Program Buyer

faurecia S.A.; São João da Madeira; On-site; EUR 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development opportunities

Access to extensive training resources

Commitment to sustainability initiatives

Job summary

faurecia S.A. in São João da Madeira is looking for a Program Purchasing Leader to manage supplier interfaces for various programs. This role requires deep knowledge of purchasing strategies and significant experience in industrial environments. The ideal candidate will have strong negotiation, planning, and financial skills amidst international contexts.

Key responsibilities include managing purchasing for complex programs and ensuring effective communications among stakeholders. Candidates should possess a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering or Business and demonstrate fluent English skills.

Qualifications

• 5 to 8 years of experience including program buyer or program manager experience.
• Experience working in an international environment.
• Professional Purchasing Qualification is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage purchasing for complex programs with multiple plants.
• Lead global steering and sourcing committee meetings.
• Negotiate with suppliers for strategic contracts.
• Manage full supplier responsibilities in program phases.

Skills

Knowledge of supplier cost structures

Understanding of purchasing commodity strategy

Fluent English

Planning and organization skills

Negotiation and interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering or Business

Job description

Forvia, a sustainable mobility technology leader

We pioneer technology for mobility experience that matter to people.

Your mission, roles and responsibilities

The Program Purchasing Leader (PPL) is responsible for managing the interface between programs and suppliers for a program or programs with different levels of complexity, including multiple Faurecia plant locations; various start of production dates; across a full spectrum of new products; and requiring the leadership of a team of Program Buyers across multiple divisions/regions.

The role of the PPL is to anticipate the specific requirements for new programs (supplier technologies, geographical location, and target costs); ensure the commodity panel strategy is appropriate to support the program; select and pilot suppliers from the agreed supplier panel in order to achieve Program objectives, while ensuring strict adherence to the rules and processes. The PPL belongs to the core program team of their dedicated perimeter.

PPL Level #1: Manages Purchasing for High Complexity Programs (#of parts, spend, geographie, etc)

PPL Level #2: Manages Purchasing for Medium complexity programs (#of parts, spend, geographie, etc)

PPL Level #3: Manages Purchasing for Low complexity programs (#of parts, spend, geographie, etc)

The main missions of the PPL (L1, L2, L3) are:

• Manage the RFQ process with suppliers shortlisted by commodity according to panel strategy.
• Define the sourcing tactic in coordination with the Commodity buyer (RFQ, eAuction…)
• Negotiate with suppliers (coordinated with Commodity for sensitive / strategic contracts).
• Lead the global steering and sourcing committee meetings for the program. Ensure supplier selection from list provided by Commodity Buyers and that the purchasing assumptions are optimized on a global basis, considering local and global sourcing options and selecting the option aligned with the cost models and performance.
• Manage full suppliers spectrum and responsibility in program phase from Gate #1 to #4.
• Represent Purchasing in the Core team of the program (representing T&E, commodities and ASQ) and take full ownership and responsibility for Purchasing.
• Accountable for PMS deliverables including WP (OTD), FM & Gates (TTP) and AMS Mgt.
• Manage specific mandated suppliers when requested and agreed with customers.
• Leverage PSP support for administrative project‑related tasks, and ensure quality of inputs to PSP as well as output and resulting reporting.
• Track performance during the program phase for BOP and T&E until GATE 4: Cost, Cash, Quality, Delivery in close alignment with the Program Manager and Team.
• Ensure industrialization follow‑up incl. Timing follow‑up at all Supplier.
• Negotiate and follow‑up on Engineering Change Requests until GATE 4 to increase profitability over the whole program supplier perimeter.
• Ensure efficient handover to Operations, Quality and Purchasing Productivity managers at GATE 4 with full data transparency and agreed hand‑over to Serial Life Teams.
• Overall responsible to achieve identified Program Indicators for Purchasing concerning Profitability and Cash in designated Programs.

Your profile and competencies to succeed

Minimum Education Level: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering or Business.

Nice to have: Professional Purchasing Qualification.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 to 8 years experience including a program buyer or program manager experience in an industrial environment.
• Experience working in an international environment.

Nice to have:

• Previous International Assignment.

Skills and competencies:

• Knowledge of supplier cost structures.
• Understanding of purchasing commodity strategy.
• Understanding of product design, development and production launch processes.
• Fluent English, strong written and oral presentation skills.
• Good planning, organization and project management skills.
• International mindset and ability to work in a complex matrix organization.
• Global leadership of a functional team.
• Result orientied delivering the required performance to the Program Team.
• Knowledge of contractual and legal aspects.
• Financial skills as well as negotiation and interpersonal skills.

Nice to have:

• Knowledge of APQP and program management in automotive.
• Another language depending on the region.
• Strong analytical capabilities.

Benefits

• Develop sustainable mobility leading technologies in an engaging and dynamic environment.
• Career development opportunities in a global automotive supplier with a multicultural environment.
• Access to extensive training resources, including online and in‑person courses through FORVIA University.
• Commitment to CO2 Net Zero and sustainability initiatives, including a SBTi Net‑Zero certification.