<p>About Company:</p> <p>Niterra North America, Inc., established in 1936 and formerly known as NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.), Inc., is a global leader in spark plug and oxygen sensor technology and quality. With a legacy of innovation and excellence, Niterra is evolving its business portfolio, leveraging core ceramic technologies to venture beyond traditional domains. The company is committed to developing solutions that address social issues and promote sustainability.</p> <p>Responsibilities:</p> <ul> <li>Develop and execute sourcing strategies for assigned commodities or categories, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and cost targets. </li><li>Analyze spend data and market intelligence to identify cost-saving opportunities and drive supplier consolidation. </li><li>Lead procurement initiatives, including RFQ (Request for Quotation), RFI (Request for Information), and RFP (Request for Proposal) processes. </li><li>Negotiate supplier agreements covering pricing, terms, and conditions to optimize the total cost of ownership while maintaining quality and delivery standards. </li><li>Manage supplier performance through regular evaluations, risk assessments, and continuous improvement efforts. </li><li>Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and logistics teams to align sourcing strategies with technical and operational needs. </li><li>Monitor global commodity markets and supply chain trends to proactively identify and mitigate potential risks. </li><li>Manage new product development and launch activities by identifying and onboarding qualified suppliers' materials. </li><li>Ensure adherence to internal procurement policies, external regulatory requirements, and ethical sourcing standards. </li><li>Maintain accurate and up-to-date procurement documentation and records within ERP systems. </li><li>Align sourcing timelines and milestones with program management gates (APQP/PPAP), ensuring sourcing risk is mitigated early in product lifecycles. </li><li>Identify gaps in supplier capabilities and collaborate with Supplier Quality and Development (SQD) teams to build strategic supplier competencies. </li><li>Assess opportunities for supplier localization or nearshoring to improve lead times, mitigate tariffs, and reduce geopolitical risk. </li><li>Integrate sustainability goals into sourcing strategies by evaluating suppliers' environmental and social responsibility programs. </li><li>Go beyond price to evaluate long-term value by assessing logistics, quality, warranty, service, and lifecycle costs. </li><li>Adhere to and promote all company and industry-standard policies and certifications including IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISMS, TISAX, and Safety programs. </li></ul> <p>Minimum Qualifications:</p> <ul> <li>Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field. </li><li>Minimum of 5 years of experience in strategic sourcing or procurement within electronic commodities in automotive manufacturing </li><li>Proven expertise in vendor management, contract negotiation, and supplier performance evaluation. </li><li>Strong knowledge of supply chain principles, material planning, and ERP systems such as SAP. </li><li>Demonstrated ability to achieve cost reduction and process improvement targets. </li></ul>