Category Buyer

Job Summary

Role Summary: Seeking a strategic procurement professional with 7-10 years of experience in Fuel Systems, Oil Pumps, Water Pumps, Machining, Casting, and Forging commodities, capable of driving sourcing strategy, supplier development, cost competitiveness, localization, and capacity expansion.

Required Experience

• 7-10 years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or supplier management.
• Strong category management experience in Fuel Systems, Oil Pumps, Water Pumps, or Engine Components.
• Proven track record in supplier negotiations, RFQs, supplier nominations, and contract management.
• Experience with castings, forgings, precision machining, and assembly manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PCN, PFMEA, Control Plans, and supplier quality systems.
• Demonstrated success in cost reduction, localization, VA/VE, and SSP improvement initiatives.
• Experience in supplier capacity planning, demand ramp-up support, and supply risk mitigation.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams across Procurement, Engineering, SQE, Manufacturing, and Operations.
• Strong commercial acumen, including should-cost analysis and total cost of ownership (TCO).
• Proven ability to manage strategic supplier relationships while driving quality, delivery, cost, and business continuity performance.

Preferred Industry Background

Experience with leading automotive, off-highway, engine, or component manufacturers.

Preferred Commodity Experience

Direct experience sourcing and managing:

• Fuel System Components
• Oil Pumps
• Water Pumps
• Precision Machined Components
• Castings
• Forgings with exposure to Low/Medium volume manufacturing and engine applications.

Responsibilities

• Developing, managing and executing the category strategy, managing policies, agreements, source catalogs, and special procurement programs.
• Recognizing the potential for cost decreases, inventory reductions and quality improvement, as well as responsibility for soundness of business proposals and risk assessment.
• Acting as the liaison between the organization and the supplier to communicate information explicitly, while considering production demands and suppliers conditions.
• Documenting the suppliers performance on time sensitives and production; maintains a strong relationship with suppliers.

Degree Requirement

Bachelor's degree from a Tier 1 College or University is preferred.

Skill Descriptors

Data Analytics

Knowledge of techniques and processes for inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data; ability to discover useful information, draw logical conclusions, and support decision-making.

Level Working Knowledge:

• Collects required data through various data sources and documents them for evaluating trends and activities.
• Assists in preparing charts, graphs, tables, and other tools to represent the results obtained from data analysis.
• Researches business-related data, analyzes, interprets, and presents findings to management.
• Recognizes and assesses problems, opportunities, and methods for improving existing business performance.
• Utilizes designated data analysis software to analyze the data.

Effective Communications

Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.

• Delivers helpful feedback that focuses on behaviors without offending the recipient.
• Listens to feedback without defensiveness and uses it for own communication effectiveness.
• Makes oral presentations and writes reports needed for own work.
• Avoids technical jargon when inappropriate.
• Looks for and considers non-verbal cues from individuals and groups.

Interpersonal Relationships

Knowledge of the techniques and the ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and collaborative manner.

• Explains impact of interactions with individuals and groups.
• Identifies roles and responsibilities for self and others.
• Demonstrates an understanding of alternative points of view.
• Collaborates with departmental associates and management.
• Adapts interaction style to situations and people.

Negotiating

Knowledge of successful negotiation concepts and techniques; ability to negotiate successfully across the organization and with external vendors and clients in a constructive and collaborative manner.

Level Basic Understanding:

• Describes qualities of effective and ineffective negotiations.
• Explains the basic concepts of negotiating.
• Accesses organizational policies and practices for negotiating.
• Utilizes techniques for establishing rapport and building trust.

Contracts Management and Administration

Knowledge of policies, standards and processes of how to manage and administer contracts; ability to use proper processes and practices for managing and administering a variety of contractual agreements.

• Explains the responsibilities of the contracts administration function.
• Describes basic concepts and activities of managing existing contracts.
• Discusses organizational protocols, standards, and procedures for contracts management and administration.
• Identifies and interprets regular contracts administration reports.

Purchasing Tasks and Activities

Knowledge of policies, regulations and processes of purchasing; ability to use practices and procedures for procurement of materials, components, equipment and services.

• Records documents of purchasing tasks and activities, such as orders, bidding.
• Uses available procurement systems and tools.
• Ensures compliance with procurement regulations and contract specifications.
• Works with basic purchasing related tasks and activities.
• Adheres to various requirements and steps of the procurement process.

Supplier Relationship Management

Knowledge of supplier relationship management concept and strategies; ability to address critical issues to meet supplier needs and maintain engaged, partnering relationship with suppliers.

• Describes the general processes and procedures involved in supplier relationship management.
• Explains the benefits of establishing and maintaining supplier relationships.
• Identifies the main objectives and functions of supplier relationship management.
• Locates where and how to obtain or maintain information on suppliers.

Strategic Sourcing

Knowledge of strategic sourcing methods, technologies and processes; ability to analyze, improve and re-evaluate organizational procurement process continuously.

Disclaimer: This job posting has been aggregated from external source. Role details, content, and availability are subject to change. Applicants are advised to confirm the latest information directly on the company website before applying.