness, capacity planning, and continuous improvement initiatives across suppliers and internal teams.

Qualifications

7+ years in supplier management in manufacturing.
Experience managing global sourcing projects with complex supply chains.

Responsibilities

Lead development and execution of supply plans for contract manufacturing partners.
Monitor supplier performance and drive improvements in delivery reliability and capacity utilization.
Coordinate capacity reviews with internal and external partners to align production priorities.

Skills

Supplier management

Global sourcing

Manufacturing processes

Project leadership

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder collaboration

Communication

Data-driven decision making

Financial acumen

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration or related field

Tools

Oracle Sourcing

Job description

This position serves as a key liaison between Contract Manufacturing, Procurement, Sourcing, Operations, and Engineering teams, leading efforts to improve supplier performance, enhance supply reliability, reduce lead times, and support the achievement of business objectives. Through cross-functional
leadership and data-driven decision making, the Lead External Supply Planner partners with contract manufacturing suppliers to identify and resolve supply chain challenges, drive continuous
improvement initiatives, and ensure material availability to meet customer and production requirements within established lead time parameters.

Hours:

8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Monday-Friday) Hybrid

Compensation:

At S&C, we are dedicated to providing competitive and equitable compensation for all our team members, and we are committed to transparency in our pay practices. The estimated annual base salary range for this position is $116,534 - $174,812. Individual pay within this salary range is determined by several compensable factors, including performance, knowledge, job-related skills and experience, and relevant education or training. This role is also eligible for S&C's annual incentive plan (AIP), subject to eligibility criteria.

Join Our Team as a Lead External Supply Planner- Contract Manufacturing!

Essential Functions:

Capacity and Supply Management: Lead the development and execution of supply plans for contract manufacturing partners, balancing customer demand, production capacity, material availability, and inventory targets. Drive Clear-to-Build (CTB) readiness at contact manufacturers by ensuring critical components and materials are available to support production schedules and customer commitments. Monitor and analyze supplier and contract manufacturer performance, identifying opportunities to improve delivery reliability, capacity utilization, and production execution. Lead supply and capacity reviews with internal stakeholders and external partners to proactively address constraints and align production priorities.
Optimization: Lead initiatives to optimize supply planning strategies, inventory investments, and material flow across the contract manufacturing network while maintaining required service levels. Identify and implement process improvements that enhance planning efficiency, increase supply visibility, and improve inventory management practices. Utilize data analytics and performance metrics to drive continuous improvement in supply reliability, inventory health, and operational effectiveness. Support the development of scalable planning processes that improve responsiveness to changing business and customer requirements.
Risk Management: Aid in the identification, assessment, and mitigation of supply chain risks impacting contract manufacturing operations and Clear-to-Build performance. Utilize advanced planning systems and data analytics to proactively identify material shortages, capacity constraints, and supplier risks. Partner with contract manufacturing network to develop and execute recovery plans and contingency strategies to minimize the impact of supply disruptions and support production continuity. Serve as a key escalation point for critical supply issues, coordinating cross-functional efforts to resolve challenges and mitigate business impacts.
External Alignment: Partner with Sourcing, Procurement, and Contract Manufacturing leadership to establish supplier and manufacturing partner performance expectations, improvement objectives, and capacity strategies. Drive supplier and contract manufacturer performance improvement initiatives focused on quality, delivery, responsiveness, lead-time reduction, and capacity readiness. Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with contract manufacturers, and key stakeholders to ensure alignment with business objectives and production commitments. Facilitate regular business reviews with external partners to evaluate performance, address risks, and identify continuous improvement opportunities.
Company Compliance: Ensure compliance with all applicable company policies, procedures, quality standards, and regulatory requirements. Promote adherence to supply chain governance, planning processes, and data integrity standards across internal and external partners. Support audit readiness and maintain accurate planning records, reports, and documentation necessary to support business operations.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Required

7+ years of demonstrated experience working in a supplier management role in the manufacturing industry.
Proven track record in managing global sourcing projects with complex supply chains, demonstrating deep knowledge of international sourcing strategies and supplier management.
Sound understanding of manufacturing processes for industrial products and components.
Ability to manage large-scale sourcing projects with minimal oversight, providing direction to cross-functional teams and ensuring project goals are met.
Great critical thinking, organizational, planning and project management skills, coordinating internal and external resources, creative problem-solving when obstacles arise, and juggling a heavy volume of diverse operational/tactical projects to deadlines and budgets.
Great interpersonal skills to establish meaningful relationships built on mutual trust and respect, navigate and resolve conflict, moderate behaviors and foster collaborative working relationships amongst a diverse audience.
Sound communication skills, (written, verbal, listening and presentation) able to liaise with internal and external stakeholders at all levels from leadership to support staff. Ability to influence senior leaders and cross-functional teams toward making sound supply management decisions.
Sound business acumen and analytical skills with the ability to use and analyze data to drive informed decisions, problem-solve difficult issues and leverage data and learnings to drive continuous improvement.
Excellent financial acumen and numerical ability to make strategic financial decisions and participate in negotiations to maximum effectiveness.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office products including Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Ability to travel internationally.