Manufacturing Supply Chain Lead

Sterling Engineering; Elmhurst (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling Engineering in Elmhurst, IL seeks a highly capable Supply Chain Lead in procurement operations to own end-to-end supply chain management, project scheduling, vendor strategy, forecasting, and cross-functional alignment with manufacturing, engineering, sales and executive leadership.

The role focuses on optimizing daily production and long-term initiatives, developing long-range strategies, monitoring inventory, negotiating with suppliers, and implementing ERP tools to support

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management or related field.
• 3+ years of progressive supply chain experience, ideally in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of project schedules, forecasting, capacity planning, and supply chain analytics.
• Proven ability to think strategically while managing day-to-day execution.
• Excellent vendor management and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage the full supply chain process from supplier selection through to final delivery of product.
• Develop and maintain long-range supply chain strategies aligned with business growth, project timelines, and customer requirements.
• Collaborate with Sales, Engineering, and Operations to create accurate forecasts and project schedules that ensure material availability and on-time delivery.
• Monitor and analyze inventory levels, lead times, and order patterns to ensure optimal inventory turns without jeopardizing production.
• Build and maintain strong vendor partnerships while continuously evaluating supplier performance, pricing, lead times, and quality.
• Lead contract negotiations with key suppliers to ensure favorable terms, pricing, and delivery commitments.
• Implement and manage supply chain KPIs; drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance cost savings, quality, and efficiency.
• Participate in cross-functional business meetings to provide supply chain input into new product development, customer projects, and capital planning.
• Evaluate and implement ERP tools, supply chain systems, and process improvements to support data-driven decision making.
• Identify risks and develop contingency plans for critical supply chain disruptions.

Skills

Supply chain management

Forecasting

Vendor management

Project scheduling

Cross-functional collaboration

ERP systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management or related field

Job description

We are seeking a highly capable and business-minded Supply Chain Lead in the procurement operations department to join a growing team. This is a highly visible role with a strong focus on high-level supply chain management, project scheduling, vendor strategy, forecasting, and cross-functional business alignment.

The Supply Chain Lead will oversee and optimize the end-to-end supply chain operations to support both daily production and long-term strategic initiatives. This role requires a broad business acumen and the ability to collaborate closely with manufacturing, engineering, sales, and executive leadership. The ideal candidate will be experienced not only in procurement but also in project management, capacity planning, vendor development, and forecasting to ensure customer satisfaction, profitability, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own and manage the full supply chain process from supplier selection through to final delivery of product.
• Develop and maintain long-range supply chain strategies aligned with business growth, project timelines, and customer requirements.
• Collaborate with Sales, Engineering, and Operations to create accurate forecasts and project schedules that ensure material availability and on-time delivery.
• Monitor and analyze inventory levels, lead times, and order patterns to ensure optimal inventory turns without jeopardizing production.
• Build and maintain strong vendor partnerships while continuously evaluating supplier performance, pricing, lead times, and quality.
• Lead contract negotiations with key suppliers to ensure favorable terms, pricing, and delivery commitments.
• Implement and manage supply chain KPIs; drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance cost savings, quality, and efficiency.
• Participate in cross-functional business meetings to provide supply chain input into new product development, customer projects, and capital planning.
• Evaluate and implement ERP tools, supply chain systems, and process improvements to support data-driven decision making.
• Identify risks and develop contingency plans for critical supply chain disruptions.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management or related field.
• 3+ years of progressive supply chain experience, ideally in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of project schedules, forecasting, capacity planning, and supply chain analytics.
• Proven ability to think strategically while managing day-to-day execution.
• Excellent vendor management and negotiation skills.
• Experience working cross-functionally with engineering, operations, and leadership teams.
• Strong analytical skills with experience in ERP systems.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving abilities.