Job Description

The Global Commodity Manager (GCM) is responsible for the end-to-end strategy, sourcing execution, and supplier management for highly complex, engineered, and high-value commodity categories such as steel structures, conveyors, and other custom-fabricated systems. This role serves as the enterprise authority for assigned commodities, driving global sourcing strategies, supplier development, technical alignment, commercial performance, and long-term supply continuity across a specialized global supply base. The GCM partners closely with Engineering, Sales, Operations, Estimating, and Executive Leadership to influence design decisions, optimize cost structures, mitigate supply risk, and support strategic business growth. The ideal candidate combines strong commercial acumen with deep technical knowledge of fabrication, manufacturing processes, materials, and engineered systems.

Key Responsibilities

Commodity Strategy Leadership

• Develop and execute global commodity strategies aligned with business objectives, growth forecasts, and project pipeline demands.
• Analyze market conditions including raw material trends, fabrication capacity, labor availability, geopolitical risks, and global supply chain dynamics.
• Build and maintain multi-year sourcing, cost reduction, capacity, and supplier development strategies.
• Establish category roadmaps focused on cost competitiveness, supply continuity, innovation, and operational scalability.
• Monitor commodity indices and market intelligence to proactively manage commercial risk and pricing strategies.

Strategic Supplier Management

• Identify, evaluate, qualify, and develop strategic supplier partnerships across global markets.
• Lead complex commercial negotiations including master service agreements (MSAs), pricing structures, escalation clauses, long-term agreements, and risk-sharing models.
• Drive supplier performance management programs focused on quality, delivery, capacity, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.
• Influence supplier investment decisions, manufacturing capabilities, and capacity planning to support business growth.
• Develop dual-source and risk mitigation strategies for constrained or high-risk supply markets.

Technical & Commercial Leadership

• Apply advanced understanding of fabrication processes, structural steel systems, engineered assemblies, coatings, welding, and manufacturing methodologies.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, and technical requirements to assess manufacturability, cost drivers, and supply risk.
• Partner with Engineering and Operations teams on design-to-cost, value engineering, standardization, and optimization initiatives.
• Support bid development, estimating activities, and project execution with commercial and technical sourcing expertise.
• Evaluate total cost of ownership (TCO) and lifecycle impacts across sourcing decisions.

Cross-Functional & Executive Collaboration

• Serve as the primary commodity liaison across Engineering, Sales, Estimating, Operations, Project Management, and Procurement.
• Influence bid strategy, supplier selection, make-versus-buy decisions, and project feasibility assessments.
• Provide executive-level updates on market conditions, sourcing risks, supplier health, and strategic initiatives.
• Act as escalation point for critical supplier, commercial, or supply continuity issues.

Process Ownership & Capability Development

• Define and standardize sourcing processes, category playbooks, negotiation frameworks, and supplier governance models.
• Drive procurement best practices, process improvements, and scalable sourcing methodologies across the organization.
• Mentor and develop other procurement professionals and category managers.
• Support organizational capability building in strategic sourcing, supplier management, and category strategy execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, Operations, or related field required, or significant relevant expertise.
• 7–12+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, commodity management, or category management.
• Deep expertise in complex engineered categories such as structural steel, fabricated systems, automation equipment, industrial manufacturing, construction materials, or custom assemblies.
• Strong technical acumen with the ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and manufacturing processes.
• Demonstrated success managing high-value, high-risk, and capacity-constrained supplier ecosystems.
• Proven experience leading complex commercial negotiations and long-term supplier agreements.
• Strong analytical, financial, and strategic planning capabilities.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and executive presentation skills.
• Experience operating in global sourcing environments preferred.

Functional Expectations

• Operates with a high degree of autonomy and strategic ownership.
• Recognized as a subject matter expert in assigned commodity markets and supply dynamics.
• Drives measurable enterprise impact across cost, risk reduction, supplier performance, innovation, and capacity planning.
• Influences product design, sourcing strategy, supplier landscape, and long-term business direction.
• Balances technical, operational, and commercial priorities in a fast-paced, project-driven environment.

Preferred Experience

• Experience within heavy industrial manufacturing, material handling, EPC, construction, automation, or engineered systems industries.
• Familiarity with steel market indices, fabrication estimating, welding standards, and structural manufacturing processes.
• Experience supporting large-scale capital projects or engineered-to-order environments.
• Knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and procurement analytics tools.

This job description describes the general nature and level of work expected of a person assigned to this position. All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills and/or ability deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. Employees may be required to perform any other job-related duties as requested by their supervisor.

It is the policy of FORTNA and its affiliated companies to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, citizenship status (if authorized to work in the U.S.), or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, FORTNA will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.