Strategic Sourcing Manager - NPI & Supplier Development

Richardson Electronics, Ltd.; Illinois; On-site; USD 110,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Tuition reimbursement

Paid holidays

Job summary

Richardson Electronics, Ltd. in LaFox, IL is seeking a Sourcing Manager to own supplier identification, RFQ analysis, and cost-reduction initiatives for engineering projects.

You will collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Materials, Purchasing, Planning, and Operations to source engineered components that meet technical, quality, cost, and delivery targets. The role emphasizes alternate-source development, supplier qualification, and cross-functional project management, with a strong focus on

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.

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 elevate 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 thinking

Negotiation

Project management

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Richardson Electronics, Ltd. in LaFox, IL is seeking a Sourcing Manager to own supplier identification, RFQ analysis, and cost-reduction initiatives for engineering projects.

You will collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Materials, Purchasing, Planning, and Operations to source engineered components that meet technical, quality, cost, and delivery targets. The role emphasizes alternate-source development, supplier qualification, and cross-functional project management, with a strong focus on