Category Lead, Packaging NA

Magna International•Troy, MI

23h

About The Position

The Category Lead, Packaging NA reports to the Director of Purchasing and Supply Chain and is responsible for the development and execution of Magna Exteriors' packaging strategy across North America and globally where applicable. This role provides strategic leadership for packaging commodities including returnable containers, expendable packaging, pallets, dunnage, racks, totes, bulk containers, packaging services, and related logistics solutions. As a member of the Global Magna Exteriors Purchasing team, this position is responsible for driving packaging sourcing strategy, supplier management, transportation optimization, sustainability initiatives, and cost reduction programs. The role partners closely with Packaging Engineering, Operations, Materials, Logistics, Manufacturing Strategy, Quality, Finance, and Sustainability teams to identify innovative packaging solutions that improve quality, material flow, ergonomics, transportation efficiency, and total delivered cost. The position requires strong cross-functional leadership, packaging market expertise, and the ability to develop long-term category strategies while delivering measurable value creation across the organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Purchasing, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum 6 years of experience in packaging procurement, packaging engineering, supply chain, logistics, manufacturing, or related automotive operations.
Minimum 4+ years of leadership experience with demonstrated progression and category ownership.
Experience sourcing and managing packaging commodities including returnable containers, expendable packaging, pallets, racks, dunnage, corrugate, and packaging services.
Strong understanding of OEM packaging requirements, automotive supply chains, material flow, and logistics principles.
Experience leading packaging optimization and transportation density improvement projects.
Proven success negotiating commercial agreements and managing strategic supplier relationships.
Demonstrated experience with cost reduction initiatives, value engineering, and total landed cost analysis.
Experience working with Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs in a competitive automotive environment.
Knowledge of launch processes, packaging validation requirements, and continuous improvement methodologies.
Very strong PC skills required along with knowledge and experience with data analysis tools such as Power BI and Microsoft Office (especially Excel).
Executive Presence
Effective communication and presentation skills

Nice To Haves

Sourcing Strategy, Finance, International Sourcing, Total Landed Cost, Make-vs-Buy, and Cost Modeling experience highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and maintain global packaging category strategies aligned with Magna Exteriors business objectives.
Oversee divisional sourcing and lead group activities for returnable packaging, expendable packaging, pallets, racks, dunnage, corrugate, bulk containers, and packaging-related services.
Develop bidder lists and execute RFIs, RFQs, and sourcing events in alignment with engineering, operational, and OEM packaging requirements.
Negotiate and manage supplier pricing, commercial agreements, service contracts, and long-term strategic partnerships.
Oversee division level QCA and CERF submissions to validate alignment with commodity strategies and cost efficiency targets.
Partner with Packaging Engineering, Manufacturing, and Logistics teams to identify opportunities for packaging optimization, standardization, and transportation efficiency.
Support packaging cost reduction initiatives through material optimization, design improvements, freight density enhancements, and supplier consolidation.
Work with Group Packaging Engineer to support development of packaging standards and best practices across divisions to improve quality, operational efficiency, and cost performance.
Monitor market conditions and trends affecting packaging commodities, including corrugate, resin, lumber, steel, recycled materials, and reusable transport packaging.
Collaborate with Magna International and cross-group category teams to maximize leverage through enterprise agreements and best practice sharing.
Drive sustainability initiatives including reusable packaging expansion, waste reduction, recycled content utilization, and circular economy initiatives.
Develop and present value-based sourcing recommendations and business cases to sourcing councils and leadership teams.
Track category performance, supplier performance, savings projects, capital investments, and financial results on a monthly and quarterly basis.
Lead cross-functional teams to identify, assess, select, and implement innovative packaging solutions that improve operational performance and reduce total cost.
Promote supplier innovation and emerging technologies that improve packaging efficiency, automation readiness, and environmental performance.
Additional duties and responsibilities as assigned.