Customer Service Representative

POSITIONSUMMARY:

The Strategic Sourcing Manager - Indirect is responsible for leading sourcing and supplier-management activities for assigned indirect categories across Stoneridge sites. The role covers the full sourcing cycle, from business-needs definition and market analysis through tendering, negotiation, contracting, implementation, supplier performance management and continuous improvement. The scope may be regional and/or global and includes, but is not limited to, Packaging, Chemicals, Solder Paste, Software and IT services, CAPEX investments and other assigned indirect spend categories.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Work with the Global Category Manager to provide input to and execute the indirect category strategy.

• · Define current and future business needs for assigned indirect categories in collaboration with key stakeholders and site functions.

• · Perform market, supplier, cost-driver and technology analysis for assigned categories, including benchmarking and total-cost-of-ownership evaluation.

• · Source in accordance with approved category strategies, sourcing policies, delegated authority and business requirements.

• · Interact with internal stakeholders to drive standardization and strategy execution.

Define and execute strategic sourcing decisions.

• · Perform market, supplier, cost-driver and technology analysis for assigned categories, including benchmarking and total-cost-of-ownership evaluation.

• · Lead RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, competitive tenders and negotiations to achieve the best total cost, quality, service, risk and contractual outcome.

• · Manage sourcing and supplier involvement for CAPEX projects and other business initiatives, ensuring procurement is engaged early and commercial requirements are defined before supplier commitment.

• · Ensure continuity of critical indirect supply and services. Establish mitigation plans, expedite where necessary and negotiate supplier compensation or corrective action for non-performance.

• · Deliver measurable cost savings, cost avoidance, working-capital improvements, process efficiencies and supplier-base optimization.

• · Manage commercial conditions and pricing: 1) establish and maintain agreed prices and; 2) validate and challenge supplier price-change requests; 3) perform cost breakdown and total-cost analysis; 4) support annual budgeting and standard-setting activities where applicable.

• · Manage contracts and commercial documentation: 1) negotiate suitable terms and conditions; 2) ensure contracts, statements of work, service-level agreements and CAPEX commitments are approved and stored correctly; 3) monitor contract expiry, compliance, utilization and renewal or termination requirements.

• · Manage assigned sourcing projects and purchases, including Packaging, Chemicals, Solder Paste, Software, IT and professional services, CAPEX investments and other indirect requirements.

• · Evaluate suppliers and participate in qualification, risk assessment, due diligence, sustainability, compliance and onboarding processes.

• · Maintain accurate supplier, contract, pricing, sourcing-project and purchasing data in relevant systems, including JD Edwards, Proceedo, contract databases and other procurement tools.

• · Lead contract review and negotiation in cooperation with Legal, Finance, IT, Quality and other relevant stakeholders.

• · Manage supplier relationships and performance through business reviews, KPI monitoring, corrective actions, risk mitigation and continuous-improvement plans.

• · Support purchase-to-pay compliance, preferred-supplier utilization and resolution of commercial or invoice-related issues in collaboration with Finance and Accounts Payable.

• · Support stakeholder training and compliance with Procurement policies, approval workflows and the No-PO/No-Pay principle, where applicable.

• · Ensure sourcing decisions address regulatory, environmental, health and safety, information-security and business-continuity requirements relevant to the category.

• · Identify opportunities to consolidate suppliers, standardize specifications and aggregate demand across sites and functions.

• · Develop and maintain category plans, sourcing pipelines, savings forecasts and implementation trackers for the assigned indirect spend.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• · Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or related field; MBA preferred

• · Five to ten years of strategic sourcing or category-management experience, preferably including indirect procurement within a multinational manufacturing or automotive environment.

• · Ability to create and deliver clear, persuasive presentations

• · Demonstrated experience sourcing and contracting complex indirect categories such as software/services, CAPEX, packaging, chemicals or MRO.

• · Strong commercial, analytical and negotiation capability, including the ability to negotiate with senior supplier and internal stakeholders.

• · Experience working in global and cross-functional project teams and managing multiple sourcing projects and priorities.

• · Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to build effective stakeholder relationships at all organizational levels.

• · Fluent English; additional languages are an advantage.

• · Ability to work independently, exercise sound commercial judgement and collaborate effectively within a team.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

· Up to 25% travel, depending on category and project requirements.