Job Description

Manager, Outsourcing Commodity

Twin Disc, Inc. | Racine, Wisconsin

Drive Growth Through Strategic Outsourcing and Capacity Expansion

Twin Disc is seeking a highly motivated Manager, Outsourcing Commodity to lead our outsourcing strategy, supplier development initiatives, and capacity management efforts. This role is critical to supporting business growth, improving customer responsiveness, and ensuring manufacturing scalability across our operations.

As the leader of outsourced manufacturing initiatives, you will work cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, Operations, Planning, Sales, and Supply Chain teams to develop innovative solutions that expand capacity, reduce lead times, and strengthen our supply chain network.

This is a high-visibility position that offers the opportunity to influence strategic business decisions while building strong partnerships with suppliers and senior leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Outsourcing & Capacity Planning

• Develop and execute outsourcing strategies that support production demand, business growth, and operational flexibility.
• Evaluate internal manufacturing capacity constraints and identify outsourcing opportunities.
• Create and maintain capacity models for key manufacturing processes and product families.
• Lead make-versus-buy analyses considering cost, quality, lead time, capacity, and risk.
• Develop contingency plans and qualified supplier networks to support demand surges and supply disruptions.

Supplier Development & Management

• Identify, evaluate, qualify, and onboard suppliers capable of supporting Twin Disc's manufacturing requirements.
• Conduct supplier assessments and audits in partnership with Quality and Engineering teams.
• Develop supplier capability roadmaps and continuous improvement plans.
• Lead Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with strategic outsourcing partners.
• Monitor and improve supplier performance in quality, delivery, capacity, responsiveness, and cost competitiveness.
• Establish long-term strategic relationships with high-performing suppliers.

Cross-Functional Project Leadership

• Lead outsourcing and capacity expansion projects from concept through production implementation.
• Support major customer opportunities requiring accelerated delivery or additional manufacturing capacity.
• Coordinate activities among Operations, Engineering, Planning, Quality, and external suppliers.
• Drive project execution while managing timelines, risks, and deliverables.
• Present project updates, recommendations, and mitigation plans to senior leadership.

Lead Time Reduction & Continuous Improvement

• Analyze manufacturing and supply chain bottlenecks impacting customer delivery performance.
• Develop initiatives to improve supplier responsiveness and supply chain agility.
• Implement outsourcing and process improvement strategies that reduce lead times.
• Drive continuous improvement across the external supply base.

Risk Management

• Assess supplier, capacity, and supply chain risks.
• Develop dual-source and contingency sourcing strategies where appropriate.
• Monitor market trends and supplier performance to proactively identify potential disruptions.
• Support business continuity planning for critical outsourced operations.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.

Experience

• 7+ years of experience in Supply Chain, Strategic Sourcing, Commodity Management, Manufacturing, Operations, or related roles.
• Demonstrated success developing, qualifying, and managing suppliers.
• Proven experience leading cross-functional projects and initiatives.
• Experience with outsourcing, contract manufacturing, or capacity management preferred.
• Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI) and manufacturing readiness initiatives preferred.

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and capacity planning methodologies.
• Knowledge of supplier development and strategic sourcing practices.
• Familiarity with supplier quality systems and qualification processes.
• Experience with ERP systems; JD Edwards (JDE) experience is preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with experience using dashboards and reporting tools.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Project Management
• Influencing Without Authority
• Executive Communication
• Risk Assessment & Mitigation
• Continuous Improvement Mindset
• Ownership & Accountability

Why Join Twin Disc?

We offer a supportive and flexible workplace where your expertise truly matters. Our competitive  Total Rewards package includes:

• Flexible work schedule supporting work ‑ life balance
• Competitive base salary and annual incentive plans
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with exceptional employer match
• Generous paid time off with a holiday shutdown
• Wellness Program participation
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with robust resources
• Opportunity to work with a diverse, high ‑ performing global team

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