Strategic Sourcing Specialist (US)

Fictiv Exists to Enable Hardware Innovators to Build Better Products, Faster

Fictiv, coined the “AWS of manufacturing,” is a leading technology company transforming the $350 billion manufacturing industry. Our cutting-edge cloud platform uses AI and machine learning algorithms to help companies build hardware at the speed of software. Come join our growing team!

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**Please note: This role is required to be based in one of the following locations: San Francisco Bay Area, California; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Madison, Wisconsin; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan

At Fictiv, we’re building the world’s leading platform for hardware manufacturing. As a Strategic Sourcing Specialist, you’ll play a key role in that mission by sourcing, qualifying, and managing work distribution across our network of U.S.-based Manufacturing Partners—who are far more than just suppliers.

In this role, you’ll utilize your educational background in Business Management, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, or Engineering, along with your hands-on experience in supplier sourcing, qualification, onboarding, and development. Leveraging your educational background and professional experience, you will be responsible for overseeing and expanding our domestic network of Manufacturing Partners, with a focus on cultivating strong in-person relationships and ensuring sustained partner success. We win every day because of the competitive advantage that our Platform, People, and Partners provide to our customers. 

As a Strategic Sourcing Specialist, you will develop onboarding plans to ensure alignment between supply capacity and customer demand, while maintaining a balanced distribution of spend across Manufacturing Partners in your region. You will also manage and grow relationships within our domestic supplier network, which includes capabilities such as 3D printing, CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, injection molding, and more.

In this role, you will report to the Manager of Strategic Sourcing for the US Region.

Impact in this Role

At Fictiv, we streamline sourcing for our customers, with the Strategic Sourcing team at the forefront of this mission. As a Strategic Sourcing Specialist, you will play a critical role in fostering strong, enduring partnerships with our North American Manufacturing Partners in your region.

You will also ensure we have a well-balanced network of partners, each with the right capacity and capabilities, to consistently meet and exceed customer requirements in terms of technical specifications, lead time, and cost. This will involve regular engagement, both virtually and on-site, to strengthen relationships, assess partner capabilities, resolve challenges, and collaborate on continuous performance improvements.

Areas of Responsibility

1. Manufacturing Partner (MP) Relationship Management:
• Onboarding & Evaluation: Take responsibility for the end-to-end onboarding process of new MPs. This includes sourcing, evaluating, and selecting partners that align with Fictiv’s goals, and strategic objectives.
  
  
• Manage Relationships: Build and nurture long-term relationships with Manufacturing Partners (MPs) across your assigned territory. This will involve both virtual and in-person interactions, ensuring a high level of engagement and fostering strong partnerships.
  
  
2. Negotiation of Terms:
• Manufacturing Service Agreements (MSAs): Support the negotiation of terms and conditions for Manufacturing Service Agreements with strategic MPs, ensuring mutually beneficial agreements that support long-term partnerships.
  
  
3. Supplier Development & Engagement:
• Supplier Development Initiatives: Propose and implement development projects in collaboration with your sourcing team and other cross-functional teams to continuously improve supplier capabilities.
• Driving Engagement: Work to maintain strong MP engagement, ensuring that partners are aligned with Fictiv’s objectives and are consistently meeting performance expectations.
  
  
4. Cost and Lead Time Optimization:
• Transparency & Spend Optimization: Manage Fictiv’s domestic supply portfolio by ensuring transparency in spending and making sure resources are distributed efficiently across the manufacturing network.
  
  
5. Collaboration and Stakeholder Management:
• Cross-Functional Cooperation: Work closely with various internal stakeholders (e.g., Product Management, Quality, Costing & DFM teams, etc) to ensure agreement on terms, processes, and project execution.
• Continuous Improvement: Proactively suggest and implement continuous improvements across sourcing, quality, and cost optimization strategies.
  
  
6. Supplier Sourcing:
• New Supplier Partnerships: Continuously seek out and partner with reliable, trustworthy suppliers who can meet Fictiv’s operational needs. This includes identifying new partners and expanding Fictiv’s network by utilizing former supplier relationships, and finding new ones.
  
  
7. Site Visits and Relationship Building:
• On-Site Visits: The core aspect of this role involves regular on-site visits to manufacturing partners, allowing you to directly address challenges and strengthen relationships. These visits provide valuable insights into current capacity, capabilities, and partner preferences, fostering trust and enhancing collaboration—key differentiators in driving long-term success with our partners.
• Travel Requirements: The role will require an average of 25% to 50% travel each month to engage directly with suppliers and visit their facilities.
  
  
8. Adherence to Standards:
• Strategic Sourcing Charter & AORs: Ensure that all sourcing activities are carried out in alignment with Fictiv’s Strategic Sourcing Charter and Areas of Responsibility (AORs), maintaining consistency and strategic focus.

Travel Expectations

25-50% travel is required

Desired Traits, Qualifications, Education and Experience Equivalency

• 5+ years experience in strategic sourcing, supply chain, business development, or as a manufacturing engineer with direct experience working with CNC machining, 3DP, molding, or fabrication suppliers
• Familiarity with sourcing and vendor management and relevant software
• Fantastic interpersonal and communication skills (both verbal and written)
• Ability to conduct difficult negotiates and sustain good working relationships
• Comfortable with figures and in collecting, analyzing and interpreting data
• Solid judgment with ability to make good decisions
• Minimum BS degree in mechanical engineering, supply chain management, logistics, engineering or business administration; MS preferred
• Meticulous and detail-oriented
• Excellent project management and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Self-starter, manages time efficiently, able to complete work in a timely manner without active supervision
• Ability to travel an average of 25-50% of the time (primarily domestic travel)
• Familiarity with working with suppliers, on site, in their shops.

Special Note

This role is restricted to U.S. persons (i.e., U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and other protected individuals under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)) due to access to export-controlled technology. Fictiv will require proof of status prior to employment.

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Perks and Benefits

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401K plan
• Monthly Virtual Work stipend for things like food, internet, travel, pet care, health and wellness
• Annual Education stipend
• Parental leave programs 
• Paid volunteer days
• Onboarding setup, including: standing desk, laptop, monitor, and chair, and a stipend for additional items such as headphones, blue light glasses, or any other ergonomic supplies you may want or need
• And much, much more!

Salary Range: $90,000 - $120,000 per year

Interested in learning more?  We look forward to hearing from you soon.

 

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About Fictiv

Our Digital Manufacturing Ecosystem is transforming how the next rockets, self-driving cars, and life-saving robots are designed, developed and delivered to customers around the world. 

This transformation is made possible through our technology-backed platform, our global network of manufacturing partners, and our people with deep expertise in hardware and software development.

We’re actively seeking potential teammates who can bring diverse perspectives and experience to our culture and company. We believe inclusion is the best way to create a strong, empathetic team. Our belief is that the best team is born from an environment that emphasizes respect, honesty, collaboration, and growth.

We encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups, including but not limited to women, members of the LGBTQ community, people of color, people with disabilities, and veterans.