Technical Procurement Specialist

Position: Technical Procurement Specialist

Location: Markham, ON

Hybrid

Amphenol Communications Solutions (ACS), a division of Amphenol Corporation, is a world leader in interconnect solutions for Communications, Mobile, RF, Optics, and Commercial electronics markets. Amphenol Corporation is one of the world's largest designers and manufacturers of electrical, electronic and fiber optic connectors and interconnect systems, antennas, sensors and sensor-based products and coaxial and high-speed specialty cable. ACS has an expansive global presence in research and development, manufacturing, and sales. We design and manufacture a wide range of innovative connectors as well as cable assemblies for diverse applications including server, storage, data center, mobile, RF, networking, industrial, business equipment, and automotive.

Amphenol's High Speed IO Connectors and OverPass Solutions Business Unit is a market leader in high-speed, high-bandwidth interconnect solutions used in servers, storage, networking equipment, and data center infrastructure. Our products enable reliable, low-loss data transmission in some of the world's most advanced IT and Datacom platforms, helping power the technology behind leading Tier 1 OEMs. With global design, sales, and manufacturing teams, we are growing quickly and continuing to invest in our people and products. This role is a chance to make a real impact as part of a collaborative, fast-moving team within Amphenol's decentralized culture, where ideas are heard, initiative is encouraged, and teams are empowered to make decisions with clear accountability.

Position Summary:

The Technical Procurement Specialist is responsible for overseeing and managing the end-to-end purchasing and supply chain activities, ensuring a smooth and efficient flow of materials and products necessary for business operations. This role requires a strong focus on optimizing procurement strategies, fostering supplier relationships, and collaborating with internal teams to drive schedules and to ensure cost-effectiveness and high-quality standards. Experience with PCBs, metal and plastic prototyping methods, quick turnaround tooling, service agreements, vendor selection, and negotiations is critical to success in this role.Key Attributes:

• Deadline-Driven: Ability to prioritize and overcome obstacles to ensure timely completion of tasks.
• Negotiator: Skilled in negotiating favorable terms to achieve the best cost, quality, and delivery outcomes, especially in high-stakes contracts.
• Curious: Seeks new information and continuously explores innovative solutions.
• Relationship Manager: Adept at building strong, collaborative relationships with suppliers and internal teams.
• Effective Communicator: Communicates with clarity, listens actively, and tailors messages for maximum impact.

Responsibilities:

Purchasing & Supply Chain Management:

• Conduct market research to identify and qualify potential suppliers for materials such as PCBs, plastic and metal components, and quick turnaround tooling, assessing their capabilities, pricing, and quality.
• Oversee the issuance of purchase orders, track progress, and ensure timely delivery to meet production schedules, particularly in fast-paced and time-sensitive environments.
• Monitor and adjust order quantities based on forecast changes, inventory levels, and production needs.
• Collaborate with engineering, production, and other teams to ensure purchasing aligns with technical specifications, including working on prototypes and quick-turn tooling for product development.
• Manage supply chain budgets, ensuring cost-efficiency while maintaining quality standards.

Supplier Relationship Management:

• Build and maintain strong, professional relationships with key suppliers to foster long-term partnerships, particularly those supplying PCBs, prototypes, and other critical materials.
• Conduct regular evaluations of supplier performance, focusing on quality, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
• Facilitate open communication with suppliers to address any issues or changes in requirements promptly, ensuring service agreements and contracts are met.
• Work closely with suppliers on continuous improvement initiatives, focusing on product quality, lead-time and cost reduction.
• Conduct supplier audits to ensure adherence to Amphenol HSIO's and industry standards.

Negotiation & Contract Management:

• Lead contract negotiations, especially for service agreements and vendors involved in PCBs, tooling, and other complex parts of the supply chain.
• Review and finalize contracts to ensure they contain necessary clauses related to quality standards, pricing, delivery, and quick turnaround tooling requirements.
• Monitor contract terms and renegotiate proactively to maintain favorable conditions, ensuring high standards and continuity of service.
• Keep track of contract renewal dates to avoid disruptions in operations, especially for mission-critical components.

Inventory & Logistics Management:

• Ensure inventory levels are aligned with demand forecasts and production requirements, particularly for time-sensitive and high-priority materials like PCBs and tooling components.
• Develop contingency plans to handle inventory disruptions and unexpected demand spikes.
• Coordinate with warehouse teams to ensure the efficient storage, handling, and distribution of materials.

Quality Assurance:

• Collaborate with quality teams to set clear expectations for procured materials, including PCBs and prototype parts.
• Review supplier quality records to ensure incoming materials meet Amphenol's standards.
• Address quality issues with suppliers, implementing corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Document quality issues and performance, building a history that informs future supplier decisions.

Cost Control & Optimization:

• Perform cost analysis to identify potential savings without compromising material quality, especially when procuring PCBs, tooling, and prototypes.
• Develop strategies for cost reduction, such as supplier consolidation or optimized order volumes.
• Regularly benchmark supplier pricing against market trends to ensure competitive pricing, especially for fast-turnaround projects and service agreements.

Data Analysis & Reporting:

• Collect and analyze purchasing and supply chain data, tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) such as cost savings, lead times, and supplier performance.
• Produce regular procurement reports for management.
• Identify trends and patterns in purchasing data to forecast needs and adjust strategies accordingly.
• Conduct root-cause analysis for any supply chain issues and propose data-driven solutions to enhance operational efficiency.

Qualifications:

• Experience: Minimum 7 years of experience in purchasing, supply chain management, or strategic procurement, ideally within a manufacturing or technology environment.
• Education: A university degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Science, or related fields is preferred.
• Skills: Proven ability to build and maintain strong supplier relationships, especially with those providing PCBs, prototypes, and tooling. Strong knowledge of ISO 9001 & 14001, and manufacturing improvement methodologies such as Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, etc. Experience with vendor selection, contract negotiation, and managing service agreements in a supply chain context. Experience in capacity management, supply chain planning, and logistics. Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data to drive decisions. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to prioritize tasks effectively and deal with ambiguity while being a collaborative team player.

Why Join Amphenol?

• Be part of a global leader in interconnect technology.
• Work with a team passionate about innovation and results.
• Access professional development opportunities and career advancement.
• Receive competitive compensation and benefits.

Come join the Amphenol family!

The base salary range for this position is $80,000 - $120,000 annually. In determining the rate of pay, Amphenol considers a variety of nondiscriminatory factors, including but not limited to geographic location, relevant industry experience, qualifications, skills, and education. It would be rare for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for a given role. Base salary is one facet of Amphenol's total rewards package which includes participation in our comprehensive benefits program with medical, dental, and vision benefits, vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, life insurance, short/long term disability, and membership in our Defined Contribution Pension Plan.

Amphenol Corporation is proud of our reputation as an excellent employer. Our main focus is to provide the highest level of support and responsiveness to both our employees and our customers. Amphenol Corporation offers the opportunity for career growth within a global organization. We believe that Amphenol Corporation is unique in that every employee, regardless of his or her position, has the ability to positively impact the business.