Director of Global Commodities Management

teams. Novanta’s Corporate and Shared Services teams play an important
role in executing the company’s strategic mission and operations. Included
in Corporate and Shared Services are the business functions including
Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal,
Compliance, Corporate Development and Corporate Marketing. The
Corporate and Shared Services teams work closely with all Novanta
business units to support operating initiatives contributing to the
organization’s financial success.
 

Job Summary

In this role, you will be responsible for executing the Global Supply Chain
Strategy for a commodities sector across the Novanta businesses. Accountable for developing and implementing a Supply Chain Commodity
Strategy that 1. Delivers the lowest total Cost 2. Reduces business
Inventory levels 3. Maximizes Customer Satisfaction through best Quality,
Delivery and Cost that comes with contracting with World Class suppliers.
4. Reduces Risk in the Supply Chain.
 

Primary Responsibilities

• In the Commodities managed, develop and lead the execution of a
Global Supply Chain Strategy that supports overall Novanta Business Growth objectives and the individual Novanta Businesses expectations
for Supplier OTD, Inventory Reduction, Supplier Quality, Supplier Lead
Times and Material Productivity, including VAVE. This would include
actions to rationalize the supply base, improve supplier relationships,
implement Supplier Agreements, drive increased sourcing from lower
cost/high quality sources and leverage the material spend with other
Novanta business units.
• In the Commodities managed, build strong Productivity and Supplier
Improvement plans that can be agreed and supported by the individual
businesses throughout the year and most importantly to be used in the
businesses Annual Operating Plan for Supply Chain
• Maintain awareness of world markets and emerging material related
issues in the industry and position the supply chain to minimize risk,
overcome shortages and any cost implications.
• Establish and network of support resources in each Novanta business to
facilitate Supply Chain improvements and leverage Novanta wide
supplier capabilities in product design, cost reduction, lead time
reduction while maintaining customer satisfaction. In addition, working
closely with business Supply Chain Leaders, Operations and
Engineering teams to proactively identify and develop external capability
to support strategic in-sourcing or out-sourcing opportunities.
• Support business-escalated Supplier chronic or major performance
issues in a timely manner to ensure minimal business disruption.
Champion resolving all serious supply issues via appropriate
methodology including available Novanta support and on the ground
troubleshooting key constraints
• In the Commodities managed, obtain frequent competitive bids, analyze
costs and negotiate/award contracts to nominated Key/Preferred
Suppliers, based on robust and up to date Commodity Strategies and
TCO to Novanta businesses and Novanta overall.
• Drive business unit increasing Inventory Turns by developing, identifying
and supporting the implementation of innovative material replenishment
processes, including, but not limited to Kanban’s, vendor managed
inventory (VMI) and Supplier Consignment.
• Consistent with Novanta Operational Excellence focus, lead and support
Global Kaizen events that will eliminate waste and result in significant
benefits (Growth, Quality, Delivery and Cost) throughout the Novanta
Supply Chain.
• Drive continuous improvement in the supply base by communicating
objective performance metrics, (including Supplier Scorecards) via a
minimum of Quarterly Business Reviews with key Suppliers focused on lead time reduction, on-time delivery improvement, quality
improvement, cost reduction, service and compliance.
• Share Supply Chain Strategy within the Businesses and support the
implementation of SCM best practices across the group. Ensure
Commodity Strategies are maintained and up to date and adhere to
overall Novanta Supply Chain objectives
• Engender a spirit of cooperation throughout the Supply Chain, both
internally and externally, to insure responsiveness to the customer.
 

General tasks
• Maintain compliance with the quality, occupational safety and
environmental regulations and implementation of the instructions of the
quality / environmental management officer and the occupational safety
specialist.
• The manager is responsible for creating and maintaining facilities for his
or her area of responsibility, and for giving instructions and taking other
measures to ensure, maintain and improve occupational safety and
environmental protection regarding occupational safety and
environmental protection, the prevention of occupational accidents and
environmental damage, occupational diseases and work-related health
hazards.
 

Required Experience, Education, Skills and Competencies
• Degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations Management,
Engineering, Chemistry or equivalent experience and evidence of
exceptional ability
• 12+ years’ experience in progressive roles in the supply chain / sourcing
function. 5+ years spent in an engineered products manufacturing
environment.
• Solid knowledge of the Commodity to be managed including global
market trends (pricing, technologies, currency, regional best suppliers)
manufacturing processes, previous Commodity successes, obstacles to
switching suppliers (TCO, tooling, LCR/HCR advantages, freight)
• Evidence of successful self-identified and executed Material Productivity;
Ideation, high $ savings, multi-site, communication, execution.
• Global experience with vendors such as site visits, supplier audits,
negotiations, contract agreements. Travel will be required, and
relationships need building.
• Global experience working within a matrixed environment.
Understanding accountabilities and building relationships with the right
people in the businesses will be essential.
• The candidate must have excellent interpersonal skills; able to converse
well with peers, Novanta Leadership and Supplier Leadership. They
must be diplomatic yet persistent, where necessary, to ensure timely
execution.
• Excellent demonstrated high level Negotiation skills are paramount to
success. The candidate should be able to articulate previous
negotiations from conception, planning, people involved, success and
any lessons learnt.
• The ability to Project Manage people and plans to timely execution and
to ensure that roadblocks to success are mutually overcome.

Travel Requirements
• 25 - 50%
 

Physical Requirements

• None