Project Purchasing Site Lead

AISIN World Corp. of America•Clinton, TN

2h•Onsite

About The Position

The Project Purchasing Site Lead manages purchasing activities for AISIN North America locations, supporting commodity and project purchasing teams and coordinating with plant groups, suppliers, and NAP. The role leads purchasing communications and reporting, manages and develops team members (including staff in AISIN’s virtual organization), and ensures that NAP needs are communicated and coordinated with the appropriate purchasing groups. The position supports supplier negotiations, quotation analysis, new program launches, supplier evaluation, purchase requisitions and orders, invoice monitoring, sourcing plans, price changes, and procurement of component products. It also manages purchasing budgets, cost-reduction activities, forecasts and material buys, and procurement processes such as quotations, Letters of Intent, feasibility studies, engineering changes, and capacity investigations. The lead standardizes purchasing procedures across locations, supports and leads IATF and other audits, trains team members on procurement processes and policies, and tracks supplier performance and cost recovery issues. The position oversees administrative purchasing work, prepares reports and presentations, resolves supplier and plant issues, and works cross-functionally with management, engineering, manufacturing, and other purchasing groups to meet business and budget goals. The role requires approximately 10% travel and is performed onsite when necessary. The employee must be able to work in a fast-paced environment, handle multiple assignments, meet deadlines and quality expectations, and comply with safety requirements. Weekend and holiday work may be required as business needs dictate.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience and accomplishments in the areas described in the position responsibilities.
Experience in a manufacturing and technical environment.
Experience in component purchasing and understanding of manufacturing processes and their associated costs.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Excellent organization and time-management skills.
Ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment.
Ability to demonstrate patience and verify facts.
Demonstrated ability to persevere and complete difficult tasks.
Strong computer skills, especially in Excel.
Understanding of contract standards.
Willingness and availability to travel approximately 10% and as required to meet business needs.
Ability to operate a personal computer, telephone, and other office equipment.
Ability to work onsite when necessary, except for duties customarily or by nature performed offsite.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple assignments, and complete work within deadlines and budget with satisfactory quality.
Ability to operate as an effective team member.
Commitment to a high standard of safety and ability to comply with safety laws and company safety policies.
Acceptable attendance record.
Willingness and availability to work weekends and holidays when necessary to meet business needs.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the automotive industry and understanding of standard job functions and requirements within the industry.
Experience in a multicultural environment, preferably Japanese-based.
Fluency in English and additional language skills in Japanese, Chinese, German, and/or Spanish.
A bachelor's degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, another Applied Science, or Purchasing/Supply Chain Management is preferred.
A bachelor's degree in Business or another non-technical area is acceptable with proven technical skill.
Internal candidates with significant AISIN experience may be considered without a degree.

Responsibilities

Manage purchasing members at a location, including virtual-organization members, coordinating with their direct managers and addressing sign-offs, attendance, and staff issues.
Lead purchasing communications to NAP and report commodity results, monthly PPV results, target activities, project status, timelines, issues, and support needs.
Coordinate SPTT activities with plant groups and gain cross-functional support and consensus.
Address daily issues, lead administrative or PDI work as applicable, and ensure NAP needs are communicated to appropriate purchasing groups.
Arrange meetings between NAP and purchasing members to resolve issues.
Manage procurement of component products for AISIN North America locations with staff across locations and companies.
Support commodity purchasing teams with supplier negotiations on pricing, delivery schedules, payment terms, agreements, process changes, engineering requirements, and other matters.
Conduct detailed quotation analysis and negotiate cost drivers.
Support new-program launches, including tracking prototype and trial materials.
Evaluate new supplier performance and information.
Approve requisitions, monitor invoices for variances, and monitor supplier performance.
Prepare materials to obtain approval for price changes, asset purchases, and location sourcing plans.
Prepare annual budget plans, including purchases, manpower, and expenses, with management and Commodity Purchasing.
Train and educate procurement team members and enforce standard processes, systems, strategies, negotiation tactics, and policies.
Lead IATF and other audits and gather documents and personnel required to support audit requirements.
Standardize IATF and other company procedures across locations; develop forms, processes, and systems as needed.
Execute common purchasing activities with suppliers, potential suppliers, and plants, and track supplier performance and cost-recovery issues.
Lead changes to purchasing procedures and reports in response to purchasing, company, and market requirements.
Manage administrative staff to ensure purchase orders are written and updated, required plant approvals are obtained, and issues are discussed with Commodity Purchasing.
Support plants and purchasing groups with tracking and ordering prototype, trial, and other purchases; approve purchase orders and ensure suppliers are set up correctly and procedures are followed.
Lead procurement and cross-team cost-reduction activities related to NAP needs.
Manage team coordination and analysis of total volume usage, forecasts, and total material buys.
Manage processes related to quotations, Letters of Intent, feasibility studies, engineering changes, capacity investigations, and similar activities.
Lead and support cross-functional analysis to identify cost-saving opportunities.
With Project Purchasing and SPTT, assess prospective suppliers for new-model programs and localization, support component purchase strategies, and identify suppliers and review capabilities against engineering requirements.
Prepare reports and presentations as needed and report major, weekly, and monthly activities and results to management and NAP management.
Act as AISIN’s supplier champion and represent AISIN to suppliers; resolve daily supplier issues and plant investigation needs.
Supervise and delegate work, evaluate and develop team members, provide ongoing feedback, and support staff in achieving short- and long-term goals.
Develop plans and strategies for the team within budget constraints and maintain communication with North American management and global group companies.
Evaluate business systems and procedures and recommend improvements; support activities that improve team and system performance.
Manage plant-purchasing relationships to promote effective communication and cooperation.
Support competitor and supplier intelligence activities, including monitoring new products, product and process improvements, VA/VE, profit improvement, and cost reduction.
Compile, analyze, and communicate data and develop summary and status documents and materials.
Support cost estimates for engineering analysis, business opportunities, and other needs as directed.
Attend and support regular purchasing meetings with plants to communicate, identify, and meet the expectations of purchasing teams, management, and manufacturing plants.
Support group morale and motivation, establish and control documented activity plans, and develop and execute short- and long-term plans with purchasing, engineering, and other teams.
Align purchasing budgets with NAP budgets and confirm results against plan monthly through PPV analysis.
Accept additional responsibilities and perform other duties as assigned.