Strategic Procurement Manager

IEM is currently seeking a Strategic Procurement Manager for our Franklin, TN location. The Strategic Procurement Manager develops and executes sourcing strategies that support IEM’s manufacturing, supply chain, and operational goals. This role is responsible for identifying, evaluating, negotiating with, and managing suppliers to ensure material availability, cost competitiveness, quality, lead time improvement, and on-time delivery. 

The ideal candidate has experience in a manufacturing environment and can support sourcing decisions, supplier negotiations, supplier development, and cost reduction initiatives while partnering cross-functionally with Procurement, Planning, Operations, Quality, Engineering, and Finance. This position reports into our VP of Supply Chain. 

Please note: This position requires 100% in-office presence in our Franklin, TN offices and does not offer remote work.   

Key Responsibilities 

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies that support cost, quality, delivery, inventory, and business continuity goals. 

• Identify, evaluate, qualify, and onboard suppliers that meet IEM’s manufacturing, operational, and business needs. 

• Lead supplier negotiations related to pricing, payment terms, lead times, minimum order quantities, stocking agreements, blanket orders, and long-term supply agreements. 

• Manage supplier relationships, including performance reviews, scorecards, corrective actions, and long-term supplier development. 

• Lead sourcing, cost reduction, supplier consolidation, dual sourcing, localization, and supply risk mitigation initiatives. 

• Partner with Procurement, Planning, Operations, Quality, Engineering, and Finance to align sourcing strategies with production and business needs. 

• Analyze supplier capacity, lead times, pricing, market trends, demand signals, and supply risks to support sourcing decisions. 

• Support supplier issue resolution related to delivery delays, defects, nonconformance, pricing discrepancies, capacity constraints, and recurring performance concerns. 

• Maintain accurate supplier, pricing, contract, and sourcing data in applicable systems. 

• Support continuous improvement efforts related to supplier performance, material flow, cost reduction, and supply chain reliability. 

• The candidate will be expected to perform additional duties as assigned to support the team and organization. 

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field. 

• 5+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, supply chain, commodity management, or supplier management in a manufacturing environment. 

• Experience managing supplier negotiations, sourcing strategies, supplier performance, and cost reduction initiatives. 

• Strong understanding of manufacturing supply chains, supplier lead times, material planning, cost drivers, and production support. 

• Ability to make practical sourcing and supplier decisions within defined scope while partnering appropriately with Engineering, Quality, Operations, and Supply Chain. 

• Strong analytical, negotiation, communication, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration skills. 

• Experience in electrical equipment, power distribution, switchgear, industrial manufacturing, or engineered-to-order manufacturing preferred. 

• Experience with supplier development, localization, Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and material flow concepts preferred. 

• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems, Microsoft Excel, and supplier performance reporting tools. 

• Demonstrated career ambition with a track record of growth and increasing responsibility; highly promotable with the potential to take on broader leadership roles within a fast-paced, high-growth organization. 

Working Conditions 

• Manufacturing and office environment. 

• May require occasional travel to suppliers or IEM facilities. 

• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities, production demands, and supplier constraints. 

Compensation actually offered for this role will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.