Buyer, Transmission Components

Ford Motor • Dearborn, MI

15h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Buyer, Transmission Components supports Ford Purchasing by sourcing high-quality parts and services while ensuring optimal cost and on-time delivery. The role develops sourcing plans, completes commercial negotiations and strategic sourcing, supports supplier onboarding dates, and delivers program targets. It also contributes to a robust supply chain that supports vehicle production.

The position includes developing commodity business plans, supporting program sourcing milestones and launches, leading supplier negotiations, managing cost-reduction strategies, and maintaining supplier partnerships. The Buyer works with Product Development, engineering, Supplier Quality, and Material, Planning & Logistics to address supplier issues, improve cost and supply-chain performance, and maintain product flow to Ford production facilities. This hybrid position requires onsite work four or more days per week in Dearborn, with one optional remote day described in the posting.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• At least 3 years of direct experience in automotive procurement or supply chain management.
• Strong supplier relationship management, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Experience in cost analysis, strategic sourcing, and process improvement.
• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally to resolve supplier issues and achieve program objectives.
• Willingness to travel as required.
• Ability to work a hybrid schedule with four days onsite in Dearborn and one optional remote day.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States; employment eligibility verification is required at hire.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with transmission components and systems.
• At least 5 years of direct automotive procurement and supply chain experience.
• Desire to strengthen negotiation skills and fact-based problem solving.
• Experience with strategic sourcing and cost negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Develop sourcing plans that enable commercial negotiations and strategic sourcing to support supplier onboarding dates and program targets.
• Lead the target sign-off process with match-pairs, prepare RFQs, evaluate supplier quotations, and complete commercial agreements.
• Lead the QCDR process, including plans to deliver full-year objectives for commodity suppliers.
• Develop and maintain strong supplier partnerships.
• Lead supplier commercial negotiations and drive cost-reduction strategies.
• Assist in managing the category strategy (CBP) across regions, with annual updates and identification and development of suppliers to meet quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
• Complete critical upcoming sourcing decisions and work with new suppliers on industrialization plans.
• Co-lead and develop Product Development Commodity Business Plans.
• Understand upcoming program sourcing and key milestones in support of launch.
• Lead sourcing processes on time and to program targets, working with Product Development to develop forward-model cost targets.
• Lead market tests and design competitions.
• Understand supplier cost, OCEs, and cost gaps, and provide suppliers with feedback on market cost position.
• Work with Product Development to understand supply-base footprint, financial health ratings, technologies, and trends.
• Set annual cost-savings goals by identifying commercial leverage, design efficiencies, and end-to-end supply-chain improvements.
• Develop material cost roadmaps that deliver corporate objectives and support long-term viability.
• Lead global supplier negotiations to support Quality, Cost, Delivery, and Resilience objectives, and develop action plans to achieve them.
• Provide direct support to Supplier Quality and Material, Planning & Logistics when part-quality issues or shortages occur.
• Work with engineering to identify alternative technologies or sources of supply to maintain product flow into Ford production facilities.
• Close commercial issues in a timely, effective, and competitive manner to avoid risking plant build objectives.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• Paid parental leave and new parent ramp-up programs.
• Subsidized back-up child care.
• Adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement and fertility treatments.
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases.
• Tuition assistance.
• Employee resource groups.
• Paid time off for individual and team community service.
• Vacation time, sick/personal time, and paid holidays, including between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.

What This Job Offers

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