NPI - Strategic Sourcing Lead

GMI Solutions

Mequon (WI)

On-site

USD 80,000 - 110,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation and benefits

Monthly company lunches or happy hours

Direct mentorship from senior staff

Collaborative team culture

Job summary

A well-established contract manufacturer in Mequon, WI, is seeking an experienced NPI - Strategic Sourcing Lead to develop and manage supply chains for new and existing programs. This role involves strategic supplier selection, contract negotiation, and risk management. Candidates should have over 7 years of experience in supplier management and a proven track record in the medical industry. Join a collaborative team committed to innovation and growth, with competitive compensation and benefits.

Qualifications

Minimum of 7 years of experience in sourcing, procurement, or supply chain.
Experience in the medical industry preferred.
Ability to understand and interpret specifications from drawings.

Responsibilities

Identify and select suppliers based on customer needs and capabilities.
Negotiate contracts with suppliers for development and purchase.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment.

Skills

Supplier management

Risk mitigation

Strong communication

Problem-solving

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering or related field

Tools

MS Office (especially Excel)

Job description

About our environment

GMI Solutions is a well-established contract manufacturer established in 1983
Team and family-oriented philosophy throughout
Plenty of on-site amenities and special events

Summary

The NPI - Strategic Sourcing Lead is a pivotal role that involves developing and managing the supply chain for all new and, when needed, existing run‑rate programs with heavy emphasis on strategic supplier selection, supplier contract negotiation, and managing supplier relationships to support successful project launches.

By collaborating closely with our Business Development Managers, Project Management, Launch Engineers, and NPI - Quality, this position will be instrumental in driving the organization's growth through data‑driven supplier assessment for best‑fit partners, coupled with risk management.

Reporting directly to the NPI Manager, you will leverage your supply‑chain expertise and supplier management skills to ensure seamless coordination and execution of quoting activities and new suppliers into the GMI Solutions business model. This role demands a proactive and strategic mindset, solid business acumen, and excellent communication skills to effectively communicate the needs of our end customers to potential new suppliers to drive projects from initiation to quick and successful implementation.

The ideal candidate for this position should possess a strong background in supplier management and supplier risk mitigation, as well as a track record of successfully selecting, quoting, and onboarding new suppliers that meet the needs of new programs and commercial needs for the business. The NPI – Strategic Sourcing Lead must demonstrate the ability to identify potential supplier risks and develop mitigation plans to ensure smooth and efficient program execution.

Overall, this challenging yet rewarding role offers a unique opportunity for an experienced professional to make a significant impact on the organization's growth and success, while fostering collaboration and innovation across various departments.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This role bridges the gap between engineering, quality, and operations by ensuring suppliers are identified, evaluated, and qualified early in the NPI lifecycle to ensure individual project success, with extensive external and internal communication throughout entire project implementation, with continued, indirect support of run‑rate production.

As the responsible individual, you will be tasked with understanding the current GMI supply‑chain gaps for new programs, developing a plan for investigation, quoting, and review of onboarding new suppliers. You will lead this effort, collaborating with key engineering and quality partners to ensure suppliers meet all customer requirements. You will also lead quoting and risk mitigation of the supply chain and ensure commercial agreements are in place for GMI Solutions.

Collaboration with the Business Development Managers, Project Management, Launch Engineers, and NPI – Quality will be a key aspect of your role, as you will be required to collaborate and share supply‑chain strategy, onboarding timeline, and expectations of new suppliers to those cross‑functional teams. Travel will be required for supplier onsite assessments.

This role relies heavily on strong leadership and interpersonal skills, ability to problem‑solve and make decisions quickly and accurately, clear communication to all parties, and effective time management.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Identifying and selecting suppliers based on customer programs, technical capabilities, cost, quality, and capacity.
Negotiating contracts with suppliers for development and/or purchase agreements, utilizing GMI’s Statement of Work (SOW) procedure.
Ensuring supplier costing meets needs of overall Customer Program, and identifying future cost‑reduction opportunities.
Building and maintaining strong relationships with strategic suppliers to ensure quality, timely delivery, and optimal performance.
Identifying and mitigating risks associated with supplier capabilities, capacity, and potential disruptions.
Supporting quoting and project management activities, including tracking deliverables, resolving issues, and ensuring timely prototype/pilot part delivery.
Working closely with cross‑functional teams, including business development managers, engineering, project management, and finance to ensure alignment and smooth execution of NPI processes.

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead, define, and implement continuous improvement activities for the NPI – Strategic Sourcing role.
Utilize data analytics for decision‑making and process optimization.
Support make‑vs‑buy decisions in collaboration with engineering.
Support NPI team in customer‑facing meetings for sourcing insights on projects.
Support Run‑Rate business needs when required.
Contribute and support Key Performance Indicators for Sourcing and NPI.

QUALIFICATIONS

To be successful in this role, the individual must be capable of performing each essential duty satisfactorily. The following requirements represent the necessary knowledge, skill, and abilities for the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to fulfill the essential functions.

Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering or related field with a minimum of 7 years of experience in sourcing, procurement or supply chain with focus on new product development.
Additional certifications in the area of expertise and experience in medical industry are preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

Ability to understand and interpret accurate specifications from drawings/prints for a variety of components.
Strong communication skills for effective interactions with suppliers, co‑workers, and customers.
Excellent multitasking ability with a positive and proactive attitude for program success.
Highly adaptable to changing requirements and proactive in problem‑solving.
Demonstrates leadership, project management skills, and exceptional organizational capabilities.
Proficient in MS Office, especially Excel, and able to work closely with cross‑functional teams.
Excellent oral and written communication skills for professional interactions.
Willingness to provide assistance to other projects and departments as needed, utilizing strong supply‑chain skills.
Open to learning and developing new competencies for personal and organizational growth.
Experience in developing onboarding supplier plans, with risk mitigation noted.
Occasional willingness to travel domestically and internationally, as required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

The physical demands outlined below are representative of those necessary for an associate to effectively perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to fulfill these essential functions. The terms “occasionally,” “regularly,” and “frequently” correspond to the following definitions: “Occasionally” refers to up to 1/3 of working time, “regularly” indicates between 1/3 and 2/3 of working time, and “frequently” represents 2/3 and more of working time.

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office and lab setting and to use standard office equipment, including a computer, and to attend meetings at various sites within and away from the office. Strength to lift and carry materials weighing up to 80 pounds. Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen. Hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment; this position is factory based, in Mequon, WI.

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