Are you inspired by challenging the status quo Do you thrive in collaborative environments that drive results If so, Gates could be for you.
Gates is a leading manufacturer of application-specific fluid power and power transmission solutions. We push the boundaries of material science to engineer solutions that continually exceed customer expectations.
Let's simplify it, think belts and hoses. Found in motorcycles, conveyor belts, cars, tractors, blenders, vacuum cleaners, bicycles, & 3D printers just to name a few. Because why not do it all
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
POSITION SUMMARY:
- You will be developing commodity strategies to support business initiatives.
- This is an exciting opportunity for you because you will be responsible for negotiating costs and terms with suppliers and ensure supply base possesses adequate capacity to support Gates demand.
- Your objective/goals will be to optimize total cost and maintain a robust funnel of initiatives, fully responsible for the performance of suppliers within assigned categories.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:Other duties may be assigned beyond the core functions listed below.
- Develop and execute commodity strategies for assigned materials based on deep technical understanding of textiles, industrial fabrics, and manufacturing processes, combined with knowledge of domestic and international supply markets.
- Lead negotiations for assigned categories, leveraging technical cost breakdowns, material specifications, and process knowledge to achieve optimal pricing and terms.
- Build and use should-cost and cost-driver models grounded in material composition, production methods, yield, labor, and energy inputs.
- Proactively map the local supplier landscape, including identification of low-cost, emerging, and non-traditional suppliers, ensuring full visibility of available supply options.
- Continuously assess technology trends, material innovations, market dynamics, and supplier technology roadmaps relevant to textiles and industrial fabrics.
- Drive cost optimization initiatives aligned with business and profit objectives, focusing on design-to-cost, material substitution, process optimization, and alternate sourcing.
- Manage and develop the supply base by defining and tracking performance metrics related to cost, quality, delivery, and technical capability.
- Mitigate cost increases and supply risk by identifying alternative materials, processes, and suppliers.
- Act as a cross-functional project leader, collaborating closely with Engineering, R&D, Quality, Sales & Marketing, and regional teams to align technical requirements with sourcing strategies.
- Support contract development and review, ensuring technical, commercial, and compliance requirements are clearly defined and appropriately approved.
Requirements And Preferred Skills
- Strong technical background in textiles, industrial fabrics, or material sciences, with hands-on exposure to manufacturing processes and cost structures.
- Professional experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment; prior roles in engineering, product development, technical sales, or sourcing are all acceptable.
- Ability to act as a technical change agent, influencing stakeholders through data, material knowledge, and structured analysis.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate technical details into commercial requirements.
- Effective communicator, comfortable working across functions, regions, and organizational levels.
- Strong proficiency with all Microsoft and MRP/Supply Chain systems
- 4-year university degree in Business or related field or Engineering degree; Experience working in a technical or manufacturing environment required. Preference will be given to candidates with a previous experience working for a multi-national organization in a global or regional capacity.
- Willingness to travel up to 50%, including frequent visits to local/regional suppliers and manufacturing sites
- Strong verbal and written communications skills; ability to communicate in English across functional and multicultural lines
WHY GATES
Founded in 1911 in Denver, Colorado, Gates is publicly traded on the NYSE. While we might operate in a vast amount of time zones we operate as One Gates and have a common goal of pushing the boundaries of materials science. We invest in our people, bringing real-world experience that enables us to solve our customers diverse challenges of today and anticipate those of tomorrow.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Gates is an Equal Opportunity and is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of race, sex, color, religion, age, disability, pregnancy, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, genetic information, marital status, or any other consideration defined by law.
