Commodity Buyer

Tenneco•Northville, MI

About The Position

The Commodity Buyer, Direct Materials, is responsible for sourcing and managing assigned commodities that support Tenneco’s Powertrain business. The commodity portfolio may evolve based on business priorities, organizational needs, and supply-market conditions. This role supports the development and execution of commodity strategies, supplier negotiations, cost-reduction initiatives, sourcing activities, and supplier-performance improvements. The Commodity Buyer works closely with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, Program Management, and Supplier Development to achieve objectives related to competitive cost, quality, delivery, launches, and continuity of supply. The successful candidate will have direct-material purchasing experience, strong analytical and negotiation skills, and the ability to manage multiple sourcing and supplier initiatives with guidance from purchasing leadership.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Finance, Operations, or a related field.
Three or more years of experience in purchasing, strategic sourcing, commodity management, supply chain, manufacturing, or a related field.
Experience supporting or managing direct-material sourcing activities, preferably in automotive or high-volume manufacturing.
Working knowledge of RFQ processes, quotation analysis, cost breakdowns, supplier negotiations, and sourcing recommendations.
Ability to understand manufacturing processes, commodity cost drivers, market trends, and supplier capabilities.
Strong analytical, financial, organizational, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to communicate effectively with suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and purchasing or ERP systems.
Ability to manage multiple projects, maintain accurate records, and meet deadlines with limited day-to-day supervision.
Ability to travel domestically and internationally based on business needs.

Nice To Haves

Experience purchasing Powertrain or Exhaust components, raw materials, or other technically complex direct materials.
Experience with commodity strategies, VAVE, supplier localization, resourcing, or new-product launches.
Familiarity with total-cost analysis, cost modeling, savings tracking, supplier scorecards, and supply-risk management.
Knowledge of automotive quality, sourcing, and launch requirements.
Experience working with global or cross-regional suppliers and teams.

Responsibilities

Support the development and execution of sourcing strategies for assigned Powertrain and exhaust commodities.
Identify and implement cost-reduction opportunities through negotiation, competitive sourcing, resourcing, localization, VAVE, and supplier productivity.
Maintain accurate savings forecasts, project timing, documentation, and reporting.
Monitor commodity markets, supplier cost drivers, tariffs, freight, and other economic factors affecting assigned materials.
Support annual planning, forecasting, and material-cost improvement activities.
Develop working knowledge of the materials, manufacturing processes, suppliers, and market dynamics within the assigned portfolio.
Manage RFQ and RFI activities, including bid-package preparation, supplier follow-up, quotation analysis, and sourcing recommendations.
Analyze quotations for cost competitiveness, commercial terms, capacity, quality, delivery, technical capability, and supply risk.
Negotiate pricing, productivity, payment terms, lead times, tooling, commercial terms, and other purchasing requirements.
Prepare sourcing recommendations and supporting documentation for review and approval.
Ensure sourcing activities comply with purchasing policies, competitive-bidding requirements, authorization limits, and recordkeeping standards.
Support contract development and maintain current pricing and commercial agreements.
Manage day-to-day commercial relationships with assigned suppliers.
Monitor supplier cost, quality, delivery, capacity, responsiveness, and contractual performance.
Partner with Supplier Development, Quality, Operations, and Supply Chain to resolve supplier issues and implement corrective actions.
Identify sourcing and supply risks, escalate concerns promptly, and support the development of mitigation and contingency plans.
Conduct supplier reviews and track actions through completion.
Support alternative-source development, localization, and supply-base optimization.
Maintain accurate supplier, contract, pricing, sourcing, and commodity information.
Partner with Engineering, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and Program Management on sourcing, cost, supplier, and launch activities.
Support new programs, engineering changes, resourcing projects, supplier transitions, and product launches.
Coordinate supplier participation in technical reviews and ensure commercial requirements are addressed.
Provide timely market intelligence, cost analysis, supplier information, and purchasing recommendations.
Communicate risks, decisions, open issues, and required actions clearly to stakeholders and purchasing leadership.
Support customer and financial recovery activities with accurate supplier and market data when required.
Maintain clear project plans, milestones, ownership, and follow-up for assigned initiatives.
Use data and fact-based analysis to make recommendations and resolve problems.
Identify opportunities to simplify purchasing processes and improve sourcing efficiency, reporting accuracy, and supplier performance.
Manage multiple priorities while meeting required timing and business commitments.
Promote ethical supplier relationships and protect confidential business, supplier, cost, and contract information.