Buyer 1 - Wiring & Electrical Components

Slate Auto•Troy, MI

About The Position

Slate is looking for an energetic, organized, and experienced High Voltage Low Voltage Wiring Harnesses, Electrical Distribution, Electrical Components Buyer to join our growing team. This role requires someone who possesses experience in electrical distribution / wiring components buying and market realities and brings a “roll up the sleeves” mindset. Automotive buying experience is desired but not required. A solid candidate here will thrive in a fast-paced startup environment where responsibilities are wide-ranging and collaboration is key. We embrace a startup company mindset of being fast, frugal, scrappy, and fun. Important skills include strong business acumen, negotiations, personal accountability, strategic commodity thinking, relationship building, total cost analysis, and communications.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business, Engineering, or a related field or experience.
8–10 years of experience in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, or Engineering.
Automotive or manufacturing industries are preferred.
Proven experience sourcing automotive wiring harnesses and electrical components.
Strong supplier negotiation and relationship management skills.
Sufficient experience to identify process issues and drive improvements.
Experience working with ERP systems such as SAP, Plex, or similar platforms.
Strong analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.
An orientation to action and accountability.
Flexibility. Ability to adapt to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment.

Nice To Haves

Automotive buying experience is desired but not required.

Responsibilities

Manage a strategic supply base for SLATE’s tiered high voltage and low voltage electrical wiring harnesses and low voltage electrical components.
Sourcing: Seek out high quality, qualified supplier candidates, establish sourcing strategies and agreement principles, and drive sourcing approvals for electrical production and service parts, tooling, and services. Document the sourcing agreements and own the supplier agreements which drive the relationships.
Lead supplier RFIs, RFQs, negotiations, and commercial agreements to meet program cost targets, functional and manufacturing deliverables, and our Job 1 launch timing.
Ensuring supplier production and capacity readiness, and program timing.
Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing, and Program Management to resolve cost, quality, and delivery issues.
Perform financial analysis and cost break down analysis to identify, negotiate, and implement cost reduction opportunities including value engineering initiatives with our supplier partners.
Monitor SLATE partner performance and develop risk mitigation actions to support program launch and ensure supply continuity.
Ensure supplier compliance with Slate’s Global Terms and Conditions and commercial agreements.
Identify critical / high risk tiered subcomponents and develop risk mitigation strategies.
Communicate supplier risks, program impacts, and sourcing priorities to internal stakeholders.