Senior Commodity Manager - Resins

Cascade Engineering; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 88,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance - Start Day 1

Dental Insurance - Start Day 1

Vision Insurance - Start Day 1

401K with match – Start Day 1

Weekly Pay

Employee Discounts

Onsite Medical Clinic

Paid Time Off

Flex Spending and Health Savings

Quarterly Bonus Program

Employee Assistance Program

Short- and Long-Term Disability (Paid)

Job summary

Cascade Engineering seeks a Senior Commodity Manager to own the resin category, drive strategic sourcing, and build high-performing supplier partnerships. You will lead negotiations, cost-improvement initiatives, and collaborate across functions to support product launches.

The role requires deep purchasing experience in manufacturing, strong analytical skills, and the ability to travel up to 30% to support supply continuity and vendor development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field and seven or more years of experience in purchasing or strategic sourcing.
• Experience developing and executing commodity or sourcing strategies.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, cost drivers, supplier quality, materials management, and TCO.
• Experience leading supplier negotiations, cost reduction initiatives, and supplier performance improvement.
• Ability to travel up to 30%.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute enterprise-wide commodity strategies aligned with business, operational, and financial objectives.
• Analyze market conditions, supplier capacity, and risks to identify cost improvements and supply continuity.
• Lead supplier identification, evaluation, selection, qualification, onboarding, and performance management.
• Establish and maintain strategic supplier relationships and favorable commercial terms.
• Lead sourcing, negotiation, cost reduction, and value improvement initiatives.
• Analyze quotations and total cost of ownership to recommend value-rich solutions.
• Maintain processes and reporting for tracking commodity performance, cost savings, and price increases.
• Develop supplier development plans and training related to lean manufacturing and operational excellence.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Operations, Finance, Program Management on new product development and launches.
• Monitor supplier performance and lead corrective actions for quality, delivery, and capacity.
• Support continuous improvement of supply management processes, systems, policies, and reporting tools.
• Ensure purchasing activities comply with policies and regulatory requirements.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to Supply Chain team as applicable.
• Travel as needed up to 30%.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Supplier negotiations

Commodity management

Supply chain leadership

Cost analysis

Vendor relationship management

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Finance, or related field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

QAD

MQ1

Microsoft Office 365

Job description

Cascade Engineering is a Family of Companies that invests in our triple bottom line philosophy - People, Planet and Profit. We have been in business for over 50 years in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We manufacture injection molding/plastic products for automotive, office furniture, polymer compounding, waste and recycling industries. We focus on driving organizational excellence through a people centered leadership culture based on the principles of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

Are you looking for a positive and encouraging environment? Are you seeking a position where you are included, recognized and celebrated? You belong here! Are you excited for what is ahead? We are too!

Scope of Responsibility

Join us as a Senior Commodity Manager and take ownership of our most important commodity category: resin. We're looking for a strategic sourcing leader with deep resin purchasing experience, strong negotiation skills, and a passion for building high-performing supplier partnerships. If you're guided by the 7 Habits mindset, thrive on collaboration, and love driving meaningful business impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Location:

Ron JimersonPlant at 5050 33rd St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI. 49512

Target Pay:

The target starting base salary for this position is $87,663,000.00 - $131,813.00 / year (plus quarterly bonus incentive). Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Cascade Engineering considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and business considerations when extending an offer.

What You'll Be Doing

• Develop and execute enterprise-wide commodity strategies aligned with business, operational, and financial objectives
• Analyze market conditions, industry trends, supplier capacity, and emerging risks to identify cost improvement opportunities and protect supply continuity
• Lead supplier identification, evaluation, selection, qualification, onboarding, and ongoing performance management
• Establish and maintain strategic supplier relationships, agreements, alliances, and commercial terms that support cost, quality, delivery, innovation, and service objectives
• Lead sourcing, negotiation, cost reduction, cost avoidance, and value improvement initiatives in support of established performance goals
• Analyze supplier quotations and total cost of ownership to recommend solutions that provide the greatest overall value to the organization
• Establish and maintain accurate processes and reporting for tracking commodity performance, cost savings, cost avoidance, and price increases
• Develop and execute supplier development plans, including supplier training related to lean manufacturing and operational excellence
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Operations, Finance, Program Management, and other functional teams to support new product development, VE/VA activities, APQP requirements, and product launches
• Monitor supplier performance and lead corrective action efforts related to quality, delivery, capacity, commercial performance, and other supply-related concerns
• Support the development and continuous improvement of supply management processes, systems, policies, and reporting tools
• Ensure purchasing activities and supplier agreements comply with company policies and applicable federal, state, local, and international requirements
• Provide functional leadership, coaching, and mentoring to Supply Chain team members, as applicable
• Travel up to 30% as business needs require

Culture Bearer

• Understands and supports the values of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL)
• Exhibits high moral and ethical standards and high integrity
• Values people regardless of their background
• Exhibits the traits of a servant leader
• Exhibit the principles of 7 Habits and Emotional Intelligence
• Encourages open dialogue and communication
• Develops high trust relationships within all levels of the organization

At Cascade Engineering, we welcome and celebrate diversity and inclusion. We are committed to fostering an authentic workplace where everyone belongs and thrives, and we look forward to welcoming candidates who are enthusiastic about contributing to our community. We recognize that women and people of color are often underrepresented in manufacturing and want to see this change. When making hiring decisions, we believe in considering the whole person and the life experiences they bring to our teams. Our diversity drives our innovation and has been integral to our success.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Finance, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
• Seven or more years of progressive experience in purchasing, strategic sourcing, commodity management, supplier development, or supply chain management within a manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing commodity or sourcing strategies
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, cost drivers, supplier quality, materials management, and total cost of ownership
• Experience leading supplier negotiations, cost reduction initiatives, supplier selection, and supplier performance improvement
• Ability to analyze market data, supplier quotations, financial information, and business risk to make informed sourcing decisions
• Strong communication, negotiation, problem-solving, and relationship management skills
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and respond effectively to changing business conditions
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 and experience working with ERP or MRP systems
• Ability to travel up to 30%

Preferred

• Master’s degree or MBA
• APICS, ISM, CPSM, CSCP, or other relevant supply chain or purchasing certification
• Experience with QAD, MQ1, or other relevant ERP and quality management systems
• Experience leading supplier development within a lean manufacturing environment
• Experience supporting APQP, VE/VA, new product development, and product launch activities
• Demonstrated experience implementing advanced manufacturing, materials management, or strategic sourcing practices
• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance - Starting on Day 1
• Life Insurance (Company Paid and Supplemental)
• 401K with match – Starting on Day 1
• Flex Spending and Health Savings Accounts
• Quarterly Bonus Program
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Assistance Program
• Short- and Long-Term Disability (Company Paid)
• Onsite Medical Clinic
• Weekly Pay
• Childcare Assistance (Tri-Share)
• Attendance Recognition Program
• Voucher programs for Safety Shoes and Prescription Safety Glasses
• Employee Discount Programs
• Employee Referral & Retention Bonus Program