Strategic Sourcing Manager

Sterling Engineering; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling Engineering in Columbus, OH seeks a Global Supply Manager to lead strategic sourcing, vendor management, supplier development, and procurement for complex electromechanical products.

You will manage suppliers from prototype and NPI through production ramp, partnering with engineering, operations, finance, and manufacturing to optimize cost, quality, and on-time delivery across global supply chains.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, supply chain, commodity management, or global supply management.
• Strong vendor and supplier management experience.
• Hands-on experience leading RFQs, supplier negotiations, pricing, contracts, and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Experience sourcing components or materials for manufacturing.
• Experience managing suppliers through NPI, prototype, launch, and production ramp.
• Strong understanding of supplier quality, capacity, delivery, and manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead vendor management and supplier management across key commodities.
• Source electromechanical, electronic, automation, and industrial components.
• Identify, qualify, develop, and manage domestic and global suppliers.
• Lead RFQs, supplier negotiations, should-cost analysis, and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Negotiate pricing, MSAs, SOWs, and supplier agreements.
• Manage suppliers through prototype, NPI, launch, and production ramp.
• Partner with engineering on DFM, component selection, and supplier manufacturing processes.
• Manage supplier quality, capacity, delivery, lead times, and escalations.
• Develop dual-source and multi-source strategies to reduce supply chain risk.
• Support make-vs-buy decisions, logistics, tariffs, Incoterms, and compliance.

Skills

Vendor management

Strategic sourcing

RFQ leadership

Cost reduction

NPI production ramp

DFM collaboration

Global supplier management

Logistics & Incoterms

NetSuite / ERP

Component sourcing

Tools

NetSuite

Job description

A rapidly growing robotics and advanced manufacturing company is seeking a Global Supply Manager to lead strategic sourcing, vendor management, supplier development, and procurement for complex electromechanical products.

This role will manage suppliers from prototype and NPI through production ramp, working closely with engineering, operations, production, and finance.

What You’ll Do

• Lead vendor management and supplier management across key commodities.
• Source electromechanical, electronic, automation, and industrial components.
• Identify, qualify, develop, and manage domestic and global suppliers.
• Lead RFQs, supplier negotiations, should-cost analysis, and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Negotiate pricing, MSAs, SOWs, and supplier agreements.
• Manage suppliers through prototype, NPI, launch, and production ramp.
• Partner with engineering on DFM, component selection, and supplier manufacturing processes.
• Manage supplier quality, capacity, delivery, lead times, and escalations.
• Develop dual-source and multi-source strategies to reduce supply chain risk.
• Support make-vs-buy decisions, logistics, tariffs, Incoterms, and compliance.

Must Have

• Must Have: 5+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, supply chain, commodity management, or global supply management.
• Must Have: Strong vendor management and supplier management experience.
• Must Have: Hands-on experience leading RFQs, supplier negotiations, pricing, contracts, and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Experience sourcing components or materials for manufacturing.
• Experience managing suppliers through NPI, prototype, launch, and production ramp.
• Strong understanding of supplier quality, capacity, delivery, and manufacturing processes.

Highly Preferred

• Highly Preferred: Experience within robotics, industrial automation, or advanced manufacturing.
• Highly Preferred: Experience sourcing a variety of electromechanical, electronic, mechanical, automation, or industrial components.
• Highly Preferred: Background within robotics, electronics, automotive, aerospace, machinery, or complex electromechanical manufacturing.
• Experience working directly with engineering teams on DFM and supplier selection.
• Knowledge of global logistics, tariffs, Incoterms, and international supply chains.
• ERP experience; NetSuite is a plus.

I

deal Background

Candidates coming from robotics, automation, electronics, automotive, aerospace, capital equipment, industrial machinery, or complex electromechanical manufacturing environments are strongly preferred.