DescriptionThe Sr. Project Buyer, NPD (New Product Development) will lead sourcing support for New Product Development and category strategy execution across Direct Raw Materials for Molex's Transportation Solutions Business Unit (TSBU). This highly visible role partners with engineering, product development, operations, quality, and suppliers to support launch readiness, improve total cost, reduce supply risk, strengthen supplier performance, and contribute to Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VAVE) opportunities across metals, resins, seals, and outsourced raw materials and components.What You Will Do In Your Role
Procurement and NPD:
Execute NPD sourcing strategies that align with category plans, program timing, customer requirements, and business objectives.
*Serve as the procurement point of contact for assigned programs, providing supplier, material, cost, risk, and opportunity insights to cross-functional project teams.
*Lead source selection activities using Molex sourcing processes, total landed cost analysis, RFQs, supplier capability assessments, and commercial negotiations.
*Develop and apply subject matter expertise in metals strip, resins, seals, and outsourced raw materials/components in partnership with engineering, product development, project management, and category teams.
*Support Supplier Relationship Management activities by strengthening supplier engagement, performance visibility, supply continuity, and issue resolution.
*Support cost reduction and value creation through leverage development, negotiations, VAVE support, payment term improvement, and lifecycle cost management.
*Promote economic thinking in all sourcing decisions by applying Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis, total landed cost, cost-driver evaluation, trade-off assessment, and long-term business impact considerations.
*Partner with regional and global sourcing teams to deploy best practices, improve replenishment strategies including VMI/SOI, and strengthen material planning alignment.
*Collaborate with supplier quality, engineering, operations, and plant teams to support quality improvement strategies, address incoming material issues, improve supplier performance, and reduce quality-related disruption.
*Communicate sourcing recommendations, risks, savings opportunities, and project status clearly to leadership and key stakeholders.
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Value Creation, VAVE & Continuous Improvement
*Support VAVE initiatives globally by helping identify, prioritize, and execute value-creation opportunities that align with plant, program, customer, and business goals.
*Partner with engineering, product development, operations, quality, and suppliers to evaluate VAVE ideas related to material selection, design optimization, manufacturing efficiency, specification alignment, and supply chain improvements.
*Participate in cross-functional VAVE reviews, workshops, or committee discussions to help convert cost-down concepts into actionable projects with clear owners, timing, business cases, and savings targets.
*Support VAVE project execution from idea generation through validation, approval, implementation, and financial benefit tracking.
*Contribute to the VAVE pipeline globally by documenting opportunities, assumptions, savings potential, risk considerations, execution status, and stakeholder alignment.
*Provide updates on VAVE progress, barriers, timing, savings impact, and escalation needs to leadership and key stakeholders as needed.
*Coordinate savings opportunities between regions, sharing resources to avoid redundancy and maximize value.The Experience You Will BringRequired Qualifications:
*Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or a related discipline.
*3+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, category management, procurement, supply chain, or related commercial / technical roles.
*Demonstrated technical capabilities (design acumen, materials, manufacturing processes) to assess cost drivers/opportunities for savings.
*Experience leading or supporting supplier negotiations, RFQs, cost analysis, total cost of ownership improvement initiatives, and VAVE or cost-reduction projects.
*Strong analytical capability, including advanced Excel skills and experience using spend analytics, procurement, or business intelligence tools.
*Ability to lead cross-functional work with influence, including engineering, quality, finance, operations, trade compliance, and supplier partners.
*Ability to assess supply risk, develop mitigation plans, and communicate clear recommendations to leadership.
Preferred Qualifications
*Experience applying financial, economic, and total landed cost analysis to sourcing and supplier decisions.
*Technical knowledge of metals strip, resins, stampings, seals, connectors, or related manufacturing processes.
*Experience in automotive, raw materials, electronics, or connector-related supply chains.
*Proven track record delivering measurable cost savings, VAVE results, supplier performance improvements, supply risk mitigation, or TCO initiatives.
At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.
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