Buyer, Rare Earth Metals

Ford Motor • Dearborn, MI

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

As Ford advances its strategy to secure critical raw materials for electrified vehicle production, the Procurement Specialist – Rare Earth Materials will play a key role in ensuring stable, cost-effective, and high-quality supply of rare earth components used across multiple vehicle programs. This role focuses on tactical procurement execution, supplier management, and supply continuity for strategically important materials. You will collaborate closely with global suppliers and internal teams across Engineering, Manufacturing, Logistics, and Quality to support Ford’s production needs and New Product Introduction (NPI) activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in purchasing, procurement, or supply chain operations, preferably in automotive, electronics, or manufacturing environments
• 5+ years of experience in supplier negotiation and supplier relationship management
• Strong understanding of basic supply chain principles, procurement processes, and purchasing best practices
• Experience working with ERP systems (SAP preferred) and Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to manage operational supply issues effectively
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with ability to engage suppliers and cross-functional teams
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, global environment with multiple priorities and time-sensitive deliverables

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with technical components or materials; exposure to critical minerals or raw materials sourcing
• Experience working in global supply chains with exposure to Asia, North America, or Europe-based suppliers
• Familiarity with automotive manufacturing environments or Tier 1 supply structures
• Experience supporting production launches or New Product Introduction (NPI) activities

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day procurement activities for assigned rare earth material suppliers, ensuring continuity of supply and alignment with production requirements
• Negotiate pricing, delivery schedules, payment terms, and commercial conditions to achieve optimal cost and value outcomes for Ford
• Execute and maintain supplier contracts, ensuring compliance with agreed commercial terms and conditions
• Monitor supplier performance (OTD, quality, cost) and drive corrective actions where gaps are identified
• Identify and deliver cost reduction opportunities through negotiation, sourcing alternatives, and process improvements
• Collaborate with production planning, logistics, and Tier 1+ suppliers to ensure accurate demand signals and supply alignment
• Resolve operational supply issues including delivery delays, quality concerns, and quantity discrepancies
• Support inventory optimization efforts to balance supply assurance and working capital efficiency
• Identify and escalate short-term supply risks (capacity constraints, quality issues, logistics disruptions) and coordinate corrective actions with suppliers and internal teams
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) by ensuring timely procurement of materials for prototypes and pre-production builds
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, and Logistics teams to align on technical requirements and supply readiness
• Maintain regular supplier engagement to ensure transparency on forecasts, production plans, and constraints
• Monitor market trends and supply conditions for rare earth materials and provide insights to the Commodity Manager

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level