28800 Ida St Valley Nebraska 68064-8016
Why Valmont
We’re Here to Move the World Forward.
Valmont impacts millions of people around the world every day, yet they might not realize the many ways. Our technology is helping feed the growing population, supplying the world with more reliable energy and access to renewables, enhancing connectivity in remote and urban locations to create a sustainable future and so much more. Simply put, Valmont is advancing agricultural productivity and reimagining vital infrastructure to make life better.
Join a Fortune 1000 company that respects hard work, honors diversity and invests in our employees as we focus on creating the world of tomorrow, today. We are the modern workforce. Are you ready to move the world forward? Apply now.
A Brief Summary of This Position
The primary function of this position is to develop and implement sourcing processes, supplier metrics and scorecards, and improve supplier (internal and external) quality systems. This position is responsible for ensuring the quality management system and sourcing processes are being followed by the external suppliers, internal Operations, and internal sourcing professionals to ensure quality products are delivered safely, at a low cost, and on time to our customers. The incumbent will develop control plans, work instructions, standard operating procedures, as well as conduct and analyze internal and external process studies to improve quality metrics using statistical analysis.
The incumbent works with divisional manufacturing management teams to identify and initiate sourcing projects that will achieve cost reduction and deliver competitive advantages through the global sourcing process. Working with production control, engineering, quality control and manufacturing to source parts. Evaluates sample parts as necessary to ensure parts are produced to specifications outlined and provided to the supplier. The incumbent is also responsible for keeping informed of all significant changes to the design and sourcing processes and for coordinating activities with the Global Sourcing Group in China.
Essential Functions
- 01Work with the Manufacturing teams to establish, implement, and maintain the Quality Management System.
- 02Develop training to facilitate sourcing and supplier quality processes.
- 03Interface with product engineering, sales, marketing, process engineering, legal and operations to ensure transfer to production of new products that are in accordance with approved data.
- 04Manage suppliers’ performance and conduct audits to ensure timely resolution of supplier failures, corrective actions, and preventive actions.
- 05Visit suppliers and dealers to complete site audits and to analyze processes as well as address quality issues and report findings.
- 06Determine corrective and preventive actions
- 07Hold suppliers accountable to executing the actions required to meet expectations.
- 08Identify and provide leadership in make versus buy evaluations and discussions with engineering, legal, operations, commercial, etc.
- 09Support quality teams to ensure products and processes comply with the relevant requirements of the quality management systems.
- 10Analyze corrective and preventive actions to respond to customer complaints, shortages and warranty claims.
- 11Support Operations, Quality Technicians, Reliability and Manufacturing Engineering by creating and maintaining divisional quality documentation, such as quality manuals, work procedures, control plans, etc.
- 12Design quality tools, processes (preferably poke-yoke) and ensure implementation on the production floor or by suppliers.
- 13Develop and enforce supplier agreements incorporating terms and conditions, confidentiality, intellectual property rights, and audit rights.
- 14Supplier Terms and Conditions:
- 15Quality Standards: Suppliers must comply with ISO, UL, CSA, CE, and other relevant standards.
- 16Delivery & Lead Time: Define acceptable timelines and penalties for delays.
- 17Pricing & Cost Control: Require cost transparency and address currency fluctuation clauses.
- 18Warranty & Liability: Specify warranty periods and liability for defective parts.
- 19Confidentiality: Enforce non-disclosure agreements for proprietary designs and processes.
- 20Intellectual Property: Ownership of designs and tooling remains with Valmont.
- 21Audit Rights: Valmont reserves the right to audit supplier facilities and processes.
- 22Termination Clause: Conditions under which contracts can be terminated.
- 23Negotiation Framework:
- 24Lead supplier negotiations to secure cost-effective agreements while ensuring compliance with corporate standards.
- 25Supplier Scorecard Metrics: Quality, cost, delivery, responsiveness.
- 26Continuous Improvement Expectations: Lean initiatives and cost-down programs.
- 27Dispute Resolution: Arbitration or mediation process for conflicts.
- 28Volume Discounts & Incentives: Negotiation levers for long-term agreements.
- 29Risk Mitigation: Dual sourcing strategy and contingency planning.
- 30Reports to VP Global Operations – Global Agriculture
- 31Requires up to 25% travel both internationally and domestically, including overnight stays
Required Qualifications of Every Candidate
- 32Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years relevant experience OR Associate’s degree with 7+ years relevant experience OR 9+ years of relevant experience
- 33Five years of work experience in a Sourcing or Engineering position; preferably as a commodity manager, sourcing engineer, or sourcing quality
- 34Three years minimum experience working within a global Manufacturing environment
- 35Demonstrated abilities in quality assurance and manufacturing functions, specifically in lean manufacturing, mathematics, statistics, engineering, graphics, and procedural documentation
- 36A strong understanding of trigonometry and data analysis
- 37Ability to provide the needed pro-active, quality-related activities to assure the engineering specifications, process requirements, and quality objectives for materials, parts, and products are consistently met at a minimum cost to the company
- 38Ability to ensure quality management processes are being utilized by visiting and qualifying suppliers
- 39Ability to research develop and recommend quality assurance improvement processes
- 40The commitment to earn the Quality Engineer certification from the ASQ (American Society for Quality) within two years of accepting the position and maintain active status
- 41Experience with supplier scorecards and supplier development
- 42A strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook
Highly Qualified Candidates Will Also Possess These Qualifications
- 43Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or Engineering Technology
- 44Experience working with UL, CSA, CE, ETC, CCC, ISO, and QS standards
- 45Master’s Degree
- 46Fluent in Russian, Portuguese, Chinese or Spanish
- 47Active certification from the American Society for Quality as a Quality Engineer