Job Title: Technical Supplier Manager (connector/cable products)

Location: Taiwan or Japan

Objective

Drive supplier sourcing and onboarding initiatives, establish strong supplier partnerships, and ensure supplier capabilities align with new product development requirements. Collaborate closely with Engineering and Sourcing teams to support advanced product design while enhancing supplier performance, communication, and overall development.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with New Product Development Engineering and Sourcing teams to identify capability gaps within the current supplier base and align new suppliers with technical and product roadmap needs.

• Identify, research, and evaluate potential suppliers through market intelligence, industry networking, supplier outreach, and other sourcing channels.

• Conduct supplier visits, capability assessments, and qualification activities to establish and strengthen supplier relationships.

• Support the onboarding and development of new suppliers; monitor early-stage project performance and coordinate initial supplier improvement activities in collaboration with Engineering, Sourcing, and Supplier Quality teams.

• Facilitate communication between regional suppliers and global engineering teams, including participation in cross-timezone virtual meetings and providing interpretation or translation when necessary.

• Ensure clear and timely communication of expectations, deliverables, and performance metrics while tracking contract timelines, purchase orders, and escalating any schedule risks to management.

• Identify, assess, and escalate supplier-related risks that may impact project execution; coordinate mitigation plans as directed by management.

• Prepare and deliver project reports, dashboards, and status updates for internal stakeholders and management review.

Note: Responsibilities listed are intended as general guidelines. Additional tasks may be assigned based on business needs and individual capabilities.

Required Experience

1. Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and supplier relationship-building skills.

2. Minimum 5 years of experience in procurement, sourcing, supply chain planning, or engineering functions. 

3. Solid understanding of business and supply chain principles, including negotiation, cross-functional collaboration, and managing ambiguity.

4. Familiarity with business practices within the Asia Pacific region (e.g., Vietnam, China, South Korea).

5. Preferred Experience / Desired Skills

6. Professional supply chain certifications such as APICS CSCP, CPIM, or equivalent.

7. Experience in precision machining, injection molding, metal stamping, or other manufacturing processes.