Category Lead Buyer

IMPACT and OPPORTUNITY

As a member of the Purchasing team you will be responsible for acquiring, purchasing, and negotiating materials, components and services for strategic categories which contain heavy plastic, metal and electronic contents. You will obtain quotations, prepare quote analysis and evaluate potential suppliers to determine if they are compatible with company objectives. You will also monitor quality of goods by reviewing costs, schedules, timeliness of delivery and conformance to specifications. You will interface with suppliers on on-going basis to resolve concerns and minimize disruptions to production processes.  You will have the opportunity to develop category strategies to meet business objectives for cost, quality fulfilment and innovation.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and execute category strategies in partnership with the Global Category Director
• Support contract developments to ensure consistent commercial terms and conditions
• Approve ECR for new or changed materials
• Conduct market screenings and benchmarking
• Qualify new suppliers in collaboration with category strategy
• Improve efficiency in terms of reliability of supply and price as well as risk management
• Ensure early involvement of SQD in case of new suppliers and/or materials and on-time PPAP approval
• Conduct purchasing of materials independently and select supplier and second sources for the components out of an approved supplier list
• Ensure correct, complete, and timely maintenance of master data and workflows in all relevant systems
• Order program related needs like samples and tooling
• Support and execute cost reduction ideas
• Confirm material availability and lead time for the components
• Ensure supplier capacities to avoid supply bottlenecks
• Support product change requests and “End of Life” ramp-down activities at the component level

QUALIFICATIONS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business with technical background and/or Engineering with economical background.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience as a strategic buyer, or commodity manager in Tier 1/Tier 2 suppliers in automotive industry.
• A record of achieving purchasing cost saving through negotiation & VAVE
• Familiar with single source situations with experience in such an environment. 
• Project management skills
• Knowledge of automotive standards
• Ability to manage difficult situations and customer complaints in a respectful way
• Strong attention to detail
• English (strong verbal and written)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Preferred experience in complicated mechanical full assembly part sourcing and outsourcing
• SAP, PCP, IBS APQP, customer requirements, job specific processes and reporting tools, lean training, MS Office
• Strong negotiation, communication, and assertiveness skills
• Project management experience
• Ability to transfer technical matters into economic considerations
• Strong team player and intercultural competence
• Strong English language verbal and written skills
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills
• Cost calculation knowledge
• Legal/contractual knowledge
• Strong MS Office skills

NICE TO KNOW

TRAVEL: Up to 10%

COMPETENCIES

• Deliver Results
  • Understand the mission and output of your team; set SMART objectives and deliver
• Drive Change
  • Focus on agility and commitment to continuous improvement; Understand and act on internal and external drivers of change
• Build Capability
  • Foster a culture of learning and development; Support individual growth through continuous feedback to achieve personal and professional goals
• Cultivate Innovation
  • Openly embrace, create, implement and support new and innovative ideas, processes and technology that deliver business results

#LI-ML1 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

All positions in our office require interaction with people and technology while either standing or sitting. In order to best service our customers, internal and external, all associates must be able to communicate face-to-face and on the phone with or without reasonable accommodation. Gentherm is committed to compliance with its obligations under all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. In keeping with this commitment, it attempts to reasonably accommodate applicants and employees in accordance with the requirements of the disability discrimination laws. It also invites individuals with disabilities to participate in a good faith, interactive process to identify reasonable accommodations that can be made without imposing an undue hardship.