What are the responsibilities and job description for the Strategic Sourcing Specialist Raw Materials position at JST Corporation?
Position Summary
The Strategic Sourcing Specialist acts as the subject matter expert for our primary manufacturing inputs, specifically raw stamping metals and molding resins. This individual contributor role is responsible for ensuring a stable, cost effective, and high quality supply of materials to support our high volume connector and terminal production. You will balance technical material requirements with global market analysis to protect the facility from price volatility and supply chain disruptions.
Key Responsibilities
Commodity Expertise for Metals and Resins
Metal Stamping Manage the sourcing and procurement of copper alloys, brass, and stainless steel strips. Monitor the London Metal Exchange LME and COMEX to advise on best time purchasing. Molding Resins Oversee the supply of engineering grade resins such as Nylon and PBT. Stay current on petroleum market trends and polymer feedstock availability. Technical Liaison Work closely with Engineering and Quality teams to ensure raw materials meet strict JST tolerances for conductivity, tensile strength, and flow rates.
Strategic Sourcing and Supplier Management
Vendor Selection Identify, vet, and onboard global and domestic suppliers that meet JST ISO and automotive grade quality standards. Contract Negotiation Lead high stakes negotiations for long term supply agreements LSAs and volume tiered pricing. Risk Mitigation Develop Safety Stock strategies and identify secondary sources for critical single source materials to prevent line shutdowns.
General Factory Support
MRO and Indirect Spend Manage relationships with suppliers for general factory supplies including packaging, lubricants, tooling components, and safety gear. KPI Tracking Monitor and report on supplier performance metrics such as on time delivery, PPM defect rates, and cost savings initiatives.
Qualifications:Qualifications
Education and Experience
Experience Requires 5 plus years of procurement experience in a high speed stamping or injection molding environment. Market Intelligence Proven ability to analyze commodity market trends for metals and petrochemicals and translate them into buying strategies. ERP Skills Proficiency in MRP or ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics for inventory and demand planning. Education Bachelor degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, or Business, or equivalent years of deep technical experience in the stamping and molding industry.
Skills
Experience with Automotive Industry standards IATF 16949. Certification such as CPSM Certified Professional in Supply Management or CSCP. Familiarity with Reel to Reel plating or stamping processes.
Physical Requirements
Ability to stand for extended periods during inspections. Ability to inspect small parts and defects with or without magnification aids. Ability to lift up to 25 pounds regularly. Ability to move between multiple workstations on the production floor. Willingness to work overtime, weekends, or alternative shifts when required.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties.
Salary : $72,800 - $78,900