Global Sourcing Engineer

Why Valmont
 

We’re Here to Move the World Forward.

Valmont impacts millions of people around the world every day, yet they might not realize the many ways. Our technology is helping feed the growing population, supplying the world with more reliable energy and access to renewables, enhancing connectivity in remote and urban locations to create a sustainable future and so much more. Simply put, Valmont is advancing agricultural productivity and reimagining vital infrastructure to make life better.

Join a Fortune 1000 company that respects hard work, honors diversity and invests in our employees as we focus on creating the world of tomorrow, today. We are the modern workforce. Are you ready to move the world forward? Apply now.

A Brief Summary of This Position:

The primary function of this position is to develop and implement sourcing processes, supplier metrics and scorecards, and improve supplier (internal and external) quality systems. This position is responsible for ensuring the quality management system and sourcing processes are being followed by the external suppliers, internal Operations, and internal sourcing professionals to ensure quality products are delivered safely, at a low cost, and on time to our customers. The incumbent will develop control plans, work instructions, standard operating procedures, as well as conduct and analyze internal and external process studies to improve quality metrics using statistical analysis.

The incumbent works with divisional manufacturing management teams to identify and initiate sourcing projects that will achieve cost reduction and deliver competitive advantages through the global sourcing process. Working with production control, engineering, quality control and manufacturing to source parts.  Evaluates sample parts as necessary to ensure parts are produced to specifications outlined and provided to the supplier. The incumbent is also responsible for keeping informed of all significant changes to the design and sourcing processes and for coordinating activities with the Global Sourcing Group in China.

Essential Functions:

• Work with the Manufacturing teams to establish, implement, and maintain the Quality Management System.
• Develop training to facilitate sourcing and supplier quality processes.
• Interface with product engineering, sales, marketing, process engineering, legal and operations to ensure transfer to production of new products that are in accordance with approved data.
• Manage suppliers’ performance and conduct audits to ensure timely resolution of supplier failures, corrective actions, and preventive actions.
• Visit suppliers and dealers to complete site audits and to analyze processes as well as address quality issues and report findings.
• Determine corrective and preventive actions
• Hold suppliers accountable to executing the actions required to meet expectations.
• Identify and provide leadership in make versus buy evaluations and discussions with engineering, legal, operations, commercial, etc.
• Support quality teams to ensure products and processes comply with the relevant requirements of the quality management systems.
• Analyze corrective and preventive actions to respond to customer complaints, shortages and warranty claims.
• Support Operations, Quality Technicians, Reliability and Manufacturing Engineering by creating and maintaining divisional quality documentation, such as quality manuals, work procedures, control plans, etc.
• Design quality tools, processes (preferably poke-yoke) and ensure implementation on the production floor or by suppliers.
• Develop and enforce supplier agreements incorporating terms and conditions, confidentiality, intellectual property rights, and audit rights.
• Supplier Terms and Conditions:
  • Quality Standards: Suppliers must comply with ISO, UL, CSA, CE, and other relevant standards.
  • Delivery & Lead Time: Define acceptable timelines and penalties for delays.
  • Pricing & Cost Control: Require cost transparency and address currency fluctuation clauses.
  • Warranty & Liability: Specify warranty periods and liability for defective parts.
  • Confidentiality: Enforce non-disclosure agreements for proprietary designs and processes.
  • Intellectual Property: Ownership of designs and tooling remains with Valmont.
  • Audit Rights: Valmont reserves the right to audit supplier facilities and processes.
  • Termination Clause: Conditions under which contracts can be terminated.
• Negotiation Framework:
  • Lead supplier negotiations to secure cost-effective agreements while ensuring compliance with corporate standards.
  • Supplier Scorecard Metrics: Quality, cost, delivery, responsiveness.
  • Continuous Improvement Expectations: Lean initiatives and cost-down programs.
  • Dispute Resolution: Arbitration or mediation process for conflicts.
  • Volume Discounts & Incentives: Negotiation levers for long-term agreements.
  • Risk Mitigation: Dual sourcing strategy and contingency planning.
• Reports to VP Global Operations – Global Agriculture
• Requires up to 25% travel both internationally and domestically, including overnight stays

Required Qualifications of Every Candidate:

• Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years relevant experience OR Associate’s degree with 7+ years relevant experience OR 9+ years of relevant experience
• Five years of work experience in a Sourcing or Engineering position; preferably as a commodity manager, sourcing engineer, or sourcing quality
• Three years minimum experience working within a global Manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated abilities in quality assurance and manufacturing functions, specifically in lean manufacturing, mathematics, statistics, engineering, graphics, and procedural documentation
• A strong understanding of trigonometry and data analysis
• Ability to provide the needed pro-active, quality-related activities to assure the engineering specifications, process requirements, and quality objectives for materials, parts, and products are consistently met at a minimum cost to the company
• Ability to ensure quality management processes are being utilized by visiting and qualifying suppliers
• Ability to research develop and recommend quality assurance improvement processes
• The commitment to earn the Quality Engineer certification from the ASQ (American Society for Quality) within two years of accepting the position and maintain active status
• Experience with supplier scorecards and supplier development 
• A strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook

Highly Qualified Candidates Will Also Possess These Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or Engineering Technology
• Experience working with UL, CSA, CE, ETC, CCC, ISO, and QS standards
• Master’s Degree

• Fluent in Russian, Portuguese, Chinese or Spanish
• Active certification from the American Society for Quality as a Quality Engineer

Benefits

Valmont offers employees and their families a comprehensive Total Wellbeing benefit package to ensure their individual and family’s overall wellness needs are met. Some offerings are dependent upon the role, work schedule, or location and can include the following:

• Healthcare (medical, prescription drugs, dental and vision)

• 401k retirement plan with company match

• Paid time off

• Employer paid life insurance

• Employer paid short-term and long-term disability including maternity leave

• Work Life Support

• Tuition Reimbursement up to $5,250 per year

• Voluntary programs like tobacco cessation, Type 2 diabetes reversal, one-on-one health coaching, mortgage services and more

Valmont does not discriminate against any employee or applicant in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

If you have a disability and require any assistance in filling out the application for employment email [email protected].