Buyer - Stampings & Structural Assemblies

Ford Ford · Auto · Dearborn, MI +1 · Supply Chain

Buyer role focused on procuring steel and aluminum stamped parts and welded assemblies within the automotive industry. Responsibilities include leading commercial negotiations, managing supplier relationships, optimizing costs, and ensuring timely delivery of quality parts. Requires experience in procurement, manufacturing processes, and a strong understanding of cost drivers and market trends.

What you'd actually do

  1. Conduct appropriate sourcing activities that deliver a quality part at the best material cost to Ford Motor Company within the program timing requirements.
  2. Develop and successfully execute negotiations strategies to deliver material efficiencies (TVM) and minimize inflationary costs, which requires developing deeper understanding of cost drivers and levers.
  3. Provide support to the Critical Supply Team and Supplier Technical Assistance where part quality and shortages become prevalent.
  4. Be a leader - look at all existing processes and challenge if improvements can be made, regardless of scale.
  5. Accountable to work closely with others to meet deadlines with excellence; drive others to deliver required materials on time and with quality.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor's Degree
  • 3+ years of experience in procurement, preferably within the Automotive industry
  • 3+ years of manufactured commodities and manufacturing processes experience

Nice to have

  • Master's Degree
  • 5+ years of experience in procurement, preferably within the Automotive industry
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and basic procurement software
  • Experience with Stampings and Structural Assemblies
  • Strong business and commercial acumen and excellent written and verbal abilities.
  • Ability to build solid relationships with teammates, suppliers, and cross-functional team members by fostering teamwork and collaboration in a virtual and face-to-face environment.
  • Proficient with juggling multiple responsibilities simultaneously, staying focused on deadlines, handling complex projects efficiently, and solving open issues in a timely manner.
  • Strong analytical skills (sourcing evaluations, business case studies).
  • Strong negotiation skills (creating leverage in both offensive and defensive situations).
  • Cost analytics (understand commodity cost drivers, part cost breakdowns, gap to optimal cost).
  • Strategic mindset and the ability to understand current challenges facing the automotive industry.
  • Possess creativity, energy and pursuit of learning and development to drive commodity expertise.
  • Persuasive and convincing communication skills (e.g., proposals, reports, plans) to secure commitment from business leaders.
  • Ability to interpret organizational needs and commercial strategies as input into global Category Strategies.
  • Strong working knowledge of Purchasing policies, procedures, and systems.