Lead Sourcing Specialist

The Lead Sourcing Specialist is responsible for the management of assigned commodities for USA and North American region, negotiating with dedicated providers according to specific policies, achieving the best contractual conditions and ensuring internal customer satisfaction, comprehensive in-depth understanding of purchasing and sourcing concepts and principles and strong knowledge of purchasing concepts in order to help drive supplier performance. On top of that, it will also be responsible for sourcing initiatives, such as leading dual source projects, lean manufacturing actions at suppliers’ processes, supporting redesign to cost and change of materials/process actions (cost out), being the sourcing representative on lean projects inside the site. In this role, you will work with the site sourcing manager, having the sourcing team KPIs and also individual initiatives work plan and metrics. Your work will be fully aligned with the global Sourcing strategy.

Essential Responsibilities

• Identify and qualify new suppliers; act in accordance with GE Integrity and Sourcing policy;
• Analyze suppliers’ proposals (quality, price, capacity)
  Develops the strategy to execute cost reduction projects based on strategic imperatives of the business. Partners with business stakeholders and commodity colleagues to influence contract negotiations, drive process changes, and implement sustainable cost controls;
• Proactively monitors risks, own escalations, mitigation and initiatives necessary for corrective actions;
• Understand overall sourcing strategy and respective strategy for assigned commodities and proactively drive initiatives to meet Sourcing targets;
• Work effectively with Engineering, Supplier Quality, and site materials personnel on day-to-day problem resolution and opportunities for cost reduction;
• Work closely with Engineering on NPI projects including identifying new sources of supply;
• Drive supply base consolidation and supplier lead-time reduction initiatives on assigned commodities;
• Partners with the Global Commodity and sourcing leaders to ensure fulfillment, quality, drive productivity opportunities with supply base to capture additional cost out. Collaborates and develop negotiation strategies and drive negotiations to achieve stated goals and targets;
• Assess supplier capabilities and make recommendations on supplier acceptability;
• Present to senior leaders (EB and SEB) in specific purchasing space and on cross functional teams on how purchasing contributes to overall strategy;
• Assist in the continuous development of the Procurement function towards best practice;
• Identify and deliver value-adding opportunities from the supply chain;
• Advise Functional managers or other Functions regarding approaches, processes and procedures in the own field;
• Develop technical and regional market expertise in assigned commodities;
• Lead and coordinate sourcing initiatives not related to commodity management, such as sole source mitigation projects, cost out actions, lead time reduction initiatives and sourcing analytics.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college;
• Minimum of 4 years of Sourcing/Procurement experience or a combination of education/experience may be taken into consideration;
• Ability and willingness to travel 10% of the time

Desired Characteristics

• Six Sigma or related lean certification;
• Strong negotiation skills required;
• Strong oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to influence others and lead small teams;
• Experience managing international suppliers;
• Lead initiatives of moderate scope and impact required;
• Ability to coordinate several projects simultaneously;
• Effective problem identification and solution skills;
• Proven analytical and organizational ability;
• Very strong experience with Microsoft Applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).