Buyer, Transmission Components
About The Position
The Buyer, Transmission Components, is part of Ford’s Purchasing team and sources parts and services to support quality, cost, delivery, and a robust supply chain. The role develops sourcing plans, conducts strategic sourcing and commercial negotiations, and supports supplier onboarding and program targets. It also contributes to category strategy across regions, supplier development, and industrialization planning for new suppliers. The position works with Product Development, engineering, Supplier Quality, and Material, Planning & Logistics to support program launches, resolve supplier issues, maintain product flow to Ford production facilities, and protect plant build objectives. The role is hybrid, with at least four days onsite in Dearborn each week and an optional remote day. Travel may be required.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree.
- 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.
- Willingness to work a hybrid schedule, with at least four days onsite in Dearborn per week.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with transmission components and systems.
- 5 or more 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 and conduct commercial negotiations and strategic sourcing to support supplier onboarding dates and program targets.
- Lead target sign-off with match-pairs; prepare requests for quotation, 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 cost-reduction strategies.
- Assist in managing category strategy (CBP) across regions, including annual updates and supplier identification and development to meet quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
- Complete critical upcoming sourcing decisions and work with new suppliers on industrialization plans.
- Co-develop Product Development Commodity Business Plans.
- Understand upcoming program sourcing and key milestones in support of launch.
- Lead sourcing processes to meet timing and program targets, working with Product Development to develop forward-model cost targets.
- Lead market tests and design competitions.
- Understand supplier costs, OCEs, and cost gaps; provide supply partners with feedback on their cost position relative to the market.
- 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 those goals.
- Support Supplier Quality and Material, Planning & Logistics when part quality issues and shortages arise.
- Work with engineering to identify alternative technologies or sources of supply to maintain product flow into Ford production facilities.
- Close commercial issues promptly and effectively to avoid risks to plant build objectives.
Benefits
- Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
- Paid parental leave, new-parent ramp-up programs, and subsidized backup childcare.
- Family-building benefits, including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement and fertility treatments.
- 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.
- Vacation time, sick/personal time, and paid holidays, including between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
