Job Description

Company / Location Information

A.O. Smith is a global leader applying innovative technologies and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. The company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment products for residential and light commercial applications. A. O. Smith is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with approximately 12,000 employees at operations in the United States, Canada, China, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Primary Function

The Commodity/Purchasing Manager will have complete responsibility for all major strategic sourcing and Supply Agreements related to assigned commodities for all manufacturing facilities.

Responsibilities

• Work with related operational areas to gain an excellent understanding of commodity applications in various operations.
• Maintain an excellent communication and rapport with each manufacturing facility concerning ongoing use of assigned commodities and needs for current and future discussions/negotiations with supply base.
• Develop, maintain, present, and execute strategies to provide lowest total cost of ownership status for all assigned commodities.
• Work with all commodity managers, operations, and product engineering to meet and exceed the annualized cost reduction target for the Global Procurement team.
• Interface with multiple functional areas within a matrix management organizational structure (e.g. Product Engineering, Plant Operations, Finance, etc.).
• Provide excellent ongoing communication with all operational facilities concerning research for pending negotiations, sourcing progress, and decisions made on finalizing Supply Agreements.
• Establish strong communication and coordination with the Global Sourcing Manager and work jointly to develop cost reduction and value enhanced procurement opportunities outside the United States.
• Meet and exceed all objectives for assigned commodities and personal objectives to clearly support Global Procurement objectives in aggregate.
• Travel to manufacturing facilities as required to properly prepare for negotiations and review actual commodity application in production.
• Develop excellent knowledge concerning all facets of the supply chain from suppliers’ sources to end customer concerning manufacturing processes and final application of all assigned commodities.
• Perform other activities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Related Field
• 5+ years related work experience
• 2+ years supervisory/leadership experience

Additional Qualifications:

• Experience in a purchasing function with similar responsibility with clearly demonstrated achievements MBA is a plus
• ISM or APICS certifications, preferred
• Willingness to travel as required
• Demonstrated skill set in applications such as ERP systems, inventory replenishment systems, etc. in support of negotiated supply agreements
• Excellent record of successful strategic sourcing initiatives
• Excellent applies negotiating skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated leadership skills to serve as a project lead across multiple functional areas
• Impeccable moral character with high ethical standards
• Excellent computer-based skills including spreadsheet development, word processing, and charting capabilities

We Offer

Competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plans which include medical and dental insurance, company-sponsored life insurance, retirement security savings plan, short- and long-term disability programs and tuition assistance.

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ADA Statement & EEO Statement

In developing this job description care was taken to include all competencies needed to successfully perform in this position. However, for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) purposes, the essential functions of the job may or may not have been described for purposes of ADA reasonable accommodation. All reasonable accommodation requests will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis. We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, marital or military status.

We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local law.