Strategic Sourcing Manager

Job Description:Must be nearby to one of the following sites: Herndon, VA, Millersville, MD, Palm Bay, FL, Anaheim, CA, or Camden, NJ. In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating countries of origin (COO), rare earth element (REE), critical mineral, geopolitical, and regulatory risks to strengthen supply chain resilience.This role serves as the category resource for risk mitigation while partnering cross-functionally to support business objectives, technical requirements, and product roadmaps.Essential Functions:Support & develop category strategies focusing on rare earths and critical minerals to drive cost reduction, supply continuity, risk mitigation, and complianceServe as the COO & REE SME, partnering with internal stakeholders to align sourcing strategies with business objectives, technical requirements, and product roadmapsMonitor market conditions, supplier capabilities, geopolitical risks, trade regulations, and emerging technologies to inform category strategy and sourcing decisionsSupport supplier diversification, strategic negotiations, and long-term agreements to strengthen supply resilience and maximize enterprise valueInfluence cross-functional teams and suppliers to drive design-to-value ideation, joint process improvement, and enhanced innovationSupport & develop market insights through research and data, industry developments, supply/demand dynamics, emerging technologies, and leading-edge practicesDrive supplier risk management, traceability, and due diligence to ensure compliance with sourcing restrictions, import/export controls, and regulatory requirementsSupport strategic supplier relationships, performance reviews, and escalations to improve accountability, quality, service, and deliveryPartner cross-functionally with engineering, R&D, quality, legal, and operations to support COO & REE strategyAssess supplier and platform risks, develop appropriate contingency plans, and drive inclusion into the overall decision-making process.Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree in business, Materials Management, Supply Chain, Finance or Engineering with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experienceCategory experience with Electronic Component & Electromechanical markets Demonstrated management expertise in multiple indirect commoditiesUnderstanding of Contractual Terms and Conditions and how to mitigate riskProject management experienceMust have experience with MS Excel and PowerPoint for purposes of data analysis and creation of presentationsUnderstanding and working knowledge of engineering documentation, product configurationStrong interpersonal and problem-solving skillsPreferred Additional Skills:MBASix Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certificationAbility to influence without direct authority and manage multiple strategic priorities simultaneouslyExperience in the Aerospace & Defense (A&D) industry preferred, with specific FAR/DFARS experienceAbility to coordinate across commodities and business unitsStrong knowledge of Category Management and Strategic Sourcing processesProficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, Project and PowerPoint