Manager, Supplier Development Engineering, Metals & Fabrication

Job Summary:

Leads a team of Supplier Development Engineers responsible for developing supplier manufacturing capability, capacity, scalability, and operational readiness for the metals and fabrication categories to support current and future business requirements. Drives supplier performance improvement through structured supplier development strategies focused on manufacturing excellence, capacity readiness, operational maturity, new product introduction, supplier transfers, and business growth initiatives.

Provides leadership for supplier capability assessments, development plans, risk mitigation, and strategic supplier improvement initiatives. Partners closely with Supplier Quality, Procurement, Supply Chain, Engineering, Operations, and business leadership to ensure suppliers can meet quality, delivery, cost, capacity, and growth objectives.

Develops organizational capability within the Supplier Development Engineering team while establishing consistent methodologies, governance, metrics, and best practices across the supplier network.

1. Supplier Development Strategy & Leadership
Develop and execute the supplier development strategy for assigned regions, commodities, or business segments. Establish priorities, objectives, and resource allocation to address supplier capability risks and support business growth initiatives.

2. Team Leadership & Talent Development
Lead, coach, and develop a team of Supplier Development Engineers. Establish performance expectations, development plans, technical capability-building programs, and succession plans to strengthen organizational effectiveness and future leadership capability.

3. Supplier Risk Management
Provide oversight of supplier capability, manufacturing, operational, and capacity risk assessments. Ensure risks are identified proactively and appropriate mitigation plans are established, executed, and sustained.

4. Manufacturing Excellence & Capability Improvement
Drive supplier manufacturing excellence initiatives utilizing Lean principles, Six Sigma methodologies, process capability improvement, advanced quality tools, material flow optimization, and structured problem-solving approaches.

5. Capacity & Scalability Readiness
Lead assessment and management of supplier production capacity, scalability, and operational readiness to support forecasted demand, growth initiatives, new product introductions, localization efforts, and footprint optimization activities.

6. New Product Introduction, Launch & Transfer Readiness
Ensure suppliers are prepared to support new product launches, capacity expansions, industrialization projects, insourcing/outsourcing activities, supplier transitions, and strategic sourcing initiatives through early engagement and readiness assessments.

7. Supplier Assessment Governance
Establish consistent processes and standards for supplier capability assessments, operational reviews, manufacturing audits, production readiness evaluations, and supplier development planning across the organization.

8. APQP & Supplier Readiness Support
Collaborate with Supplier Quality, Engineering, and Procurement teams to ensure supplier readiness throughout product development, APQP, PPAP, industrialization, and launch processes, with emphasis on manufacturing capability and operational performance.

9. Cross-Functional Alignment
Partner with Procurement, Supplier Quality, Operations, Engineering, Materials Management, Planning, and Business Leadership teams to align supplier development priorities with strategic business objectives.

10. Performance Management & Governance
Establish and monitor key performance indicators for supplier development activities, team effectiveness, supplier capability improvements, risk reduction, capacity readiness, and operational performance improvements.

11. Continuous Improvement & Best Practices
Drive standardization, knowledge sharing, process improvements, and implementation of best practices across supplier development activities globally. Promote a culture of continuous improvement within both the supplier base and supplier development organization.

Basic Qualfications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, or related technical discipline

• Minimum 8 years of experience in Supplier Development, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field
• Minimum 3 years of leadership experience managing technical teams and cross-functional initiatives

Preferred Qualifcaitons:

• Prior experience with metals or fabrication category
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, operational excellence, and supplier development methodologies
• Proven experience leading supplier capability improvement and recovery initiatives
• Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, and structured problem-solving methodologies
• Experience with capacity planning, industrialization, and production readiness assessments

• Strong project and program management skills
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills
• Demonstrates strong business acumen and technical judgment when assessing supplier and operational risks.
• Successfully balances short-term business needs with long-term supplier capability development.
• Operates effectively in a highly matrixed global organization.
• Influences executive stakeholders and supplier leadership without direct authority.
• Leads through ambiguity while maintaining disciplined execution and accountability.
• Requires domestic and international travel to supplier locations and Eaton facilities.