■Objective:
Source and onboard new suppliers, build strong partnerships, and align supplier capabilities with new product development needs. Collaborate with Engineering and Sourcing teams to support advanced product design and improve supplier development, relationships and communication.

■Essential Functions/ Responsibilities:
· Partner with New Product Development Engineering and Sourcing to identify gaps in the existing Supplier Strategy and capabilities versus the New Product Development Roadmap, aligning new supplier capabilities with emerging product requirements and technical needs.
· Identify and assess potential new suppliers through market research, industry networks, supplier outreach, and other means.
· Conduct initial supplier visits, supplier evaluations, capability assessments, and develop initial supplier relationships.
· Work with Sourcing to onboard and develop new suppliers, monitor early projects/performance, initiate any initial supplier development activities through Engineering, Sourcing, and Supplier Quality where any early gaps are present through initial projects released to production.
· Facilitate communication between regional suppliers and global engineering teams including participating in online meetings with a range of time zones for interpretation and translation.
· Facilitate clear and timely communication regarding expectations, deliverables, and performance while tracking status, timelines of supplier contracts, purchase orders, and to escalate any schedule conflicts to management.
· Identify and escalate project risks and issues that could impact projects and carry out response plans determined by management.
· Create reports and status updates on project information and present them to management.
“The responsibilities as defined are intended to serve as a general guideline for this position. Associates may be asked to perform additional tasks depending on strengths and capabilities”