Senior Director, Global Supplier Development in Birmingham

We’re looking for a leader who can see around corners. As our next Senior Director of Global Supplier Development, you will shape the future of a global supply base that fuels innovation, resilience, and growth. If you thrive on elevating supplier performance, forging strategic partnerships, and driving transformation across continents, this is your stage.

Key Responsibilities:

• Global Supplier Development Strategy: Develop and implement a global strategy for supplier development that aligns with the company’s business objectives and ensures the supply chain is robust, resilient, and capable of supporting growth.
• Supplier Performance Management: Lead efforts to assess, monitor, and improve supplier performance. This includes setting clear expectations for quality, cost, and delivery and ensuring that suppliers meet these standards through regular performance reviews, audits, and corrective actions.
• Supplier Audits & Assessments: Conduct regular supplier assessments, audits, and evaluations to ensure that suppliers are compliant with company requirements and regulatory standards. Identify opportunities for improvement and work with suppliers to implement corrective actions.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive continuous improvement initiatives in supplier processes, technology, and performance, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation with suppliers. Leverage lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other process improvement methodologies to enhance supplier capabilities.
• Supplier Risk Management: Identify and mitigate risks associated with the global supply chain, including supplier capacity issues, geopolitical risks, and supply disruptions. Work proactively with suppliers to address and manage potential risks.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with procurement, engineering, operations, and other internal teams to ensure alignment between supplier development efforts and business objectives. Provide expertise and guidance on supplier capabilities to support new product development and sourcing decisions.
• Supplier Innovation & Technology Development: Foster collaboration with suppliers to drive innovation and technological advancements that enhance product quality, reduce costs, and improve lead times. Encourage suppliers to invest in new technologies that align with the company’s strategic goals.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key global suppliers. Foster trust, transparency, and mutual value through regular communication, collaboration, and joint problem-solving.
• Cost Optimization: Partner with procurement and finance teams to identify cost-saving opportunities within the supply chain. Negotiate with suppliers on pricing, terms, and conditions to achieve mutually beneficial cost reductions.
• Supplier Development Training: Provide training, support, and development opportunities for suppliers to help them improve their performance. This could include technical training, best practice sharing, or support in implementing quality management systems.
• Global Team Leadership: Lead and manage a global team of supplier development professionals, ensuring that they are aligned with company goals, equipped with the necessary tools and training, and empowered to drive performance improvements across the supply base.

Experience & Education:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field (Master’s degree or MBA preferred).
• Experience: 10+ years of experience in supplier development, supply chain management, or procurement, with at least 5 years in a leadership role managing global teams and suppliers.
• Industry Expertise: In-depth knowledge of supply chain management, supplier performance management, and procurement processes in a global context. Experience working in industries like manufacturing, automotive, technology, or consumer goods is often preferred.
• Process Improvement: Strong experience in process improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, or similar frameworks, with a proven track record of driving measurable improvements in supplier performance.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Proven success in building and maintaining effective relationships with global suppliers, including negotiating contracts and resolving disputes.
• Leadership Skills: Strong leadership and team management capabilities, with the ability to motivate and guide cross-functional teams across different regions and cultures.
• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to analyze complex data and metrics related to supplier performance, identify issues, and implement effective solutions.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate with internal stakeholders and external suppliers at all levels.
• Global Perspective: Experience managing global supplier networks, navigating cultural differences, and dealing with the challenges of international supply chains.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong negotiation, influencing, and contract management skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to distill complex data into actionable insights.
• Demonstrated leadership and change management skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive results.
• Proficient in project management tools and supply chain systems (e.g., ERP, procurement platforms, BI tools).
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Works effectively with internal teams and external suppliers to develop strong partnerships that drive mutual success.
• Able to see the big picture and develop long-term strategies for supplier development that align with overall business goals.
• Takes initiative to address and resolve issues before they become larger problems, with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Driven to achieve high performance in supplier development and able to track and report on progress using key performance indicators (KPIs).

Why work for JBT Marel:

We are committed to our employees and will provide you with development and opportunities to allow you to be the best version of yourself at work, at home, and in your community. We foster a genuine, inclusive team culture, enjoying collaborative working across our global teams to deliver world-class projects. We encourage development - ensuring new experiences and challenges at JBT Marel to feed your growth!

Commitment to Diversity: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging are fundamental values to JBT Marel and critical to our future success. A thoughtful, focused, and sustained effort to work towards our DEIB goals is not just a principled choice, but also a business imperative.

Equal Opportunity Employment: JBT Marel provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and qualified applicants for employment. We will not tolerate any form of discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. At JBT Marel, we apply this policy to all our employment practices, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits, and training.