The Strategic Supplier Leader located in Nashville TN, is the Schneider Electric key contact person for the Supplier, managing the strategic relationship with this Supplier. This person is the "One Voice in front of Supplier" representative. This position is combined with semiconductor category management, of the interaction between SE and specific suppliers.
Description:
- The Strategic Supplier Leader (SSL) is a cornerstone of Schneider Electric's Modular Data Center (MDC) Procurement organization, serving as the single point of accountability for the end-to-end supplier relationship across Enclosures and turnkey Modular Data Center categories in North America.
- This is not a transactional role. The SSL operates at the intersection of strategy and execution - acting as Schneider Electric's senior voice in front of strategic suppliers, orchestrating C-level partnerships, driving commercial performance, and unlocking value beyond price. Reporting directly to the Procurement Director, MDC, this role carries a portfolio exceeding $200M in spend and significant influence over Schneider Electric's ability to scale its Data Center business.
- The ideal candidate brings a rare combination: the operational rigor of a category buyer and the executive presence of a strategic relationship manager. You are as comfortable leading a supplier business review as you are challenging cost models or negotiating a long-term supply agreement.
Main Responsibilities:
- Serve as Schneider Electric's primary relationship owner for strategic suppliers in the MDC categories - the "One Voice" in front of supplier leadership, including C-suite.
- Lead structured Business Reviews to monitor performance, align roadmaps, and reinforce strategic commitments.
- Define and execute multi-year value proposals with suppliers - covering growth, innovation, outsourcing opportunities, and business expansion across North America.
- Communicate supplier strategy internally across BUs, Operations, and cross-functional stakeholders; act as the connective tissue between external partners and internal teams.
- Manage escalations and act as point of resolution for critical supply issues that require senior-level intervention.
Commercial Negotiation & Category Execution
- Lead and close complex negotiations - MSAs, LTSAs, pricing frameworks - balancing cost competitiveness with long-term partnership quality.
- Coordinate and oversee RFQ processes executed by category buyers / tendering team for suppliers in scope; validate business awards in alignment with Category Manager.
- Drive cost transparency through rigorous cost modeling; challenge specifications and influence make/buy decisions in collaboration with Engineering and Finance.
- Ensure accurate, timely management of commercial parameters (payment terms, Incoterms, currency) in ERP systems.
Productivity & Value Creation
- Build and actively manage a productivity pipeline through multiple levers:
- Negotiations and contractual improvements
- Quality Value Engineering (QVE)
- Change of Supplier (CoS) initiatives
- Process and logistics optimization
- Collaborate with Engineering, Tendering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Finance to identify and validate savings opportunities; track execution through to P&L impact.
- Identify and develop multi-sourcing strategies to strengthen resilience and competitiveness across the Enclosures and MDC portfolio.
Supplier Performance & Risk Management
- Own supplier performance accountability across the full scorecard: Productivity, Quality, On-Time Delivery, Competitiveness, Innovation, and Sustainability (Planet & Society).
- Proactively identify supply risks; develop and execute risk mitigation and business continuity action plans.
- Engage cross-functional resources (Quality, Supply Chain, Logistics) to support quality and delivery improvement plans where needed.
- Monitor supplier capacity and investment plans; escalate capacity risks before they impact operations.
- Maintain and communicate supplier performance data within Schneider Electric systems (SRM database); ensure MDC stakeholders have real-time visibility.
Skills & Competencies
- Negotiation excellence - you can build and defend a position at the table while preserving a long-term relationship.
- Financial acumen - cost modeling, TCO analysis, P&L linkage; you speak the language of both procurement and finance.
- Executive presence - credible, direct, and persuasive with C-level stakeholders on both sides of the table.
- Cross-functional orchestrator - able to align Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, and Business Units around supplier strategy without direct authority.
- Analytical rigor - data-driven in performance management; comfortable with scorecards, dashboards, and ERP tools.
- Speed and adaptability - MDC is a fast-growing, high-stakes business; this role requires decisiveness and a bias for action.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering , Supply Chain, Business, or equivalent required. MBA or Master's in StrategicPurchasing, Supply Chain Management, or related field preferred
- 5-8 years of progressive procurement experience combining strategic supplier management and hands-on category execution - you have done both, not just one.
- Demonstrated track record managing complex, multi-stakeholder supplier relationships at C-level, in a manufacturing, industrial, or technology hardware environment.
- Proven ability to lead commercial negotiations for high-value, long-term supply agreements (MSA/LTSA) with measurable outcomes.
- Experience in Enclosures, electrical equipment, modular infrastructure, or adjacent industrial categories is strongly preferred.
- Exposure to Data Center supply chains, Solutions/turnkey project procurement, or fast-scaling capital equipment businesses is a meaningful plus.
- Travel required based on supplier and business needs (estimated 20-30%).
Let us learn about you! Apply today.
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