The Technical Sourcing function is responsible for managing the third-party supplier (3PS) product and materials portfolio in close alignment with the overall product line strategy defined by the Product Line Directors (PLD) organization. In addition, the function provides technical expertise within Purchasing and drives cross-functional projects with a strong technical focus involving third-party suppliers. Its scope also includes supplier development, innovation scouting, ensuring product launch readiness at 3PS, and the definition of sourcing guidelines, including the Make-or-Buy decision framework.
Key Responsibilities
People Leadership & Team Coordination
- Drive and ensure global alignment of the 3PS portfolio and related technical topics, interfacing closely with PLDs, Segment teams, and the broader purchasing organization.
Portfolio Strategy & Governance
- Lead and manage the 3PS* product and material portfolio including its development and rationalization, in line with R&D, PLD, and Segments strategy.
- Co-design the Make and Buy (M&B) strategy with the PLDs through benchmarks, technical capability evaluation at 3PS, and ensure the strategy is embedded in the sourcing decision making.
Technical Support to Category Purchasing
- Drive a consistent roll out of 3PS portfolio strategy, in alignment with PLDs and the regional Category Purchasing teams.
- Support in-/outsourcing assessments considering all technical aspects like materials, tooling, and manufacturability.
- Conduct technical benchmarks; lead supplier comparisons and evaluations based on specifications, material properties, and capabilities.
- Identify and develop new sourcing options to close portfolio or capability gaps; lead innovation scouting with PLDs, R&D, and suppliers.
- Shape and complete the “Buy” portfolio in alignment with PLDs and in partnership with the Category Purchasing organization.
Project Management - Technical Scope
- Lead or coordinate projects involving global Purchasing with significant technical content (e.g., PFAS initiatives, material rationalization, new material launch at 3PS , technical benchmark etc...) and ensure cross‑functional validation and readiness.
- Provide technical support and troubleshooting for supplier issues and drive 3PS development programs.
Cross‑Functional Collaboration & Communication
- Act as main interface for PLDs and Segments in regards of technical sourcing topic involving 3PS portfolio.
- Interface with R&D and supplier engineering on specifications and manufacturability topics; provide clear technical directions to Category Purchasing.
- Support Sales with technical inquiries involving 3PS; participate in customer and supplier audits as required.
- In alignment with PLD, drive internal promotion and communication of 3PS portfolio capabilities to ensure cross‑functional awareness.
Quality & Continuous Improvement
- Support resolution of technical quality issues at 3PS with the quality team, coordinate corrective actions with suppliers and ensure lesson learned.
- Maintain a regular cadence of portfolio & capability assessments to identify improvement opportunities and validate outcomes of supplier development efforts
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s/master’s degree in engineering, Materials Science, or Business with strong technical exposure
- 5 years experience
- Demonstrated experience in technical sourcing, supplier development, and leading cross‑functional projects in an industrial/manufacturing environment.
- Strong proficiency in portfolio analytics, benchmarking, and Make‑or‑Buy frameworks; ability to translate technical requirements into sourcing decisions, including the capability to shape and evolve portfolio strategy based on technical, commercial, and market insights.
- Experience in leading teams or cross-regional stakeholders; ability to guide and develop talent
- Excellent stakeholder‑management capabilities; able to interact with PLDs, R&D, Sales, and suppliers.
- Familiarity with Purchasing processes
Travel: International travel to Mexico and some domestic
Work environment: 100% on site in Fort Wayne, IN
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with DisabilitiesThis employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering, Materials Science, or Business with strong technical exposure
- At least 5 years of professional experience
- Experience in technical sourcing, supplier development, and leading cross-functional projects in an industrial or manufacturing environment
- Strong proficiency in portfolio analytics, benchmarking, and Make-or-Buy frameworks
- Ability to translate technical requirements into sourcing decisions and develop portfolio strategy using technical, commercial, and market insights
- Experience leading teams or cross-regional stakeholders and developing talent
- Excellent stakeholder-management skills with Product Line Directors, R&D, Sales, and suppliers
- Familiarity with Purchasing processes
What We Do
We are one of the world’s leading developers, manufacturers and suppliers of precision seals, bearings and custom-molded polymer components. We collaborate closely with customers to develop unique, innovative solutions to tomorrow’s challenges. Utilizing our dedicated product design, material development and testing capabilities, we are a one-stop-shop providing the best in elastomer, silicone, thermoplastic, PTFE and composite technologies for applications in: • Aerospace • Agriculture & Forestry • Automotive • Chemical Processing • Construction & Mining • Fluid Power • Food & Beverage • Healthcare & Medical • Manufacturing & Machine Tools • Marine • Potable Water & Sanitary • Renewable Energy & Power Generation • Semiconductor With over 70 years of experience, we serve as long-term business partners to help our customers bring products to market faster. Through strategically positioned material and product laboratories, specializing in design and applications, our engineers support customers with design, prototyping, production, testing, installation and quality assurance using state-of-the-art tools. Our ServicePLUS portfolio of value-added services is designed to help customers optimize their business across the entire value chain. We bring leading edge technology and an in-depth, experience-based understanding of applications to customers through a global, but local approach. An international network of over 100 facilities worldwide includes over 40 manufacturing sites, more than 60 Customer Solution Centers and 10 R&D centers. Developing and formulating materials in-house, our material database includes over 2,000 proprietary compounds. We fulfill challenging service requirements, supplying standard parts in volume or a single custom-manufactured component, through our integrated logistical support, which effectively delivers over 40,000 sealing products to customers worldwide.
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