Supply Management Specialist

Job Title: Supply Management Specialist

Industry: Heavy Machine Manufacturing
Duration: 2 Years (Possibility of Extension)
Location: Ankeny, IA 50023
Shift: 1st Shift | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | 40 Hours/Week

Role Overview

The Supply Management Specialist supports and may lead strategic sourcing initiatives for assigned commodities. This role focuses on supplier performance, cost reduction, resiliency planning, and supply base development while ensuring quality, delivery, and compliance within enterprise supply chain standards.

Major Purpose

• Support and potentially lead a commodity Strategic Sourcing team in developing and executing sourcing strategies.
• Build and manage a capable supply base for less complex and strategic materials, products, and services.
• Own supplier performance related to quality, delivery, cost, and replenishment processes.
• Lead efforts to address chronic supplier issues and support supplier validation during early selection phases within the Product Delivery Process (PDP).
• Facilitate quality planning activities with suppliers.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute supply chain planning activities in a low-complexity environment within established systems and frameworks.
• Manage supplier relationships and performance, supporting or leading supplier management activities as required.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret data using predefined tools and formats to support decision-making.
• Identify trends, issues, and opportunities; recommend data-driven solutions.
• Plan and coordinate supplier testing and inspection activities.
• Implement and monitor corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Review current operations and generate ideas for process and cost improvements.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Resolve complex supplier and internal stakeholder inquiries, escalating only the most critical issues.
• Create, update, and maintain advanced Microsoft documents, databases, and departmental systems.
• Provide best-practice support and process improvement guidance to colleagues.

Strategic & Project Responsibilities

• Establish and execute multi-year cost reduction and supply resiliency plans for assigned commodities.
• Lead cross-functional cost reduction initiatives from concept through execution.
• Manage cost, sourcing risk, and supplier diversification projects.
• Improve supply base resilience and overall cost performance.
• Utilize project management tools and Engineering Change Management (ECM) processes to implement sourcing and design improvements efficiently.

Skills, Abilities & Knowledge

• Data collection, analysis, and reporting
• Strategic sourcing and supplier management
• Action planning and organizational skills
• Gap analysis (AS-IS / TO-BE state analysis)
• Business case contribution and solution recommendation
• Customer-focused mindset
• Compliance and policy management
• Strong verbal and written communication
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills
• Traffic and vehicle planning (as applicable)

Education

• Short-Cycle Tertiary Education (Associate degree or equivalent)

Work Experience

• Sound experience with standard procedures or systems (7–12 months)
• Basic experience coordinating the work of others (4–6 months)

Why This Role

• Exposure to strategic sourcing and supplier management initiatives
• Opportunity to lead cost reduction and resiliency projects
• Strong cross-functional collaboration with engineering, quality, and operations
• Long-term engagement with extension potential

#ZR