Job Description

Procurement Manager

The Opportunity
Do you want to shape the future of our procurement department by driving strategic innovation and fostering a culture of ownership? Join Schunk Carbon Technology as our Procurement Manager ! In this dynamic role, you’ll transform Procurement from a transactional cost center into a competitive advantage by managing the entire sourcing, negotiation, and supplier relationship lifecycle. Be a driving force in our success story!

The Company

Schunk Carbon Technology is a manufacturer of electrical assemblies and components used in a wide variety of electrical and mechanical applications. We are in Menomonee Falls and have over 95 employees. Although we operate independently, we are part of the Schunk Group, a worldwide, privately held company headquartered in Germany, with over 1.8 billion in sales annually and diverse operations in 26 different countries.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement Strategy & Planning

• Develop, implement, and maintain both long term and short-term procurement strategies.
• Monitoring purchasing patterns and key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction, operational efficiency, and process improvement.
• Ensure procurement initiatives align with organizational priorities and business objectives.
• Conduct market intelligence research to stay ahead of industry trends, pricing shifts, and potential risks.

Supplier & Contract Management

• Evaluate, select, and manage suppliers based on quality, reliability, performance, and cost.
• Negotiate contracts, pricing structures, terms, and service level agreements to support company goals.
• Build and maintain strong, collaborative supplier relationships and ensure alignment with SRM (Supplier Relationship Management) practices.
• Ensure supplier compliance with ISO standards, governmental regulations, and internal purchasing policies.

Inventory & Supply Chain Management

• Monitor inventory levels to ensure product availability while minimizing carrying costs, optimizing our net working capital.
• Forecast material requirements and work with suppliers, production, and logistics to prevent shortages or delays.
• Oversee all aspects of international incoming freight operations, ensuring compliance with customs regulations and timely clearance of shipments.
• Manage relationships with logistics and warehousing partners and implement controls to prevent inventory loss.

Risk Management

• Develop contingency plans for supply chain disruptions, tariff impacts, and material shortages.
• Ensure strong processes exist for contract management, supplier performance, and compliance.

Budgeting & Cost Control

• Develop and manage the procurement department budget and track all procurement expenditures.
• Analyze spend trends, identify cost saving opportunities, and drive total cost reduction initiatives.
• Maintain supplier scorecards and performance metrics to support continuous improvement.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of procurement professionals and buyers.
• Set team goals, KPIs, and performance expectations; provide coaching and feedback.
• Foster a high performance, collaborative, and continuously improving team culture.
• Build training programs to keep the team current on procurement best practices and market trends.

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Work with Production, Engineering, Finance, Quality, Sales and other departments to align procurement activities with operational and budgetary requirements.
• Extend the interaction with the centralized shared services of Schunk group.
• Ensure that procurement supports production schedules and aligns with internal process requirements.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or related field: at least 5 years of strategic level experience in a procurement management role.
• Experience with import operations and supply chain management.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills; ability to interpret complex data.
• Result-focused leader with high achievement rate.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills for vendor management.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes, materials, and key commodities.
• Proficiency in Excel, ERP systems, and CRM platforms. SAP is a plus.
• Strong leadership, communication, and relationship‑building skills.

Benefits and Total Compensation

The company offers a competitive employment package that includes:

• Three formal bonus programs
• Generous PTO plan and paid holidays
• 401(k) plan – 3% of salary company-provided contribution that is paid bi-weekly to your account and 100% vested immediately
• Health, Dental & Vision Insurance and Flex Spending Account Program
• Company-Paid Benefits including Short and Long-Term Disability, Life/AD&D Insurance for you and every family member

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