Strategic Sourcing Lead

Strategic Sourcing Lead

We are seeking an experienced Strategic Sourcing Lead to drive supplier performance, cost reduction, and supply chain risk mitigation for the Appleton Performance Center. Reporting to the Supply Chain Manager, this role will serve as a senior individual contributor responsible for translating broader commodity and supply chain strategies into effective site-level sourcing plans and execution. The Strategic Sourcing Lead will manage critical and strategic supplier relationships, lead sourcing, and negotiation activities, and support a resilient supply of electronic components, circuit boards, and custom hardware. This role will partner closely with the Electronics Commodity Manager to align site sourcing activities with enterprise commodity strategies while addressing local production, supplier performance, and material requirements.

Who are we?

Founded in 1849, Ducommun is the oldest company in California. Starting as a hardware supply store during the California Gold Rush and eventually assisted in the birth of the aerospace industry in Southern California by providing aircraft aluminum to early aerospace pioneers like Lindbergh, Douglas and Lockheed.

Today Ducommun is a global provider of innovative manufacturing solutions for customers in the aerospace, defense and industrial markets. We specialize in electronic and structural systems, producing complex products and components for commercial aircraft platforms, mission-critical military and space programs, and sophisticated industrial applications.

Our Facility in Appleton, WI manufactures state-of-the-art circuit boards for Aerospace and Defense as well as Industrial and Medical Industries.

Job Summary

• Site Sourcing Strategy: Develop and execute site-level sourcing plans aligned with enterprise commodity strategies, focused on material availability, supplier performance, risk reduction, and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

• Commodity Alignment: Partner closely with the Electronics Commodity Manager to implement enterprise supplier and commodity strategies at the site level while providing insight into local supplier performance, market conditions, risks, and constraints.

• Supplier Relationship Management: Manage relationships with critical and strategic site suppliers, lead quarterly business reviews (QBRs), and drive continuous improvement across quality, delivery, cost, capacity, responsiveness, and overall supplier performance.

• Supplier Performance & Development: Monitor supplier performance, lead supplier escalations and corrective action efforts, and partner with internal stakeholders and suppliers to drive measurable and sustainable performance improvement.

• Risk Mitigation: Proactively identify single-source risks, component obsolescence (DMSMS), electronic component shortages, capacity constraints, and other supply risks, and develop appropriate mitigation and alternate sourcing plans.

• Contract Negotiation: Lead the development, negotiation, and management of site-specific Long-Term Agreements (LTAs), Service Level Agreements (SLAs), pricing agreements, and other supplier commercial arrangements within established authority levels.

• Operational Support: Partner with Operations, Planning, Engineering, Quality, and other key stakeholders to address material constraints, improve lead times, support production requirements, and ensure sourcing decisions align with customer and business priorities.

• Supplier Qualification: Partner with Engineering and Quality to evaluate, qualify, and onboard new suppliers in accordance with applicable aerospace, defense, quality, and company requirements.

• Cost & Value Improvement: Lead site-level cost reduction and value improvement initiatives by analyzing spend, supplier performance, market conditions, and sourcing opportunities to identify negotiation leverage and efficiencies.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Working knowledge of applicable aerospace quality standards and government requirements, including AS9100, ISO 9001, ITAR, EAR, and FAR/DFARS.

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex supplier negotiations and manage significant or complex spend portfolios.

• Strong ability to analyze spend, supplier performance, cost drivers, market conditions, and supply chain risk to develop sourcing recommendations and drive business decisions.

• Demonstrated ability to influence and work effectively across Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Planning, and other functions without direct reporting authority.

Required Experience and Education

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business, Engineering, or a related field.

• 5+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain within electronics, aerospace, defense, or another complex manufacturing environment.

• Demonstrated sourcing experience involving electronic components, PCBs, microelectronics, connectors, wire harnesses, custom hardware, or similarly complex commodities.

Equal Opportunity Employer Veterans/Disabled

2222 East Pensar Drive

Appleton, Wisconsin, 54911

United States