**Job Description:** **Company Description** Founded in 1912, Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE: ITW) is a diversified, Fortune 200 manufacturing company that delivers specialized expertise, innovative- thinking and value-added products to meet critical customer needs in a variety of industries. Ranked among Fortune’s Magazine’s most admired companies, the company focuses on solid growth, improving profitability and strong returns across its worldwide platforms and divisions. These divisions serve customers and markets around the globe with a significant presence in developed as well as emerging markets. ITW’s revenues totaled $14.5 billion in 2014. The Smart Components Division drives profitability by leveraging its innovative solutions and application engineering. In addition to ITW’s industry leading research and development capabilities, ITW Smart Components enhances our customers’ competitive advantage. Smart Components is a business group within ITW’s Automotive segment with manufacturing locations in North America. Our Smart Component products are made up of housings and doors, innovative Capless solutions and charge ports for major OEMs around the world. **Job Description** **Responsibilities:** + Develop, communicate, and execute commodity strategies that deliver competitive advantage in cost, lead time, service, quality, and technology. + Consolidate and manage a best-in-class global supplier base aligned with current and future commodity needs, focusing on best value country sourcing, spend under contract, and total cost of ownership. + Define annual sourcing plans with measurable cost savings targets and key projects; track and report progress to stakeholders. + Monitor input cost drivers and market trends; maintain “should-cost” models and provide forecasts with countermeasure concepts. + Lead complex, high-value negotiations and manage global supplier contracts, including IP protection, co-development, performance clauses, and risk mitigation for sole-sourced vendors. + Oversee supplier relationship management, including scorecards, strategic plans, development initiatives, and continuous improvement programs. + Direct and train teams on RFX (RFI, RFP, RFQ) processes to ensure competitive value for high-dollar or critical components. + Provide escalation support for supplier shortages or continuity risks; develop and implement countermeasures to protect production and revenue. + Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Commercial, and Operations to simplify supplier base, reduce material complexity, and maximize leverage with strategic suppliers. + Support sourcing for new product development, including supplier selection, capability assessments, quality improvement, and supplier readiness. + Facilitate and lead Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VA/VE) initiatives to achieve divisional cost reduction goals. + Participate in divisional long-range planning (LRP) and annual planning processes to establish cost savings and sourcing strategies. + Drive continuous improvement using ITW’s sourcing toolbox, including 80/20 principles and quad/quartile analyses. + Conduct competitive bidding processes for parts, resins, components, tools, outside services, and outsourced molding/assembly. + Evaluate supplier capacity, performance, and capability; recommend and implement supply base consolidation where beneficial. + Maintain an Approved Supplier List, purchasing records, and compliance with corporate policies and procedures. + Act as the central liaison between suppliers and divisional stakeholders, ensuring alignment with corporate and enterprise-wide sourcing initiatives. **Education:** 4-year bachelor’s degree – Materials Management, Logistics, Production Planning, Purchasing or equivalent. **License(s)/Certifications(s):** APICS CPIM or ISM CPSM certifications are a plus **Experience/Skills:** 5 years’ experience in inventory control and purchasing, including specific experience in negotiating custom manufactured components, sourcing/buying commodity items preferred. Preferable in a manufacturing organization across a multi-location or a global business Excellent verbal and written communication skills Ability to travel ( 25%) **Additional Information** **Physical/Visual Activities or Demands:** Physical/visual activities or demands that are commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk, hear, sit and type, occasionally twist/turn, reach above shoulder and outward, stand, walk, bend, Must be able to lift up to 35 lbs occasionally Specific vision abilities required by this job include concentrated attention, close vision, far vision, depth perception, color vision, and the ability to bring object into sharp focus. Certain job functions described herein may be subject to possible modification in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. "Commonly associated" is not intended to mean always or only. There are different experiences that suggest other ways or circumstances where reasonable changes or accommodations are appropriate. All activities, demands, conditions and requirements are linked to essential job functions. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, ITW does not discriminate in hiring or in the terms and conditions of employment because of an individual's race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, arrest record, citizenship or other categories protected by federal, state or local laws. EOE/M/F/Vet/Disability **Compensation Information:** $115,000 - $135,000 _ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential._ _As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship._ _All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws._