Commodity Leader

Commodity Leader
 

LOCATION: Grain Valley / Missouri (US-MO), United States | BRAND: KBSignaling | REQUISITION ID: 10926 | JOB GRADE: 16 |

ON-SITE/REMOTE: Hybrid 

KB Signaling delivers unparalleled end-to-end wayside and onboard conventional signaling Control, Command, and Signaling (CCS) platforms and solutions. A trailblazer, we are driven to provide the best solutions for improved safety, performance, and lower overall operating cost for today’s transit and freight railway systems and operators in North America and beyond. Our team is fueled by innovation and grounded in solid values, like giving back to the communities where we do business and embracing sustainability to help protect our planet. KB Signaling is part of a global, high-tech company that will challenge you and help you grow. Discover your potential.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Job Summary

The Commodity Leader is responsible for developing and executing global commodity strategies that align with business objectives, optimize total cost of ownership, and ensure supply continuity across assigned categories. This role owns the end-to-end sourcing lifecycle, including market analysis, supplier selection, contract negotiation, performance management, and risk mitigation.

As a strategic partner to engineering, operations, quality, and finance, the Commodity Leader translates business requirements into competitive sourcing strategies that drive measurable value. The role plays a critical part in shaping supply base capabilities, enabling supplier-driven innovation, and improving overall supply chain resilience.

The Commodity Leader is accountable for delivering sustainable cost savings, improving working capital, mitigating supply risk, and ensuring supplier performance aligns with operational and financial targets. This position also leads governance routines, including quarterly business reviews and executive-level reporting, to ensure transparency and alignment with organizational priorities.

Reporting Line 

Head of Procurement

Key Responsibilities

• Commodity Strategy & Execution
  
  
  
  • Develop and implement global commodity strategies aligned with business goals, product roadmaps, and demand forecasts
  
  
  • Conduct market intelligence analysis, including pricing trends, capacity constraints, and supplier landscape benchmarking
  
  
  • Lead strategic sourcing initiatives, including RFx processes, supplier selection, and contract execution
  
  
  • Apply total cost of ownership (TCO) models and should-cost analysis to inform sourcing decisions
  
  
  
  


• Supplier Relationship & Performance Management
  
  
  
  • Own strategic supplier relationships, driving performance across cost, quality, delivery, and innovation
  
  
  • Establish and lead supplier governance frameworks, including quarterly business reviews (QBRs) and executive escalations
  
  
  • Define and track supplier `s, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement
  
  
  • Develop supplier segmentation strategies and cultivate preferred/strategic supplier partnerships
  
  
  
  


• Cost Optimization & Value Creation
  
  
  
  • Deliver measurable cost savings through negotiations, cost breakdown analysis, and value engineering initiatives
  
  
  • Identify and drive cost reduction opportunities through design-to-cost and specification optimization
  
  
  • Improve working capital through payment term optimization, inventory reduction, and supply chain efficiencies
  
  
  
  


• Cross-Functional Leadership
  
  
  
  • Partner with engineering to influence design decisions and align sourcing strategies with product development new product introduction (NPI)
  
  
  • Collaborate with operations, quality, and supply chain teams to ensure material availability and operational continuity
  
  
  • Lead cross-functional sourcing projects and influence stakeholders to align with strategic sourcing outcomes
  
  
  
  


• Risk Management & Supply Continuity
  
  
  
  • Identify, assess, and mitigate supply chain risks, including single/sole source dependencies and geopolitical exposure
  
  
  • Develop and execute risk mitigation strategies, including dual sourcing and supplier diversification
  
  
  • Lead crisis response efforts related to supplier disruptions, ensuring minimal impact to operations
  
  
  
  


• Supplier Innovation & Capability Development
  
  
  
  • Drive supplier-enabled innovation aligned with business and product strategies
  
  
  • Identify and onboard suppliers with advanced capabilities to support growth and competitive differentiation
  
  
  • Continuously evaluate and optimize the supply base to improve performance and resilience
  
  
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field


• 5+ years of progressive experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, or commodity management


• Demonstrated experience managing commodities such as raw materials, components, or indirect categories


• Proven track record of negotiating complex contracts and delivering measurable cost savings


• Experience conducting bid evaluations, cost analysis (TCO), and supplier assessments


• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required, up to 25% of the year to support business objectives.

Other Skills & Competencies

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop long-term sourcing strategies aligned with business objectives


• Negotiation & Influence: Strong commercial acumen and ability to drive outcomes in complex negotiations


• Analytical Capability: Proficient in cost modeling, data analysis, and market intelligence interpretation


• Cross-Functional Leadership: Ability to influence stakeholders across engineering, operations, and finance


• Risk Management: Skilled in identifying and mitigating supply chain risks


• Communication: Effective executive-level communication and presentation skills


• Results Orientation: Driven to deliver measurable impact across cost, performance, and innovation

What does KB Signaling have to offer you? 
- Competitive Health Benefits, including Medical, Prescription, Dental, Vision and Virtual visits
- Company-paid Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
- Company-paid Short-Term Disability Coverage
- Voluntary life, Disability, and other Supplemental coverages
- Identity Theft and Legal Protection benefits
- Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
- Health Savings Accounts
- Generous 401(k) plan
- Personal Paid Time Off
- Company-paid holidays 

KB Signaling Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of the Company to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.