Sr. NPI Sourcing Specialist

generac; Waukesha (WI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Generac seeks a Senior New Product Introduction (NPI) Sourcing Specialist to lead procurement and supplier management for assigned NPI programs from early development through launch and stabilization.

The role drives complex sourcing strategies, supplier selection, negotiations, and material readiness to ensure cost, quality, and timing align with launch needs.

Qualifications

• Experience leading complex NPI sourcing programs.
• Strong negotiation and supplier assessment skills.
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, quality, and operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing for complex NPI programs, incl. RFQ strategy, supplier evaluation, and negotiations.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies considering TCO, capacity, quality, lead time, and resilience.
• Lead sourcing of fabricated components, electrical components, assemblies, and enclosures.
• Identify and qualify new/alternate/dual-source suppliers to improve cost and resilience.
• Lead supplier negotiations using TCO, should-cost, and market data.
• Maintain AVL, supplier docs, sourcing records, and commercial agreements.
• Coordinate with Planning, Purchasing, Operations, and PM to reflect requirements in ERP.
• Escalate and resolve shortages, late deliveries, quality issues, and schedule risks.
• Lead PPAP ordering, inspections, and material readiness through production release.
• Transition materials and supplier relationships to Production Purchasing after launch.

Job description

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most.

For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future.

Ready to Power a Smarter World with us?

Primary Purpose

The Senior New Product Introduction (NPI) Sourcing Specialist provides senior-level sourcing, supplier management, procurement, and material readiness leadership for assigned new product programs from early development through launch and stabilization.

This role serves as a key sourcing and materials leader within NPI, independently driving complex sourcing strategies, supplier selection, commercial negotiations, material readiness, and supply risk mitigation.

The Senior Specialist connects Sourcing, Commodity Management, Supplier Management, Purchasing, Engineering, Quality, Operations, Planning, Program Management, and Finance to ensure materials are available at the right cost, quality, capacity, and timing to support successful product launches.

The Senior Specialist is expected to lead complex workstreams, influence cross-functional decisions, coach and develop less-experienced team members, and establish best practices that improve NPI sourcing and launch execution.

This role operates with a high degree of autonomy and is expected to proactively identify risks, drive resolution, and escape issues appropriately.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Sourcing & Supplier Management

• Lead sourcing activities for complex NPI programs, including RFQ strategy, supplier evaluation, quote analysis, negotiations, supplier selection, and commercial recommendations.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies considering total cost, capacity, quality, lead time, technology, supplier capability, geographic risk, and long-term supply resilience.
• Lead sourcing of fabricated components, electrical components, assemblies, enclosures, and other materials required for NPI programs.
• Identify, evaluate, and qualify new, alternate, and dual-source suppliers to improve cost, capacity, quality, and supply resilience.
• Lead supplier negotiations using TCO, should-cost, market, volume, capacity, and competitive data to achieve program objectives.
• Establish and maintain effective supplier relationships and hold suppliers accountable to cost, quality, delivery, capacity, and launch-readiness commitments.
• Lead supplier design reviews and sourcing discussions to influence functionality, manufacturability, cost, quality, and launch timing.
• Partner with Commodity Management to align NPI sourcing decisions with broader commodity strategies and supplier agreements.
• Maintain and support Approved Vendor Lists (AVL), supplier documentation, sourcing records, and commercial agreements.
• Serve as a subject-matter resource for sourcing and supplier management activities within assigned programs.

Material Readiness & Procurement Execution

• Own material readiness for assigned NPI programs across prototype, development, validation, pilot, and production launch milestones.
• Lead execution of NPI purchase orders, order confirmations, supplier commitments, delivery schedules, and changes.
• Establish and maintain supplier material commitments aligned to program build plans and launch requirements.
• Proactively identify and resolve shortages, past-due orders, quality issues, capacity constraints, and schedule risks.
• Lead PPAP ordering, inspections, engineering approvals, and material readiness activities through production release.
• Develop material forecasts based on program build plans, demand requirements, supplier lead times, and capacity constraints.
• Partner with Planning, Purchasing, Operations, and Program Management to ensure material requirements are accurately reflected in ERP systems and program plans.
• Lead expediting, risk buys, advanced purchases, supplier recovery actions, and other recovery strategies when required.
• Lead the transition of materials and supplier relationships to Production Purchasing following PPAP and launch stabilization.

Cost & Commercial Management

• Lead evaluation of supplier pricing, tooling, NRE, logistics, tariffs, payment terms, and other commercial inputs.
• Maintain accurate Costed BOMs (CBOM), standard costs, sourcing data, and commercial assumptions.
• Identify and execute cost-saving opportunities through negotiation, alternate sourcing, volume leverage, VA/VE, design collaboration, and process improvements.
• Challenge supplier cost structures and develop fact-based recommendations for program and sourcing leadership.
• Lead resolution of PO, invoice, pricing, and commercial discrepancies with suppliers, Purchasing, and Finance.
• Support cost and sourcing analysis for engineering changes, material transfers, localization, and sustaining/EOL activities.
• Identify opportunities to incorporate cost productivity and sourcing improvements early in the product development process.

Supplier Risk & Program Le