Global Supply Chain Manager

ABOUT THE COMPANY

 

Interphase Corporation (NASDAQ: INPH) is a leading provider of robust building blocks, highly integrated subsystems and innovative gateway appliances for converged communications network.  Building on a 30-year history of providing advanced I/O solutions for telecom and enterprise applications and addressing the need for high speed connectivity, Interphase has established a key leadership role in delivering next generation AdvancedTCA® (ATCA), MicroTCA™ and AdvancedMC™ (AMC) solutions to the marketplace.  Headquartered in Plano, Texas with sales offices across the globe, Interphase clients include Alcatel-Lucent, Emerson Network Power, Ericsson, Fujitsu Ltd., Hewlett Packard, Motorola Inc., Nokia-Siemens Networks, Nortel Networks Ltd. and Samsung.  Interphase is a contributor member of the Scope Alliance and the Communications Platform Trade Association (CP-TA).  Additional information about Interphase and its products is available on the company’s Web site at www.interphase.com. 

 

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

 

Interphase is like a family in which all employees are truly valued and treated with respect.  Everyone here wears many hats and gets exposed to a variety of challenges.  In this very visible and key role, you'll be working with an outstanding team of people--some of the industry's best--all driven to achieve and succeed, just like you!

 

The Global Supply Chain Manager is responsible for managing, planning, and coordinating the Company’s supply chain activities in support of business objectives.  Oversees the global sourcing and purchasing of supplies and services necessary for manufacturing and corporate operations including electrical components, machinery, equipment, tools and raw materials.  Ensures that the purchase and procurement of goods and services support quality, cost, timeliness, inventory, and service level standards established by the Company, our contracts with customers, and ISO and TL certification requirements.

 

The Global Supply Chain Manager investigates, develops, and proposes continual improvement opportunities for supply chain efficiency and business profitability.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned. Management reserves the right to change these duties at any time.

 

Supply Chain Strategy

Develops and implements the Company’s Global Supply Chain Strategy and establishes the supporting industry best practices and corporate & departmental processes to leverage our competitive capability through the supply chain. 

 

Creates and maintains competitive supply chain policies, procedures, metrics and material control systems with a continuous focus upon reducing costs and improving inventory turnover and serviceability. 

 

Defines and develops standards for supply chain related deliverables, templates and tools for use by internal and external parties.

 

Works with program management and engineering throughout product life cycle to identify and implement supply chain strategies to provide annual product and process cost improvements, lead time reductions and internal inventory optimization.

 

Inventory Management

Develops and implements programs for cost reduction and lead-time reduction within the supply chain, as well as those to maximize schedule flexibility, while minimizing inventory exposure, maintaining cost targets, and reducing risk for both the Company and our customer.

 

Participates in balancing Production-Sales-Inventory for internally sourced and contracted products, and manages US inventories to optimize investment and write offs.

 

Directs customer quote requirements.  Ensures all costed Bills of Material are competitive, supports the defined supply chain strategy, and minimizes the Company’s exposure to inventory not in line with quoted pricing.

 

Advises Finance, Engineering, Marketing, and Management on current and future prices, availability, and delivery schedules, as appropriate.

 

Ensures there is a Disaster Recovery Plan/Continuity of Supply plans for all critical items.

 

 

Vendor Management & Negotiation

Creates a specific process and methodology for the qualification, selection and approval of Interphase suppliers.  

 

Establishes vendor relations and ensures vendors are evaluated regularly as it relates to their ability to meet the Company’s quality requirements, specifications, and delivery dates.

 

Identifies and develops supply chain strategies with current and potential suppliers to optimize the cost, availability and serviceability of material and services procurement.

 

Oversees the negotiation of purchase contracts, follow up, scheduling, and expediting of deliveries, including all JIT partnership agreements. 

 

Negotiates specific supply chain contracts related to pricing, net payment terms, supplier managed inventory obligations, delivery and quality in cooperation with the contracts manager.

 

Establishes and implements tangible operating plans aimed at improving the terms and conditions associated with our supply chain to keep Interphase competitive on a global basis.

