JOB DESCRIPTION

Job title: TECHNICAL SUPPLIER MANAGER

Position at Samtec, Inc

Founded in 1976, Samtec is a leading global manufacturer of electronic interconnect solutions, generating $950 million in annual revenue. Our extensive product portfolio includes High-Speed Board-to-Board, High-Speed Cables, Optics for Mid-Board and Panel, Precision RF, Flexible Stacking, and Micro/Rugged components and cables. Samtec Technology Centers drive innovation to optimize system performance and cost across all interconnect points, supported by a presence in 40+ international locations and products distributed in over 125 countries, ensuring exceptional customer service worldwide.

Objective:
Collaborate with Engineering and Sourcing teams to support advanced product design and improve supplier development, relationships and communication.

Source and onboard new suppliers, build strong partnerships, and align supplier capabilities with new product development needs.

Essential Functions/ Responsibilities:

• Partner with New Product Development Engineering and Sourcing to identify gaps in the existing Supplier Strategy and capabilities versus the New Product Development Roadmap, aligning new supplier capabilities with emerging product requirements and technical needs.
• Identify and assess potential new suppliers through market research, industry networks, supplier outreach, and other means. 
• Conduct initial supplier visits, supplier evaluations, capability assessments, and develop initial supplier relationships.
• Work with Sourcing to onboard and develop new suppliers, monitor early projects/performance, initiate any initial supplier development activities through Engineering, Sourcing, and Supplier Quality where any early gaps are present through initial projects released to production.
• Facilitate communication between regional suppliers and global engineering teams including participating in online meetings with a range of time zones for interpretation and translation.
• Facilitate clear and timely communication regarding expectations, deliverables, and performance while tracking status, timelines of supplier contracts, purchase orders, and to escalate any schedule conflicts to management.
• Identify and escalate project risks and issues that could impact projects and carry out response plans determined by management.
• Create reports and status updates on project information and present them to management.

 “The responsibilities as defined are intended to serve as a general guideline for this position. Associates may be asked to perform additional tasks depending on strengths and capabilities” 

Required Experience:

1. Must have experience working in the connector industry.
2. Technical background is required.
3. Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and business development skills
4. 4+ years of procurement/sourcing experience or 4+ years of supply chain planning or engineering.
5. Business skills such as general business / supply chain acumen, negotiation skills, interpersonal savvy, and dealing with ambiguity
6. Experience with business practices in the Asia Pacific region including Vietnam, China, South Korea, and others
7. Experience working with American Companies
8. Competent in Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint).
9. Understand Japan culture and be able to communicate in Japanese .
10. Be able to build good relationships with stakeholders such as suppliers and vendors in Japan.
11. Residents of Japan.

*Foreign nationals need a work visa in Japan.

Preferred Experience / Desired Skills:  

1. A professional certificate demonstrating proficiency in supply chain such as APICS CSCP or CPIM certification or equivalent.
2. Experience in precision machining, injection molding and metal stamping.

Education:

1. Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business or a related field or equivalent work experience

Training required:

1. On the job training as appropriate.

Languages: 

Business level of English, writing and speaking.

Business level of Japanese, writing and speaking.

Mandarin is plus

Employment type

Permanent employee.

Probationary period: 3 months (no change in conditions during probationary period).

Work Locations

Samtec Japan LLC

Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa

5-minute walk from Shin-Yokohama.

Smoking Policy: No smoking. Smoking area is available in the building.

Work Hours 

9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (1-hour break).

FLEX System.

Average monthly overtime: 10 hours or less. 

*Global meetings may occur 1-2 times per month during evening hours.

Salary

Determined based on previous employment and experience.

Bonus: 3 times a year.

Salary review system (once a year).

Annual holidays

125 days.

Includes Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, summer vacation, and New Year's vacation.

Paid leave

10–20 days.

(10 days granted after 6 months of employment)

Welfare

Health insurance, welfare pension, employment insurance, retirement allowance system (applicable after 3 years of service).

Transportation expenses up to 30,000 yen reimbursed.

Language skills improvement support.

Job Requirements

Location: Japan (applicants must currently reside in Japan)
Relocation/Housing Allowance: Not provided
Visa Support: Not available (applicants must hold a valid work visa and be eligible to work in Japan)

Interview Process

1. Document screening.
2. 2–3 interviews (offline, online) *At least one online interview will be conducted in English.
3. Aptitude test (KOLBE).