Senior Buyer – Metal Components (Automotive)
About The Position
The Senior Buyer – Metal Components is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for metal parts and raw materials used in automotive manufacturing. This role manages supplier relationships, negotiates long-term agreements, ensures continuity of supply, and drives cost, quality, and delivery performance across various blanked, formed, welded, hot-upset, forged, machined and assembled metal components. The position requires strong technical understanding of metals, components, global supply markets, and automotive quality and compliance standards, along with proven commercial negotiation expertise.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field
- 8+ years of purchasing or strategic sourcing experience in an automotive or manufacturing environment
- Demonstrated experience sourcing metal components such as blanked, formed, welded, hot-upset, forged, machined and assembled parts
- Proven track record of successful supplier negotiations and cost reduction initiatives
- Experience working with Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive suppliers
- Strong knowledge of metal manufacturing processes and material cost drivers
- Advanced negotiation, contract management, and analytical skills
- Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Excel
- Ability to interpret drawings, specifications, and bills of materials
- Strong problem-solving and risk management capabilities
Nice To Haves
- Professional certifications (e.g., CPSM, SCMP, CPM) are an asset
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute sourcing strategies for metal components and raw materials (e.g., steel, aluminum, flat rolled, long products,)
- Identify, evaluate, and onboard suppliers capable of meeting automotive quality, capacity, and cost requirements
- Lead supplier RFQs/RFPs, benchmarking, and cost modeling
- Establish and manage long-term supply agreements and pricing structures
- Monitor supplier financial health, capacity, and geopolitical risk exposure
- Lead commercial negotiations including pricing, tooling, payment terms, cost recoveries, and capacity commitments
- Drive year-over-year cost improvement initiatives while maintaining quality and supply continuity
- Analyze commodity trends, surcharges, and indices; manage price adjustment mechanisms
- Support should-cost and value engineering initiatives in collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams
- Execute purchase orders and manage supplier deliveries to support production schedules
- Resolve supplier performance issues including quality, delivery, and cost variances
- Support production launches and engineering changes related to metal components
- Ensure compliance with internal procurement policies and audit requirements
- Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Operations, Finance, and Program Management teams
- Support APQP, PPAP, and launch readiness activities
- Participate in make-versus-buy and supplier consolidation decisions
- Provide procurement input during new product development and change management processes
- Ensure suppliers comply with automotive standards (e.g., IATF 16949, ISO 9001)
- Support regulatory and sustainability requirements (e.g., resiliency, conflict minerals, ESG initiatives)
- Drive risk mitigation plans for supply disruptions and capacity constraints
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
