Strategic 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

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