Supplier Warranty Lead

Slate Auto•Troy, MI

About The Position

At Slate, we’re building safe, reliable vehicles that people can afford, personalize and love—and doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate, because people should have control over how their trucks look, feel, and represent them. Slate is looking for a Supplier Warranty Lead to manage and optimize Slate’s supplier warranty recovery processes. This role is ideal for someone with strong analytical skills, supplier management experience, and a passion for improving product reliability and operational efficiency. If you’re experienced in negotiating agreements, resolving disputes, and driving cross-functional collaboration, we want you on Team Slate.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field.
5+ years of experience in supplier warranty, claims management, or supplier quality, with at least 2 years in a leadership or negotiation-focused role.
Proven experience in contract negotiation and supplier management in a manufacturing environment, preferably in Automotive, Heavy Duty Trucking, Powersports, or relevant Tier I supplier industries.
Hands-on experience leveraging enterprise systems such as SAP, Oracle, Syncron, Pega, and similar platforms to manage supplier warranty claims, track recoveries, analyze failure trends, and ensure accurate financial reconciliation.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence and negotiate effectively.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with attention to detail in data validation and reporting.
Effective conflict resolution and interpersonal skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Must have the ability to travel (up to 25%).
Must have the ability to lift up to 35 pounds.
Must have the ability to stand, walk, and perform repetitive tasks for extended periods.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for a portfolio of suppliers regarding warranty recovery and defect resolution.
Build and maintain strong working relationships with supplier representatives to facilitate timely and effective communication.
Lead the end-to-end process of supplier warranty recovery, including claim validation, documentation, and financial reimbursement.
Monitor and track warranty claims to ensure timely resolution and accurate financial recovery.
Collaborate with internal teams to ensure proper diagnosis and documentation of failures attributed to supplier defects.
Oversee the chargeback and appeal process, ensuring accurate and fair resolution of disputed claims.
Work closely with Engineering, Reliability, and Service teams to analyze failure data and identify trends or recurring issues.
Partner with Procurement and the Product Review Center to escalate unresolved claims and drive corrective actions with suppliers.
Negotiate and maintain supplier warranty agreements, recall/campaign settlements, and other contractual obligations.
Ensure all agreements are compliant with Slate’s policies and provide adequate coverage for potential warranty liabilities.
Develop and implement process improvements to streamline warranty recovery and reduce claim cycle time.
Provide regular reporting and analytics on supplier performance, recovery rates, and claim status to leadership.
Support root cause analysis and corrective action initiatives to improve product quality and reduce future warranty exposure.