JobsGenerac

New Product Introduction Sourcing Specialist

Generac · Belvidere, IL

Posted Aug 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Walk me through a time you had to source a component for a new product that was still going through design changes. How did you handle the moving target?

whether the candidate can operate in the ambiguity of NPI where the BOM isn't stable yet

Tell me about an RFQ you ran where the lowest quote wasn't the best choice. How did you make the call and get buy-in?

ability to do total-cost analysis rather than just chase unit price, and to influence stakeholders

Describe a time you found a cost-reduction opportunity through VA/VE or alternate sourcing. What was the outcome?

real experience driving cost savings, not just monitoring costs

Tell me about a time you had to manage a supplier relationship where cost, quality, and delivery were all in tension. How did you prioritize?

judgment in balancing competing supplier performance dimensions

Tell me about a time you had to communicate bad news, like a delayed part or a cost overrun, to a program team or leadership. How did you frame it?

transparency and communication skill when the news isn't good

Technical

How would you go about qualifying an alternate or dual-source supplier for a critical enclosure or electrical component?

understanding of supplier qualification steps beyond just getting a quote

Can you explain what a PPAP is and walk me through what you'd need from a supplier before you'd sign off on production release?

whether the candidate actually knows PPAP mechanics or is just familiar with the acronym

What's your process for keeping a Costed BOM accurate as engineering changes come through during an NPI program?

grasp of CBOM maintenance and how ECs ripple through costing

What's your experience with SAP or a similar ERP system for managing POs, supplier confirmations, and delivery schedules?

hands-on ERP fluency versus general familiarity

Describe how you'd assess supplier risk for a long-lead or single-source part. What factors would you weigh and what would your mitigation plan look like?

structured risk-assessment thinking across financial, geographic, and capacity dimensions

Situational

Say you're two weeks from a validation build and a single-source supplier tells you their lead time just doubled. What do you do first, and who do you loop in?

triage instincts and cross-functional communication under launch pressure

If Engineering wants to swap a component late in the program and the new part has a longer lead time than the launch timeline allows, how would you handle it?

risk mitigation instincts, like risk buys or expediting, and comfort pushing back on engineering

How do you decide when it's time to hand a supplier and material off from NPI sourcing to Production Purchasing after launch?

understanding of the NPI-to-production handoff and what stabilization actually means

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The full job description

As published by Generac.

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most. For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future. Ready to Power a Smarter World with us? The New Product Introduction (NPI) Sourcing Specialist plays a key role in bringing new products from development to production. You’ll own sourcing, supplier coordination, and material readiness for assigned NPI programs, ensuring the right materials are available at the right cost, quality, and timing. You’ll work closely with Engineering, Program Management, Quality, Operations, Planning, Purchasing, Finance, and suppliers to manage sourcing activities, resolve material challenges, and proactively address supply and launch risks. What You’ll Do Sourcing & Supplier Management • Lead RFQs, quote analysis, supplier evaluations, negotiations, and total-cost assessments • Source components, assemblies, fabricated parts, electrical components, enclosures, and other NPI materials • Identify and qualify new, alternate, and dual-source suppliers • Build strong supplier relationships and monitor cost, quality, delivery, capacity, and launch readiness • Support supplier design reviews focused on manufacturability, functionality, cost, and launch requirements • Maintain supplier documentation and Approved Vendor Lists (AVL) Material Readiness & NPI Execution • Ensure materials are available for prototypes, validation builds, production launch, and stabilization • Manage NPI POs, supplier commitments, confirmations, delivery schedules, and changes • Proactively resolve shortages, late deliveries, quality issues, and other material risks • Coordinate PPAP orders, inspections, engineering approvals, and production release requirements • Support material forecasting based on build plans, demand, and supplier lead times • Partner with Planning, Purchasing, and Operations to maintain accurate ERP data • Execute expediting, risk buys, advanced purchases, and supplier recovery actions as needed • Transition suppliers and materials to Production Purchasing after launch stabilization Cost & Commercial Management • Evaluate supplier pricing, tooling, NRE, logistics, tariffs, and other commercial factors • Maintain accurate Costed BOMs (CBOM), standard costs, and sourcing data • Identify cost-reduction opportunities through negotiation, alternate sourcing, volume leverage, VA/VE, and process improvements • Support resolution of pricing, PO, invoice, and other supplier commercial issues • Support sourcing and cost analysis for engineering changes, material transfers, and sustaining activities Risk & Cross-Functional Leadership • Assess supplier capacity, lead time, quality, financial, geographic, and supply continuity risks • Develop mitigation plans for single-source, constrained, long-lead, and high-risk components • Represent Sourcing/Supply Chain in NPI core teams, program reviews, build readiness meetings, and launch activities • Communicate material status, supplier commitments, costs, risks, and recovery plans to stakeholders What you'll bring: • Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain or a related field OR four years of relevant experience in a supply chain role within a comparable environment.   • Proven experience with engineering change processes • Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills • Exceptional project management abilities • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data and communicate insights effectively • Demonstrated ability to manage shifting deadlines and priorities in a fast-paced environment • Experience with SAP or a similar ERP system • Understanding of inventory management principles • Background in the new product development cycle • Willingness to travel up to 10% as required   Why This Role Matters This role is at the intersection of engineering, supply chain, suppliers, and operations. Your work will directly influence how successfully new products move from concept to production—helping the organization launch products on time, at the right cost, and with a reliable supply base. Generac is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The salary range for this role based in Belvidere, IL is $67,700 - $101,600 USD. This compensation will ultimately be in line with the location in which the position is field. Final compensation for this role will be determined by various factors such as a candidate’s relevant work experience, skills, certification, and geographic location. This role is eligible for variable compensation including short-term and long-term incentives. “We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.”

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