Senior Purchasing Manager

Blue Bird Careers•Troy, MI

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is a technology leader and innovator of school buses since 1927. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses. The Senior Purchasing Manager is responsible for leading the procurement and category management strategy for Powertrain and Drivetrain commodities. This role requires a strong leader with deep understanding of commercial realities and market dynamics within the automotive/commercial vehicle supply base, exceptional negotiation capability, and the ability to partner effectively with Engineering and internal stakeholders. This position will lead and develop a team of purchasing/category professionals while operating with a high level of autonomy within our remote office in Troy, MI. The role is accountable for supplier strategy, sourcing, contracting, cost optimization, risk mitigation, and supplier performance across the full scope of assigned spend. The Senior Purchasing Manager will also provide updates through structured quarterly reviews with senior stakeholders, including Engineering alignment on category strategy, supplier performance, and long-range plans.

Requirements

Extensive experience in procurement/category management with automotive or commercial vehicle supply base
Strong understanding of supplier market dynamics and commercial realities (pricing drivers, cost structures, contract levers, risk indicators, and negotiation strategy)
Demonstrated experience leading and developing teams; ability to perform independently and drive results in a remote/lean office environment
Ability to accomplish financial analysis, supplier selection, and approval processes (total cost analysis, PPV, cost breakdowns, and business case development)
Demonstrated supplier development experience from new product development to full rate production
Project Management and/or Contract Management experience
Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to provide concise executive-level updates and lead structured quarterly reviews
Ability to perform in high-stress, fast-paced environment
Proficiency in MS Office applications
Experience with Six Sigma and Lean Tools
Bachelor’s degree in a business or engineering related field
Minimum of 10+ years’ experience working in purchasing/procurement
Minimum of 3 years’ experience leading a team
All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.

Nice To Haves

Professional Certifications in Project/Supply Chain/Procurement/Contract Management (preferred where applicable)
MBA, preferred
Automotive/Commercial vehicle experience preferred
Ability to anticipate and understand customer needs and provide guidance; Excellent interpersonal and customer relationship skills to handle difficult and sensitive matters
Strong project management skills. Exposure to difficult or complex projects a plus
Ability to influence stakeholders; Effective communication and ability to communicate complex compensation details in a clear manner
Flexible workspaces and work hours that help you unleash the best you
Working in a collaborative team and balancing the needs of individual stakeholders while delivering corporate objectives.

Responsibilities

Lead a team of purchasing category specialists; set priorities, coach performance, and develop capability within an autonomous environment
Own and drive full-scope category strategy for assigned commodities (Powertrain and Drivetrain), delivering superior quality, cost, and delivery performance
Partner closely with Engineering and cross-functional stakeholders to align category strategy with product, cost, and manufacturing objectives; provide updates and outcomes in quarterly review cadence
Lead and recommend supplier selection and manage the preferred supplier list for assigned categories
Govern quote management, market testing, and sourcing events to ensure best-value outcomes
Deploy dual/multi-sourcing strategies to ensure continuity of supply for key products and mitigate supply risk
Establish and maintain relationships across critical suppliers; serve as an escalation point for performance, risk, and commercial matters
Own all commercial aspects of category relationships; lead contract negotiations, pricing models, and commercial terms
Develop Annual Operating Plan and Long-Range Strategic Plan for the full scope of spend within assigned categories
Govern supplier repricing, purchased price variance (PPV), and additional purchase part costs; ensure visibility, action plans, and results
Drive productivity ideation and implementation (cost-out, value engineering support, supplier development, and supply chain optimization)
Demonstrate supplier development experience from new product development through full rate production (launch readiness, APQP/PPAP support as applicable, and steady-state performance improvement)