Tennant Company is seeking a Strategic Operations & Supply Chain Leader to define and execute the end-to-end flow of robotics materials and components, ensuring innovation moves seamlessly from concept to market-ready robotics systems and aligning supply chain infrastructure with aggressive growth, cost, and quality objectives for their robotics product line.
Requirements
- Minimum 10+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, supply chain, or operations leadership—preferably in robotics, automation, or complex electro-mechanical systems.
- Proven track record of building and scaling supplier ecosystems from concept to volume production is essential.
- Deep understanding of manufacturing processes, global logistics, and cost modeling.
- Proven capability to see ahead to future possibilities and translate them into breakthrough strategies.
- Strong program management skills, with experience in supplier relationship management and negotiation.
- Implement robust SIOP (Sales, Inventory and Operations Planning) processes for robotics.
- Create launch readiness frameworks to validate manufacturability, cost, and supply assurance for each new robotics platform.
Responsibilities
- Develop the end-to-end supply chain strategy for the Robotics Product Line, translating the Venture’s business objectives into clear sourcing and manufacturing requirements.
- Own and drive the strategy for unique suppliers and high-cost components specific to robotics.
- Identify, qualify, and onboard new robotics suppliers and manufacturing partners globally.
- Lead supplier selection and contracting processes, ensuring compliance with Venture and Core Business standards.
- Manage supplier partnerships for outsourced ("buy") robotics products and components.
- Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, and Program Management to define make/buy decisions and ensure design-for-supply-chain principles are embedded early in product development.
- Oversee demand forecasting and materials planning to ensure supply continuity for production and service.
Other
- This is a people leadership role responsible for building, mentoring, and developing a high-performing multidisciplinary team across supply chain operations, materials planning, and NPD launch engineering.
- Foster collaboration across Product Development, Strategic Partnerships, and Program Management to accelerate go-to-market timelines.
- Represent operations and supply chain considerations in venture portfolio and executive reviews.
- Excellent communication and influence skills across cross-functional and matrixed environments.
- Proven ability to Direct Work effectively and Develop Talent.
