Strategic Sourcing Manager – Vendor Development

LAPP is a family-owned company headquartered in Stuttgart and a global leader in cable and connection technology. Founded in 1959, we are still fully family-owned today. With around 5,800 employees, we are operating in over 80 countries – globally connected and regionally rooted. Working at LAPP means more: this is where inventive spirit and a hands-on mentality meet cherished values and tradition. We offer all employees the freedom to develop and pursue new opportunities. Flexibility and personal responsibility are just as important to us as a family-friendly work environment. We value all our colleagues with their talents, ideas and perspectives.

Summary: The individual in this role is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies that ensure a reliable, cost-effective, and high-quality supply base supporting the company's wire, cable, and harness manufacturing operations. This role will lead supplier identification, qualification, development, and performance management initiatives while driving cost reduction, supply continuity, quality improvements, and innovation across critical categories.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities – include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Strategic Sourcing & Category Management
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for direct materials, including electrical components, wire/cable, plastics, metals, and assemblies.
• Conduct spend analysis and category reviews to identify cost savings, optimize supplier selection (RFx), and align multi-year strategies with growth and margin goals.
• Drive supplier rationalization and consolidation initiatives to optimize the supply base.
Supplier Management & Vendor Development
• Identify, qualify, and onboard high-performing suppliers aligned with quality, delivery, cost, and technology standards.
• Lead supplier audits, capability assessments, scorecard programs, and routine performance reviews.
• Cultivate strategic supplier partnerships and execute development plans to improve quality, capacity, responsiveness, and on-time delivery.
Cost Reduction & Value Engineering
• Drive year-over-year cost reduction initiatives and lead commercial negotiations for pricing, rebates, and contracts.
• Partner with Engineering and Operations on VA/VE, design-to-cost, make-vs-buy evaluations, and alternate material sourcing.
Risk Management & Market Intelligence
• Assess supply chain and geopolitical risks, establishing dual-sourcing, continuity, and contingency plans.
• Monitor key commodity trends (copper, aluminum, precious metals, plastics/resins, electronics) to proactively mitigate market exposure.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Compliance
• Partner across Engineering, Quality, Operations, NPI, and Program Management to ensure sourcing aligns with product launches and schedules.
• Ensure supplier governance and compliance with quality frameworks (ISO 9001, AS9100, IATF 16949) and regulatory standards (ITAR/EAR, RoHS, REACH, Conflict Minerals).

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

COMPETENCIES:
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, strong work ethic, and a positive attitude.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate with other departments within the organization to achieve stated objectives regarding revenue, profitability, and market share.
• Must possess excellent organizational skills and can prioritize and manage multiple projects.
• Looking for ways to improve and promote quality applies feedback to performance.
• Must be a self-starter and possess the ability to work independently and use time efficiently.
• Upholds organizational values, adheres to company policies & procedures and maintains a professional appearance.
 

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Minimum of 5 years' work experience in category/commodity management, preferably in Cables & Harnesses and in complex organizations
• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Engineering, Business Management or related field from regionally accredited University.
• 3+ years of experience in Sourcing/Purchasing, Materials management and/or Production Planning
• APICS certificate, preferred.
• SAP Proficient.
• Proficient in excel with high level of skill and capability and the ability to work independently and effectively
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
• Possession of excellent mathematical skills as well as the ability to organize, plan, forecast and budget accurately.
 

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
• CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management)
• CPM (Certified Purchasing Manager)
• APICS CSCP
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
• Lean Manufacturing Certification

LANGUAGE SKILLS: bility to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percentage and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

COMPUTER SKILLS: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Internet-based software; SAP; and Microsoft Office applications.

WORK LOCATION: This position is located in New Jersey and reports to the Florham Park, NJ office.
Incumbents of this position are required to work a hybrid schedule (3x per week in the office- Tues mandatory +2).
 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk. The employee is occasionally required to stand and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and color vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

COMPENSATION: After thorough market analysis, LAPP takes many factors into consideration when determining base salary such as experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, etc. of the candidate. The base salary range for this role is $120,000 - $130,000 plus participation in LAPP's bonus plan. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Vision, Dental, Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, 401(k), HSA/FSA, Life Insurance, and more!

*LAPP is an Equal Opportunity Employer*