Sr. Sourcing Specialist

Location: Shanghai, China
Opportunity
BASIC FUNCTION
Serve as the Sr. Sourcing Specialist for Kitchen & Bath (K&B) stamping and valve categories. Responsibilities include developing and executing global and regional sourcing strategies, driving cost reduction initiatives through supplier consolidation and optimized sub-component cost management, and maintaining strong relationships with all key suppliers.
Duties includes:
1. Cost Optimization: Identify cost-saving opportunities by analyzing detailed component and assembly costs, and by resourcing complete assemblies to more competitive suppliers.

• Category Leadership: responsible for stamping (brass, stainless steel, and aluminum alloy) and valve products (plastic cartridges, brass cartridges, thermostatic valves, angle valves, tee fittings). Define sourcing strategies and develop a robust global supply base to meet Kohler's cost and quality requirements.
• Supplier Management: Continuously select, develop, and manage relationships with key suppliers to ensure performance and alignment with business goals.
• New Product Development projects, cost/re-sourcing initiatives, and Quality improvement efforts with current and potential suppliers.
• Sourcing of potentials suppliers, being a proactive part in the detection and pre-selection. Drive supply base to lowest cost of total ownership to Kohler.
• Performance Tracking: Manage global scorecards for the assigned categories, ensuring supplier performance is monitored and improved.
• Cross-Regional Support: Provide category expertise and strategic sourcing support to other Kohler entities globally, leveraging best practices and synergies.
• Planview SME & Cost-Saving Data Oversight: Assist department manager in overseeing departmental performance data. Act as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Planview, responsible for extracting and consolidating overall cost-saving data within the department. And supporting colleagues in maintaining system accuracy and integrity.

Strategic Sourcing Responsibilities and Objectives:

• Conduct Comprehensive Spend Analysis

Perform detailed evaluations of current expenditures, mapping supplier relationships and identifying cost-saving opportunities. Facilitate regular strategic reviews with key stakeholders to align sourcing strategies, RFQs, and cost reduction initiatives.

• Maintain Sub-Tier Component Cost Database

Establish and update a robust cost database for critical sub-tier components to ensure timely reflection of price fluctuations and accurate implementation across OEM vendors.

• Define Commodity Strategy for Stamping and Valve Components

Develop and communicate clear purchasing strategies for stamping and valve categories. Collaborate closely with NPD (New Product Development) teams to ensure cost implications are considered during component selection and design phases.

• Lead Supplier Capability and Cost Improvement Initiatives

Initiate and manage supplier process capability assessments and cost improvement action plans to meet quality, delivery, cost, and program timing requirements.

• Promote Supplier Quality Best Practices

Partner with Supplier Quality teams to reduce early product failures by enhancing supplier engagement in process FMEAs, Print/Process Reviews (PPR), APQP, Control Plan development, process capability studies (Cp/Cpk), gage R&R, and other key quality milestones.

• Ensure Supplier Facility Readiness and Quality Audits

Verify that suppliers possess adequate facilities for process and final product quality audits prior to shipment. Continue audits until process capability and quality standards are consistently met.

• Manage Supplier Performance Scorecards

Maintain comprehensive supplier scorecards and conduct periodic formal on-site performance reviews to ensure continuous improvement and alignment with expectations.

• Serve as Primary Escalation Contact for Key Vendors

Act as the principal escalation point for major suppliers. Respond swiftly to issues, implement containment measures, establish recovery plans, and expedite corrective actions to lower impact.

Skills/Requirements
DEMONSTRATED SKILLS

• Self-starter, ability to work independently, collaborate with teams, and in a lead role.
• Build effective working relationships quickly in a cross-functional team environment.
• Communicates at all levels of organization with strong written, verbal and data presentation skills.
• Fluent in written and spoken English and Mandarin.
• Analytical with a high degree of problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Well organized, manages time and projects effectively.
• Creative problem solver with demonstrated expertise in applied lean process improvement.
• Cultural sensitivity between Chinese & American associates and business entities.

Education And Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or above education, majoring in mechanical or mechanical and electrical related. Minimum five years' experience in direct material sourcing and technical purchasing.
• Must possess expert knowledge in negotiating, bidding, problem-solving, and statistical techniques.
• Skilled in excel and SAP (MM module).
• MBA or CPM/CPSM is preferred.
• Working experience in foreign company is preferred.

Why Choose Kohler?
We empower each associate to #BecomeMoreAtKohler with a competitive total rewards package to support your health and wellbeing, access to career growth and development opportunities, a diverse and inclusive workplace, and a strong culture of innovation. With more than 30,000 bold leaders across the globe, we're driving meaningful change in our mission to help people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives.

About Us
It is Kohler's policy to recruit, hire, and promote qualified applicants without regard to race, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. If, as an individual with a disability, you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Kohler Co. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.