The Procurement Manager is responsible for developing and implementing the procurement strategy and processes during the design and construction phase of the new factory. It requires strong communication and collaboration with both internal and external stakeholders. Strict adherence to Panasonic policies and procurement guidelines is a must. It is expected that this role will transition from a construction focused role to an operations focused role as the factory comes online.

The construction of the new factory is a multi-billion-dollar investment, and a strong procurement strategy is required. Working close with the already operational Panasonic procurement team in Nevada and the construction General Contractor to optimize the procurement activities is a critical task for this role.

The Procurement Manager, together with external stakeholders, oversees the sourcing, negotiating, and procuring of quality products for the project. Will assist in reducing costs, ensuring on time deliveries, and bringing in quality products by developing effective business strategies while remaining compliant with current policies and procedures.

Once the factory is operational, the candidate must be able to develop, plan, implement, and maintain leading edge sourcing strategies for a variety of indirect categories, such as Travel, Professional Services, Contingent Labor, MRO, tool and die mold parts, manufacturing equipment and consumables, and facilities operations. Will also serve as liaison between the Panasonic Kansas business and corporate (headquarters) Procurement category managers and leadership in Newark, NJ.

Essential Duties:

Category Management:

• Provide sourcing category expertise for all related categories including insourcing vs. outsourcing models
• Support development of category strategies based on rigorous analysis of spend data, supply market dynamics, category intelligence, and business requirements
• Leverage Kansas division volume in conjunction with other Panasonic businesses to obtain the best value for all, through coordination with corporate Procurement category leaders
• Identify profit improvement opportunities beyond sourcing, such as demand management, process improvements, insource vs. outsource, innovation, etc.
• Actively drives value beyond cost – e.g., growth, innovation, risk management
• Regularly monitors the market for category leading practices and demand/supply shifts such as supply consolidation, technology innovations, etc.

Strategic Sourcing: Execute strategic sourcing projects utilizing best practice sourcing methodology to deliver exceptional total value in partnership with key stakeholders across the business

• Execute strategic sourcing initiatives following the 7-step Sourcing Methodology
• Gather stakeholder and subject-matter expertise/insights and market intelligence to ensure sourcing solutions meet business needs
• Assess supplier capabilities and identify new potential suppliers
• Analyze supplier proposals and facilitate fact-based supplier selection process
• Prepare and present business cases and should-cost models; perform complex data analysis and build financial models (i.e., ROI, NPV, supplier scorecards, savings tracking, make vs. buy decision models)
• Analyze and summarize RFP responses and results and prepare recommendations for Senior Management
• Develop negotiation strategies, plan, and lead negotiations to maximize total value and minimize risks
• Establish contract terms and conditions and coordinate with legal to execute contracts with suppliers that optimize the relationship. Partner with internal stakeholders to develop and implement transition plans to new supplier(s)
• Ensure savings are delivered in a timely manner and that Panasonic realizes expected benefits
• Support Panasonic's supplier diversity and sustainability goals by increasing use or opportunity of suppliers in all commodity areas and by tracking opportunities to increase impact

Supplier Relationship Management: Establishes and manages the governance processes with suppliers and outsourced service providers for categories in scope:

• Develop qualified, competitive sources of supply on a continuing basis through comprehensive financial and market review
• Lead local implementation of national, regional, or global supplier contracts. Establish expectations for local supplier teams and ensure that business needs will be met effectively.
• Provide feedback on performance, seek continuous improvement and innovation
• Work with suppliers and key stakeholders to manage supplier performance and develop new capabilities
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders and third-party providers
• When performance issues emerge, identify root causes and work with internal and external stakeholders to drive efficient resolution

Continuous Improvement: Work with teams post-projects to identify continuous improvement initiatives. Identify costs drivers to increase awareness and influence cost consciousness within the business.

• Identifies, oversees, pursues, and manages re-engineering, value engineering and demand management opportunities to enhance operational effectiveness, interfacing with cross-functional teams
• Implements and drives procurement strategy, policies, and procedures
• Enforces compliance to procurement policies and works to increase adoption

Procurement Analysis: Support value generation sourcing and process improvement initiatives to optimize Panasonic’s third party spend across all related categories

• Conduct analysis in Excel, Tableau, and other BI tools to support procurement activities including spend analytics, budget analysis, etc.
• Leverage spend analytics to identify consolidation opportunities; understand total cost of ownership and cost drivers, analyze product/service specifications to identify rationalization opportunities; analyze demand and spend to identify patterns and reduction opportunities
• Analyze market intelligence to build business cases and should-cost models to identify and quantify improvement opportunities for both sourcing and non-sourcing – e.g., demand management, process improvements, insource vs. outsource, etc.
• Gather requirements and specifications from business and category experts to ensure that proposed solutions meet business needs

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements:

• To ensure the health and safety in the workplace and for the protection of our employees, wearing PPE is a requirement for some roles at PENA and may include equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, bump cap, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator.

