Senior Commodity Specialist

Job Summary

The Commodity Specialist is responsible for managing major strategic sourcing initiatives and strategic agreements that represent a large spend, are of vital importance, or expose the company to a high level of risk, in support of company Business Units, Departments, and Corporate objectives. The Commodity Specialist works with the Portfolio Teams to ensure achievement of corporate goals, including SDI participation, customer satisfaction, and financial goals.

This is a job family posting (Commodity Specialist, and Senior Commodity Specialist) and experience will be the determining factor. 

Job Responsibilities

• Implement strategic approaches to sourcing goods/services to achieve superior business results that satisfy business unit, department and corporate objectives
• Ensure internal business unit customer needs are met
• Develop detailed sourcing plans
• Ensure the key strategies of the Supply Chain sourcing plan are delivered according to plan
• Provide commercial management for major initiatives
• Communicate vital market, contract, and supplier information to business units 
• Establish cross-functional teams consisting of suppliers and company stakeholders and provide leadership, coaching, and support to team members to insure the team’s success 
• Being knowledgeable of the markets for the commodities and services which are sourced to ensure that the Company is receiving competitive value
• Measure supplier performance to sourcing goals/key performance indicators
• Provide work direction to Sourcing Analysts to coordinate material planning and inventory management
• Perform ongoing market analysis to ensure competitive pricing
• Prepare and lead complex negotiations with suppliers
• Actively seek and utilize MBE/WBE suppliers to support and achieve corporate goals

Competencies:

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex procurement projects with significant scopes and value, including cross functional team management and project management skills
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of e-Business strategies including online bidding, reverse auctions, use and development of auction and e-catalog strategies, and procure to pay technologies.
• Demonstrated experience and application of We Energies’ established sourcing methodology including total cost modeling, negotiations, knowledge of contract terms and conditions and materials management concepts and techniques, e-business experience, contract management, and understanding of internal and external market forces and their impact on the company.
• Proficiency of e-Procurement tools, including reverse auctions, electronic request for proposals, Projects module, Sourcing Plan, and market intelligence.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors degree Supply Chain, Business or related discipline 
• 5+ years of related experience 
• Knowledge of business unit operations and objectives is desirable.

Critical Skill Sets:

• Customer focus
• Understanding mutual benefit and growth opportunities in strategic agreements
• Organization and planning
• Composure and adaptability
• In-depth knowledge of Supply Chain and Company policies and procedures
• Innovative ideas and approaches for procurement strategies and methodology
• Commodity expertise
• Interpersonal communication
• Interpersonal effectiveness – building and maintaining ongoing effective working relationships
• Negotiation experience
• Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and meet established deadlines
• Knowledge of SAP
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Problem-solving abilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to handle multiple tasks
• Experience with Microsoft Excel