Sr. Technical Sourcing Specialist - Global Contract Manufacturing

Company Overview:

Headquartered in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, Artivion, Inc. is a medical device company focused on developing simple, elegant solutions that address cardiac and vascular surgeons’ most difficult challenges in treating patients with aortic diseases. Artivion has over 1,400 employees worldwide with sales representation in over 100 countries. The Company has manufacturing facilities located in Atlanta, Georgia, Austin, Texas and Hechingen, Germany. Additionally, it has sales and distribution offices in various countries throughout Europe, Asia, and South America. For additional information about Artivion, visit our website, www.artivion.com.  

Position Objective:

The Sr. Technical Sourcing Specialist os responsible for all assigned Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) Suppliers; responsible for project management of strategic technical product transfers to new or existing contract manufacturing partners. Initiate Engineering Change Notices (ECN) to support product and manufacturing improvements, supply continuity, product quality, risk mitigation, and unit cost improvement. Relationship management through partnering with the Contract Manufacturing accounts to pursue process improvements to enhance efficiencies, optimize lead times, and mitigate continuity of supply risk and cost pressures.  Work in conjunction with Operations, Supplier Quality, Sustaining Engineering, Marketing, and Finance to:  1) conduct supplier operational reviews, 2) resolve any material/service non-conformance (NC), 3) change to material or source.

Responsibilities:

1. Global function that serves as the Technical Sourcing Specialist for all assigned contract manufacturing organizations.
2. Lead project management activities of technical product transfers or portfolio expansion to new or existing CMOs in support of the AOP demand forecast.
3. Lead continuous improvement product yield % and cost efficiencies associated with all assigned Global CMO’s.
4. Support all assigned CMO related portfolio supply and demand plans as part of the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process.
5. Manage specific supplier accounts for sustaining business supply continuity to include: 1) CMO Forecasting, 2) Reorder Points/Purchase Orders, 3) Delivery on time and in full, 4) Pricing, 5) Specification Changes, 6) Material/Service Non-Conformance resolution (NC), 7) Supplier Operational Reviews, 8) Risk Mitigation activities
6. Conduct competitive sourcing events to achieve an annual cost down goal as well as the specified annual cost avoidance goal.
7. Fosters and facilitates continuous improvement of production and business processes to reduce cost, improve quality, increase efficiency, and ensure sustainability.
8. Perform financial analyses for evaluating make-buy decisions.
9. Manage complex material supply chains, potentially needing to engage with Tier 2+ raw material or service suppliers.
10. Consider material lead times and reorder points on projects to mitigate material scrap associated with expiry.
11. Interface with internal key contacts/stakeholders to ensure material requirements are being met.
12. Conduct Supplier Audits in conjunction with Supplier Quality as requested.
13. Ability to travel domestically and internationally to CMOs for project milestones as needed/requested
14. Initiate and present ECNs when applicable.
15. Proficient in SAP, capable of maintaining SAP Master Files (e.g. Vendor and Material Masters)
16. Conduct applicable company and departmental training and maintain compliance to all assigned policies and procedures.

1. Quality:
   1. Prompt resolution of Non-Conformances
      1. Manage purchased material returns related to non-conforming product
   2. Seek timely and thorough response from CMO suppliers for any Supplier Corrective Action Reports (SCARs)
2. Delivery:
   1. Maintain Supply Continuity - zero impact to production; manage inventories appropriately by engaging with internal key contacts
      1. Mitigate risk by seeking alternate sources/materials for high risk to revenue single sourced items
      2. Manage technical product transfers to existing or new partners

• Maintain all supplier relationships under active Supply or Master Service Agreements (SA/MSA)

1. Provides guidance and support to internal and external team members related to CMO products/services

1. Cost:
   1. Mitigate impact of unfavorable Purchase Price Variance (PPV) - Tier 1 & 2+ suppliers
   2. Partner with CMOs for continuous improvement that translates into reduced unit pricing
   3. Maximize free cash flows (FCFs)
      1. Optimize inventory turns
      2. Mitigate product disposal related to expiry

Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s Degree preferred. Degree preferably in Business, Supply Chain, Operations, or Engineering.
2. Minimum 4 years previous medical device/pharmaceutical/biotech manufacturing experience in project management/engineering/sourcing/operations/quality, or suitable combination of the above.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of supplier auditing, supplier improvement, product transfer, verification/validation, cost improvements, and project management preferred.
4. Demonstrates the ability to manage multiple tasks to completion.
5. Demonstrate ability to work in a global team environment.
6. High degree of organizational project management skills. Ability to lead cross-functional teams.
7. Microsoft Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Project experience required. SAP/data base experience preferred.
8. Anticipates potential conflict situations for proactive solutions.
9. Demonstrates the ability to analyze problems and develop practical solutions.
10. Ability to make decisions quickly in stressful situations.
11. Ability to anticipate needs and ensure they are planned for.
12. Demonstrates good verbal and written communication skills with cultural awareness.
13. Prior experience working with CMOs and an advanced degree a plus.

This is a remote position and will require up to 15-20% travel (international and domestic).