Global Supplier Management Manager

Job Description: ABOUT THE ROLE

The Strategic Supplier Leader (SSL) is a cornerstone of Schneider Electric's Modular Data Center (MDC) Procurement organization, serving as the single point of accountability for the end-to-end supplier relationship across Enclosures and turnkey Modular Data Center categories in North America.

This is not a transactional role. The SSL operates at the intersection of strategy and execution — acting as Schneider Electric's senior voice in front of strategic suppliers, orchestrating C-level partnerships, driving commercial performance, and unlocking value beyond price. Reporting directly to the Procurement Director, MDC, this role carries a portfolio exceeding $200M in spend and significant influence over Schneider Electric's ability to scale its Data Center business.

The ideal candidate brings a rare combination: the operational rigor of a category buyer and the executive presence of a strategic relationship manager. You are as comfortable leading a supplier business review as you are challenging cost models or negotiating a long-term supply agreement.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Strategic Supplier Relationship Management

• Serve as Schneider Electric's primary relationship owner for strategic suppliers in the MDC categories — the "One Voice" in front of supplier leadership, including C-suite.

• Lead structured Business Reviews to monitor performance, align roadmaps, and reinforce strategic commitments.

• Define and execute multi-year value proposals with suppliers — covering growth, innovation, outsourcing opportunities, and business expansion across North America.

• Communicate supplier strategy internally across BUs, Operations, and cross-functional stakeholders; act as the connective tissue between external partners and internal teams.

• Manage escalations and act as point of resolution for critical supply issues that require senior-level intervention.

• Commercial Negotiation & Category Execution

• Lead and close complex negotiations — MSAs, LTSAs, pricing frameworks — balancing cost competitiveness with long-term partnership quality.

• Coordinate and oversee RFQ processes executed by category buyers / tendering team for suppliers in scope; validate business awards in alignment with Category Manager.

• Drive cost transparency through rigorous cost modeling; challenge specifications and influence make/buy decisions in collaboration with Engineering and Finance.

• Ensure accurate, timely management of commercial parameters (payment terms, Incoterms, currency) in ERP systems.

• Productivity & Value Creation

• Build and actively manage a productivity pipeline through multiple levers:

• Negotiations and contractual improvements

• Quality Value Engineering (QVE)

• Change of Supplier (CoS) initiatives

• Process and logistics optimization

• Collaborate with Engineering, Tendering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Finance to identify and validate savings opportunities; track execution through to P&L impact.

• Identify and develop multi-sourcing strategies to strengthen resilience and competitiveness across the Enclosures and MDC portfolio.

• Supplier Performance & Risk Management

• Own supplier performance accountability across the full scorecard: Productivity, Quality, On-Time Delivery, Competitiveness, Innovation, and Sustainability (Planet & Society).

• Proactively identify supply risks; develop and execute risk mitigation and business continuity action plans.

• Engage cross-functional resources (Quality, Supply Chain, Logistics) to support quality and delivery improvement plans where needed.

• Monitor supplier capacity and investment plans; escalate capacity risks before they impact operations.

• Maintain and communicate supplier performance data within Schneider Electric systems (SRM database); ensure MDC stakeholders have real-time visibility.

(External) English Qualifications: Experience & Background

• 5–8 years of progressive procureme