Senior Buyer Chassis

Slate Auto•Troy, MI

About The Position

Slate is hiring a Senior Buyer Chassis to lead sourcing and supplier management for complex, high-value, or multiple commodity categories. The role is accountable for building a resilient supply base that supports cost, quality, delivery, and Job 1 launch targets, and for developing category strategies that align supplier capabilities with business needs. The Senior Buyer leads sourcing events and negotiations, manages commercial agreements and supplier contracts, and works across Engineering, Quality, Program Management, Cost Estimating, and Finance to mitigate supply chain risks and support launch readiness. The position owns supplier performance and development, category risk mapping, commodity forecasting, and measurable cost-reduction targets. It also provides category expertise to the Purchasing team, mentors Buyer I and Buyer II team members, and informally leads category teams while keeping Procurement leadership informed about performance, risks, and savings. The role calls for a highly autonomous professional who can thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field is preferred.
10+ years of combined experience in Procurement/Supply Chain Management or Engineering.
5+ years of experience in the automotive industry, with deep specialization in one or more commodity categories.
Demonstrated ownership of complex, high-value, or multiple categories, including setting category strategy.
Experience independently negotiating complex, multi-million-dollar supply contracts.
Track record of delivering enterprise-level cost-reduction targets across categories.
Experience driving commodity strategy and risk mitigation, such as forward contracting and index-linked pricing.
Knowledge and experience with ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Plex, Oracle, or NetSuite.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills for data analysis, cost modeling, pivot tables, and reporting.
Intermediate or higher proficiency using AI tools to enhance procurement workflows and analytics.
Strong analytical, strategic-thinking, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build and present business cases to senior leadership.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for cross-functional, executive, and supplier interactions.
Ability to mentor Buyer I and Buyer II team members and informally lead category teams.
High level of integrity and ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field.
CPSM, CPM, or equivalent professional certification.

Responsibilities

Set sourcing strategies for complex, high-value, or multiple commodity categories to meet cost, quality, delivery, and launch targets.
Lead RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, competitive bid analysis, and commercial negotiations for production parts, service parts, tooling, and services.
Resolve cost, quality, and delivery issues independently and lead cross-functional sourcing strategy with Engineering, Quality, Program Management, Cost Estimating, and Finance.
Ensure adherence to Slate Global Terms and Conditions.
Negotiate complex, multi-million-dollar supply agreements covering pricing, payment terms, lead times, and quality specifications.
Negotiate and administer long-term supply agreements, blanket orders, and consignment programs aligned with demand planning.
Administer NDA processes and manage General Terms & Conditions, Purchased Part Agreements, and other supplier contracts throughout their lifecycle.
Oversee change management and purchase order updates during design phases, and manage raw-material pricing adjustments according to contract terms.
Own strategic supplier relationships through regular business reviews and performance scorecards covering on-time delivery, quality, pricing, and service.
Drive supplier development, qualification, and onboarding in partnership with Quality and Engineering.
Lead escalation resolution for supply disruptions, quality escapes, and delivery issues to protect production continuity.
Hold suppliers accountable to performance, quality, and delivery commitments through corrective action plans.
Deliver enterprise-level, year-over-year cost reductions across categories.
Drive commodity strategy and risk mitigation, including forward contracting and index-linked pricing.
Own supply-chain risk mapping and mitigation for critical categories, including sub-tier visibility.
Monitor commodity markets and price trends, and provide commodity forecasts and cost models for annual budgeting.
Liaise between Purchasing and Cost Estimating to align material pricing with project estimates and review estimated versus actual costs.
Use spend analysis and reporting to identify savings opportunities and prepare period-end procurement reports.
Keep Procurement leadership informed about category performance, risks, and savings while operating with full autonomy.
Mentor Buyer I and Buyer II team members and informally lead category teams.
Partner with Engineering, Quality, and Program teams to ensure early procurement involvement in new program launches.
Identify process issues and drive improvements to operational efficiency.