 

 

Pricing

Works with product and RFI/RFQ teams to establish cost structures for potential new products including multi-year cost projections to be used in the establishment of product pricing and price evolutions.

 

 

New Product Introduction

Participates in the Product Development and Business Planning processes to ensure availability of product and a reliable supply chain for all new and existing products.

 

Leads Purchasing activities associated with New Product Introduction efforts.  Participates as subject matter expert in supply chain strategies during product conceptualization and development phases to identify specific material supply chain strategies relative to cost control of new product designs.  Completes line item source awards, new supplier development, and item-master upload databases.

 

Market Trend Awareness

Maintains awareness of key market trends and pricing as well as the development of new materials or products and recommends and/or counsels others on these changes.

 

Measurement of Effectiveness / Metrics

Benchmarks global cost structures for material and services to identify and implement strategies that will reduce internal cost of material and labor for the manufacturing of products as well as potential outsourcing initiatives. Considerations include cost, schedule, capacity, overall performance and quality.

 

 

Compliance

Maintains compliance with all Company policies and procedures, all US and International procurement regulations, and applicable ISO and TL standards.

 

Ensures the highest ethical standards are adhered to in the procurement process.

 

Management & Administration

Supervises, selects, develops, and evaluates staff to ensure the effective and efficient operation of the purchasing function.

 

Ensures the update and maintenance of corporate component cost database representing strategic price models for high cost/volume components with negotiated pricing from suppliers.

 

Identifies training needs, and develops and delivers supply chain related training to the purchasing team, as well as employees as needed, particularly as it relates to the purchase requisition process.

 

Develops and executes reports and analysis for management to help drive business decisions and results

 

Ensures that the Purchasing department remains in budget.

 

Sets and monitors departmental goals and objectives for alignment with the corporate goals and objectives.

 

Drives continuous improvement and innovation to insure that the planning areas meet current and future goals as business needs and technology change.

 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Manages one or more purchasing employees. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

 

Each individual must be able to perform the identified duties satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree (B. S.) in engineering, supply chain management, or business from four-year college or university, plus 8 to 10 years prior work experience in a global supply chain/planning environment related to the electronics industry is preferred.  Masters degree highly desirable.

 

Proven track record of effective supply chain management experience in an electronics environment required.  Strong technical level of competence related to electronic components and electronic assemblies required.   Knowledge of engineering release, material control, production control, material management, and customer support/systems/processes a significant plus.

 

Strong leadership and teamwork/collaboration skills.  Possesses organizational agility/ability to get things done personally, and through others.

 

Strategic thinking, and the ability to pro-actively identify and solve problems with sound and accurate judgment, as it relates to supply chain management, is an essential part of this job.   

 

Ability to identify and implement specific benchmarking initiatives of global material and labor costs are mandatory. The ability to evaluate benchmark data and translate the information from such data into meaningful programs to establish and maintain “world class” procurement and inventory processes are key.

 

Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to interface and communicate effectively internally and externally with executive management, employees, customers, vendors, and auditors, etc.

 

Strong negotiation skills.

 

Strong ability to plan and organize efficiently and effectively. 

 

Ability to work under pressure, facilitate change, and make improvements to meet the demands of the business.

 

BENEFITS

 

We recognize people as our most valuable asset.  Our comprehensive salary and benefits package offerings include medical and dental insurance with a premier carrier, 401k, disability benefits, prescription drug coverage, confidential employee assistance programs, pre-tax accounts for health care and dependent care, life insurance, vision care plan, paid sick time, telecommuting support, casual dress, flexible hours, paid company holidays and vacation, free parking, and tuition assistance program.

 

 

HOW TO APPLY

Please forward your resume with a salary history to resumes.iphase@iphase.com .

 

*Interphase Corporation proudly supports Affirmative action and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Employment is contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment testing which includes criminal background check and pre-employment drug testing.  ISO9000 and TL9000 certified.  All resumes are held in confidence.  Must be eligible to work in the US.  No phone calls please.