Supply Chain & Strategic Sourcing Manager

Go Maverick Group has a client who for more than 80 years, has been a trusted American manufacturer of battery connection solutions serving mission-critical industries where reliability matters most. Their products support commercial vehicles, construction equipment, industrial operations, material handling, agriculture, defense, marine, and other specialty applications across North America.

Today, they are entering an exciting new chapter.

Under new private ownership, they are investing in growth, operational excellence, and strategic acquisitions to expand their market leadership and strengthen their manufacturing capabilities. As they scale, they are looking for a Supply Chain & Strategic Sourcing Manager who can help build a stronger, more resilient supply chain while creating long-term value for the business.

This is an opportunity to move beyond transactional purchasing and play a meaningful role in supplier strategy, cost optimization, risk mitigation, and operational performance.

If you enjoy solving complex sourcing challenges, building strong supplier partnerships, and driving measurable business impact, we would love to talk with you.

Position Summary

The Supply Chain & Strategic Sourcing Manager will lead procurement, supplier management, and sourcing strategy across their manufacturing operations. You will be responsible for ensuring a reliable, cost-effective supply chain while developing strong supplier relationships and supporting company growth initiatives. The successful candidate will oversee sourcing activities for direct materials, components, packaging, and indirect spend while collaborating closely with Operations, Engineering, Finance, and Product Development.

This is a highly visible position with the opportunity to influence business performance through supplier strategy, inventory optimization, sourcing initiatives, and proactive risk management.  The ideal candidate combines strong manufacturing procurement experience with a strategic mindset, analytical rigor, and a hands-on approach to execution.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Partnerships

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for key direct materials including copper, lead, connectors, terminals, lugs, packaging, and other critical components.
• Identify, evaluate, qualify, and onboard new suppliers to improve cost competitiveness, service levels, and supply continuity.
• Lead supplier negotiations involving pricing, contracts, payment terms, lead times, and service agreements.
• Build strong supplier partnerships while conducting ongoing performance reviews focused on quality, delivery, responsiveness, and value.
• Implement dual-source and alternate-source strategies to strengthen supply chain resilience and reduce risk.
• Monitor commodity markets and industry trends, providing leadership with insights regarding pricing exposure and sourcing opportunities.

Procurement Operations & Inventory Support

• Own the end-to-end purchasing process, including purchase order creation, order management, supplier communications, expediting, and receipt coordination.
• Partner with Operations and Planning teams to maintain appropriate inventory levels and support production requirements.
• Resolve supplier issues involving deliveries, quality concerns, invoicing discrepancies, and service performance.
• Maintain and improve procurement processes, policies, and approval workflows.
• Utilize ERP systems and reporting tools to manage procurement activities, monitor spend and improve decision-making.

Supply Chain Risk & Business Continuity

• Identify and proactively address supply chain risks related to supplier capacity, logistics, geopolitical events, and market conditions.
• Support supplier qualification efforts aligned with defense and government contract requirements, including BAA and DFARS considerations.
• Collaborate with Quality and Engineering teams on supplier corrective actions, qualification processes, and material performance issues.
• Track supplier capacity and lead-time trends while communicating potential risks and mitigation strategies to internal stakeholders.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with Engineering and Product Development on new product introductions by sourcing components, managing RFQs, and supporting qualification timelines.
• Work closely with Operations, Finance, Planning, and Customer Service to align procurement decisions with production needs, inventory objectives, and customer commitments.
• Provide leadership with reporting and insights related to supplier performance, cost savings, spend analytics, purchase price variance, and procurement KPIs.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that enhance supply chain performance and operational efficiency.

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or related discipline.
• 5+ years of procurement, sourcing, or supply chain experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience sourcing direct materials, components, or assemblies.
• Demonstrated success negotiating supplier agreements and driving measurable cost savings.
• Experience working within ERP systems and procurement management tools.
• Knowledge of supplier qualification processes, sourcing strategy development, and supply chain risk management.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to interpret data and support business decisions.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment while managing multiple priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience sourcing copper, wire, cable, electrical, industrial, or MRO-related materials.
• Familiarity with defense or government procurement requirements, i.e., DFARS, BAA, or ITAR.
• CPSM, CIPS, or related professional certification.
• Experience with commodity-based purchasing agreements or pricing structures.
• Experience managing domestic and international supplier relationships.

If you are looking to join a company that truly values a positive workplace culture and your contributions can make a genuine impact, then this could be the place for you. This is a pivotal role within a fast-growing organization, offering a competitive salary, performance bonus eligibility, generous PTO, comprehensive benefits, a 401k, upward mobility and more. This position is onsite at the client's Franksville, WI corporate offices.