Project/Program Manager – Supply Chain

✅ WILL SPONSOR H1B AND GC

Project/Program Manager – Supply Chain

Location: Peoria, IL

Employment Type: Full-Time

Work Arrangement: Onsite at Customer Location

About the Role

Applix is hiring a Project/Program Manager – Supply Chain to support complex sourcing and supplier transition programs for a large industrial customer in Peoria, IL.

This role will lead end-to-end sourcing and resourcing initiatives, with a particular focus on iron castings and steel castings, from initial quotation and supplier selection through tooling transfer, supplier readiness, and production launch.

The ideal candidate combines strong supply chain and sourcing experience with the ability to manage cross-functional programs, coordinate global stakeholders, and drive projects against quality, cost, delivery, and timing objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and manage end-to-end source move, resourcing, and supplier transition projects for iron and steel cast components.
• Develop project plans, milestones, ownership, risks, and timelines from sourcing decision through production readiness.
• Lead the supplier quotation process and evaluate quotes, cost structures, and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
• Coordinate tooling transfers, qualification activities, production validation, and ramp-up schedules.
• Manage buffer inventory and supply continuity during supplier transitions to minimize production risk.
• Partner closely with Category Buyers, Supplier Development Engineers, Design Engineers, Quality, Manufacturing, Logistics, and suppliers.
• Track supplier readiness across tooling, capacity, quality, PPAP/validation, production, and delivery requirements.
• Identify project risks, escalate blockers, and drive corrective actions to maintain program timing.
• Facilitate cross-functional project reviews and supplier readiness meetings.
• Prepare clear executive-level reports, dashboards, presentations, and program status updates.
• Ensure sourcing activities comply with customer purchasing policies, quality requirements, and global supply chain processes.
• Drive multiple sourcing projects simultaneously while maintaining visibility into dependencies, risks, and business impact.

Required Skills & Experience

• 6+ years of experience in supply chain, sourcing, purchasing, supplier management, manufacturing, engineering, or related functions.
• Experience working with iron castings and/or steel castings strongly preferred.
• Background within automotive, construction equipment, agricultural machinery, heavy equipment, or industrial OEM environments preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing sourcing, resourcing, supplier transition, or new supplier introduction projects.
• Strong understanding of supplier quotation analysis, cost models, manufacturing processes, and Total Cost of Ownership.
• Experience coordinating tooling, supplier qualification, production readiness, and supply continuity activities.
• Strong project and program management skills, including schedule management, risk tracking, issue resolution, and stakeholder coordination.
• Ability to work effectively across purchasing, engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supplier organizations.
• Strong communication, negotiation, analytical, and presentation skills.
• Ability to independently drive complex cross-functional initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Microsoft Project.
• Experience with Power BI, Tableau, or similar reporting tools is a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Business, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing global suppliers and cross-regional sourcing programs.
• Experience with casting supplier development, tooling transfers, PPAP, APQP, or production launch activities.
• Familiarity with cost reduction, localization, dual sourcing, capacity expansion, or supplier risk mitigation programs.
• PMP, APICS, CPSM, or similar certification is a plus.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means moving sourcing programs from decision to production with minimal disruption—ensuring suppliers are ready, risks are surfaced early, stakeholders remain aligned, and quality, cost, delivery, and timing targets are achieved.