Lead Sourcing & New Product Development Specialist
*Global Strategic Sourcing *Vendor Development *New Product Introduction *Vendor Management
Position Overview
The Lead Sourcing & New Product Development Specialist owns end-to-end strategic sourcing and vendor development across Reliance Foundry’s global supplier base. This role leads the introduction of new products from vendor identification through validation, onboarding, negotiation, and ongoing management, and is accountable for cost competitiveness, tariff exposure management, and strategic supply chain diversification. It works cross-functionally with Sales, Engineering, Product Management, and Operations to ensure timely, cost-effective, and high-quality delivery while building a resilient, geographically diversified supplier network.
Key Responsibilities
1. End-to-End New Product Development & Introduction
- Own the full new product introduction (NPI) sourcing lifecycle — vendor identification, technical and commercial validation, onboarding, negotiation, and ongoing vendor management.
- Partner with Engineering and Product Management to translate design and specification requirements into sourcing strategies and manufacturable, cost-effective supply solutions.
- Drive first-article, sample, and qualification processes to bring new products to market on schedule and to specification.
- Manage vendor onboarding: capability assessment, quality systems, compliance, tooling, and documentation.
2. Global & International Sourcing
- Source and develop suppliers across international markets, including South-East Asia (China, Vietnam, Malaysia), India, the United States, and Europe.
- Build and manage relationships with overseas manufacturers, trading partners, and sourcing agents across multiple time zones and business cultures.
- Conduct or coordinate supplier visits, audits, and trade-show engagement to identify and qualify new sources of supply.
3. Strategic Sourcing & Vendor Management
- Identify, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers to support product development and operational requirements.
- Conduct vendor qualification assessments including capabilities, quality systems, financial stability, and compliance.
- Maintain strong supplier relationships, monitor performance, and implement corrective actions when necessary.
- Lead procurement negotiations, including pricing, terms, lead times, and contractual commitments.
4. Cost Analysis, Landed Cost & Total Cost of Ownership
- Build and maintain should-cost models to establish target pricing and evaluate supplier quotations.
- Develop landed-cost models that capture unit price, freight, duties, tariffs, brokerage, insurance, and other import-related costs to determine true total cost.
- Break down supplier cost structures (material, labor, overhead, tooling, margin) to identify cost drivers.
- Perform total cost of ownership (TCO) and make-vs-buy analyses.
- Track cost trends (material, labor, and other inputs), quantify the impact, and provide cost insights.
- Support product costing, quotation, and margin analysis for the Sales team.
5. Tariff Exposure & Trade Compliance
- Manage US and Canadian tariff exposure, including HS classification, duty impact, country-of-origin considerations, and mitigation strategies.
- Monitor evolving trade policy and tariff developments and translate them into sourcing and pricing recommendations.
6. Supply Chain Diversification & Resilience
- Lead strategic supply chain diversification to reduce single-source and single-region dependency and improve resilience.
- Develop alternative and dual-source strategies aligned to cost, risk, and geopolitical exposure.
7. Procurement & RFQ/RFI Management
- Manage the RFI and RFQ processes to obtain competitive pricing and supplier capability information.
- Maintain accurate supplier pricing, purchase orders, and cost records in ERP systems.
- Ensure timely purchase order creation, tracking, and follow-up to meet project and production timelines.
8. Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Act as the primary point of contact for supply chain–related inquiries across Sales, Engineering, and Operations teams.
- Support new product introductions by aligning supplier capabilities, delivery schedules, and cost targets.
- Provide accurate lead time estimates and inventory status updates to internal stakeholders.
Qualifications
- 7+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain roles, with demonstrated ownership of new product development sourcing.
- Proven international sourcing experience across South-East Asia (China, Vietnam, Malaysia), India, the US, and Europe.
- Strong track record in vendor identification, validation, onboarding, negotiation, and ongoing vendor management.
- Demonstrated expertise in landed-cost modelling and total cost of ownership analysis.
- Experience managing US and Canadian tariff exposure and trade-compliance considerations.
- Experience leading supply chain diversification and multi-region sourcing strategies.
- Proficiency in ERP systems (NetSuite preferred) and advanced Excel skills.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
- Excellent communication skills to collaborate across internal teams and international vendors.
- Manufacturing or industrial product experience is an asset; foundry, casting, or metal-fabrication sourcing experience is highly desirable.
- CPSM, CSCP, or SCMP certification is an asset.
Key Competencies
- End-to-end new product introduction and sourcing
- Global and international vendor development and management
- Strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management
- Landed cost, total cost of ownership, and cost analysis
- Tariff exposure management and trade compliance
- Supply chain diversification and risk resilience
- Procurement and contract negotiation
- ERP and data management
Pay: $70,000.00-$100,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Flexible schedule
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Vision care
Work Location: In person
