Purchasing BU Partner

IMPACT and OPPORTUNITY

Support customer projects in the Design, Win, Execute, and Improve phase as it pertains to material procurement. Ensure the internal Business Unit complies to reach reasonable cost targets through the implementation of Category Purchasing strategies in customer programs; conversely drive material purchasing savings to meet customer target pricing and increase program profitability.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide project key information to category leads, so they may quote the required BoM item(s) within their commodity category.
• Provide BoM and Tool pricing for the business case calculation.
• Continuous review of BoM and tool costs given target updates during awarding process.
• Drive BoM and tooling sourcing to ensure launch readiness.
• Drive cost reduction activities together with category leads to achieve pre-SOP & post-SOP savings targets.
• Monitor BoM and tool costs, and cost reporting to management.
• Coordinate with Finance/Engineering/PM, to challenge BoM and tooling costs and explore alternatives.
• Provide regular updates of program milestones, volumes to category managers.
• Support in supplier negotiations if program leverage is required to seek an optimal price.
• Support program change initiatives & program ramp-down activities.
• Support and drive cross functional cost / VA-VE workshops. 
• Ensure early involvement of SQD in case of new suppliers and/or materials and on-time PPAP approval according to program milestones.  
• Build and mediate the interface between engineering and supplier in project related technical issues.
• Identify and communicate critical materials based on the customer RFQ or BoM and during further project work (availability, lead times, quality, sourcing and contractual risk, mismatching minimum order quantities) to the project team.
• Provide single point of contact interface with all non-purchasing functions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain, Business, or related discipline.
• Minimum 7 years of relevant purchasing experience in the Automotive industry. 
• Strong knowledge and understanding of Automotive Supply Chain and life cycle
• Business fluent English communication skills (written and verbal)
• Strong negotiation skills
• Project management experience
• Ability to transfer technical matters into economic considerations
• Team player
• Intercultural competence
• Strong communication skills and assertiveness
• Extensive knowhow of purchasing methods and tools
• Influential leadership
• High stress resilience
• Legal/contractual knowledge
• Problem solving
• Analytical mindset
• Strong MS Office skills
• Knowledge in cost calculation

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Transparent verbal and written communication skills
• Leads by example with a high level of integrity
• Works actively across boundaries in a matrix structure
• Ability to flex and accept other perspectives
• Fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement
• Is a skilled problem solver; works to understand the root cause of issues and develops sustainable solutions to overcome them
• Curious and self-motivated

Language skills:

• Language spoken, other than English, is considered a plus

NICE TO KNOW

TRAVEL: 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

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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.