Strategic Sourcing Manager, Engineering & Supply Chain

Richardson Electronics, Ltd.; La Fox (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental and vision coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid holidays

Vacation time

Sick/personal days

Tuition reimbursement

Life insurance

STD/LTD

Job summary

Richardson Electronics, Ltd. is seeking a hands-on Sourcing Manager to lead supplier development, RFQ analysis, and cost-reduction initiatives supporting new engineering projects.

You will collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Materials, Purchasing, Planning and Operations to identify and qualify suppliers meeting technical, quality, cost, and delivery requirements. The role requires ~5+ years in sourcing/procurement, strong Excel and negotiation skills, and experience with RFQs and ERP/MRP

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Approximately 5+ years of progressive experience in sourcing, purchasing, procurement, supplier development, or manufacturing supply chain.
• Experience sourcing manufactured, engineered, or technical components and working from drawings, specifications, or detailed customer requirements.
• Experience managing RFQs, comparing supplier quotations, analyzing procurement costs, and negotiating supplier commercial terms.
• Working knowledge of purchase orders, purchasing processes, supplier management, and ERP/MRP systems.
• Strong Excel, analytical, negotiation, project-management, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and cross-functionally while managing multiple sourcing projects and priorities.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Engineering on sourcing requirements for new products, prototypes, new projects, product changes, and customer-specific requirements.
• Identify suppliers with the technical capability, quality systems, capacity, lead time, and cost structure required for engineered components.
• Issue and manage requests for quotation (RFQs), analyze supplier responses, and prepare sourcing recommendations.
• Support prototype, sample, tooling, and qualification purchases required for new product introduction and Engineering projects.
• Lead alternate-source development for LAM and other customer requirements when supply risk, single-source dependency, lead time, capacity, supplier performance, obsolescence, or cost creates business risk.
• Research and develop qualified alternate suppliers to improve supply continuity and reduce dependence on constrained or underperforming sources.
• Coordinate with Engineering and Quality through supplier and part qualification, including samples, testing, documentation, approvals, and implementation follow-up.
• Maintain sourcing project status and escalates risks that could affect customer delivery or production continuity.
• Analyze supplier quotations and calculate procurement costs to support sourcing decisions.
• Develop cost comparisons, should-cost considerations, and business cases that evaluate price, tooling, freight, minimum order quantities, lead time, inventory impact, and other relevant costs.
• Research supplier markets, material costs, manufacturing methods, and industry conditions that may affect procurement cost or availability.
• Identify, quantify, implement, and track cost-reduction opportunities through competitive sourcing, negotiations, alternate suppliers or materials, volume leverage, and commercial-term improvements.
• Identify, evaluate, and develop new suppliers and manufacturing sources.
• Negotiate pricing, tooling, lead times, minimum order quantities, payment terms, capacity commitments, and other commercial requirements.
• Develop strong working relationships with existing and prospective suppliers while maintaining appropriate commercial accountability.
• Work with suppliers to identify opportunities to improve cost, lead time, manufacturability, capacity, quality, and supply continuity.
• Place purchase orders for prototypes, samples, qualifications, tooling, new sourcing initiatives, and production requirements as needed.
• Support Purchasing with complex supplier negotiations, commercial issues, shortages, and sourcing challenges.
• Ensure newly qualified sources are transitioned into normal purchasing processes with appropriate pricing, lead times, sourcing documentation, and supplier information.
• Support urgent sourcing requirements caused by supply-chain disruptions, customer needs, or supplier constraints.
• Lead sourcing projects across Engineering, Quality, Materials, Purchasing, Planning, Operations, and suppliers.
• Establish project priorities, timelines, ownership, and follow-up actions to keep sourcing and qualification activities moving.
• Communicate project status, risks, savings opportunities, supplier recommendations, and decisions to management and stakeholders.
• Maintain sourcing records including RFQs, quote comparisons, supplier selections, cost-reduction calculations, qualification status, and implementation plans.

Skills

Excel

Analytical

Negotiation

Project management

Communication

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, or related field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

RFQ management

Job description

Richardson Electronics, Ltd. is seeking a hands-on Sourcing Manager to lead supplier development, RFQ analysis, and cost-reduction initiatives supporting new engineering projects.

You will collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Materials, Purchasing, Planning and Operations to identify and qualify suppliers meeting technical, quality, cost, and delivery requirements. The role requires ~5+ years in sourcing/procurement, strong Excel and negotiation skills, and experience with RFQs and ERP/MRP