Strategic Sourcing Manager

Manager, Sourcing & Development – Plumbing

Our client is a well-established, publicly traded national homebuilder with a strong reputation for delivering designer-quality homes at accessible price points. Over the past several years, the company has invested significantly in building out a proprietary Supply Chain function — introducing new approaches to product sourcing and developing innovative, high-quality products for use across their home portfolio. As the organization prepares to expand its capabilities to the next level, they are seeking an experienced sourcing and product development professional to help lead this effort.

The Manager, Sourcing and Development (Plumbing Specialist) will be responsible for identifying and developing supplier relationships, managing cost structures, ensuring product quality, and optimizing the supply chain for plumbing-related categories. Reporting to the Senior Manager of Sourcing and Product Development, this role requires collaboration with engineering and design teams to translate consumer insights into functional and market-ready products that meet quality, cost, and schedule targets. The ideal candidate will bring deep knowledge of the plumbing industry, strong negotiation skills, and a proven track record in strategic sourcing or procurement.

In this role, you will not only drive execution but also help shape the way the company approaches, develops, and sources plumbing fixtures. This is an opportunity to apply your expertise in plumbing fixture design, development, and strategic sourcing to create innovative, high-quality, and market-leading products — ideal for someone who thrives on solving complex material and engineering challenges, driving innovation, and navigating regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities & Expectations

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for plumbing materials and products, including pipes, fittings, valves, fixtures, and plumbing systems.
• Lead new product development projects from concept through commercialization.
• Translate design team insights into detailed product concepts and design specifications.
• Collaborate with engineering, design, and manufacturers to ensure design intent, manufacturability, and production efficiency.
• Manage and execute product testing, including prototyping and design verification, to ensure all products comply with industry standards and regulations.
• Coordinate with sourcing and supply chain partners to select materials and manage vendor relationships.
• Analyze market trends and competitor products to identify risks and opportunities.
• Track and report project status updates to senior leadership.
• Build strong relationships across the business to ensure alignment, collaboration, and effective decision making.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5 years of experience in product development, with specific experience in plumbing fixtures.
• Proven experience working within a new product introduction (NPI) process.
• Proficiency in project management tools, 3D CAD, and other relevant software.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proven success partnering with senior leaders and cross-functional teams to deliver complex initiatives.
• Experience in homebuilding or large-scale operational environments is a plus, but not required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to create precise and concise presentations and updates.
• High emotional intelligence, adaptability, and a collaborative working style.
• Familiarity with project/portfolio management tools (e.g., Asana, Miro).
• Comfort working in fast-paced, evolving environments, balancing long-term strategies with short-term execution needs.
• Moderate travel required (approximately 30%).
• Hybrid work schedule available.