The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.

Qualifications: Requirements - Required and/or Preferred

Education:

• Basic/Required:
  • BS/BA degree in relevant area such as supply chain, business or STEM required.

• Preferred:
  • MBA and other relevant degree /certification (e.g., ISM CPSM) highly desirable.

Essential Qualifications:

• 5 years+ of relevant strategic sourcing experience demonstrating success in positions of increasing complexity.
• Understanding of Lean Six Sigma concepts and participation in manufacturing process improvement
• 5+ years of experience leading strategic sourcing and operational/value generating initiatives.
• Experience providing strategic sourcing strategies and directional guidance and integration across supply categories and supplier relationships to accomplish transformational business results and achieve best total value for the business.
• Demonstrated capability to develop, decide and execute category/commodity management strategies, supplier relationship management programs and activities, negotiations, risk management, and supply base performance management.
• Record of accomplishing cost saving targets, required quality, and improved service levels through leading negotiations and contracting in collaboration with cross-functional counterparts and stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical, influencing, and communication skills, business acumen, and the ability to work in a team environment are also critical.
• Leadership Skills: to manage people and resolve conflicts while maintaining a positive work environment

Competencies:

• Deep experience designing end-to-end procurement strategies and a track record of leading sustainable high impact sourcing approaches levering sourcing levers beyond tendering
• Experience with category management strategies for categories in scope: opportunity diagnostic, strategic sourcing process, supplier management with a proven track record of delivering business impact
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills; record of managing relationships across the business to achieve objectives
• Expert understanding of contract terms and techniques for driving additional value and managing risks
• Demonstrated analytical, financial, problem solving, organization, and project management skills
• Ability to support, lead, plan, and conduct successful negotiations
• Strong project management skills, including management of stakeholder timelines and meeting management skills
• Knowledge of and experience utilizing Supplier Management tools (SRM, conducting Quarterly Business Reviews, etc.)
• Technology-savvy and high competency in MS office: Advanced Excel and analytics skills as well as eSourcing, Ariba, etc.
• Highly motivated with an entrepreneurial mindset; proactive and innovative. Able to work independently, i.e., not co-located with management.
• Experience working effectively in global complex organizations and with offshore providers
• Ability to lead and influence change in the face of complexity and ambiguity
• Thrives in a fast paced, goal oriented, dynamic organization with time sensitive deadlines
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills including meeting facilitation and presentations
• Ability to interact effectively and gain credibility with internal associates at all levels as well as external third parties.

Preferred License(s):

• None

Preferred Certification(s):

• None

Physical Demands:

Physical Activities: (Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to)

• Sit: 40%
• Walk: 30%
• Stand: 20%
• Lift: 10%

Required Lifting and Carrying: (Required frequency is: Not required (0%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%, Continuous (67-100%)

• Up to 10 lbs.: Occasional
• Up to 20 lbs.: Occasional
• Up to 35 lbs.: Occasional
• Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Not Required

Supplemental Information:

In addition to an environment that is as innovative as our products, we offer competitive salaries and benefits.

Pre-employment drug testing is required. Due to the high volume of responses, we will only be able to respond to candidates of interest. All candidates must have valid authorization to work in the U.S. without restriction.

Panasonic is an Equal Opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by law. All qualified individuals are required to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

About Us:

Located in Reno, Nevada, Panasonic Energy has successfully started and operates one of the largest Li-ion Battery factories in the world. Over the past few years, the Nevada Gigafactory has grown to one of the largest lithium-ion battery factories in the world. We continue to revolutionize the lithium-ion battery market and accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy and transportation. Our mission at Panasonic is to make the vision of affordable Electric Vehicles a reality by producing the world’s safest, high quality, and lowest cost batteries. Through this effort we will create a clean energy society and our products will change society’s use of and perceptions of electric power.

As part of Panasonic’s expansion strategy, it is now constructing a very large Li-ion battery factory near Kansas City, Kansas. In this new green-field factory, Panasonic will manufacture cylindrical lithium-ion cells for various electric vehicle makers. This role is for a full-time position in the new factory being built in Kansas.