Supplier Development Specialist

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate assignments for the team based on inputs from the Supplier Managers and other stakeholders
• Ensure open two-way communication between the Supplier Development Engineers and associated stakeholders
• Lead supplier development initiatives to improve quality, delivery, cost, capacity, certifications, process development and compliance
• Identify underperforming suppliers and create structured improvement plans with clear KPIs
• Conduct supplier assessments, audits, and capability evaluations and first article samples for new supplier approvals and onboarding.
• Drive continuous improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies
• Act as a key escalation point for supplier performance issues
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with strategic and critical suppliers
• Support supplier onboarding, qualification, and development programs
• Partner with Procurement to support sourcing strategies and supplier segmentation
• Support Product Development Lifecycle (PDP), supplier readiness activities, globalization & localization type projects
• Identify and mitigate supplier-related risks (quality, supply continuity, financial, regulatory)
• Ensure suppliers meet company standards, regulatory requirements, and sustainability goals
• Support business continuity and supply chain resilience planning

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Engineering, Business, or a related field
• 10+ years of experience in supplier development, supplier quality, procurement, or manufacturing
• Experience in leading a team or with demonstrated leadership skills
• Strong knowledge of supplier performance management and continuous improvement
• Experience conducting supplier audits and improvement projects
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma (Green Belt or Black Belt preferred)
• Familiarity with ISO standards, quality systems, or regulatory environments
• Experience in manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, electronics, or industrial sectors
• Ability to travel to supplier sites as required