Buyer 1 - Wiring & Electrical Components

Slate; Troy (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Safety First

Delight Customers

One Team

Relentless Improvement

Fast, Frugal, and Scrappy

Respectful Collaboration

Positive Legacy

Job summary

Slate is seeking an experienced Senior Buyer for High Voltage and Low Voltage wiring harnesses and electrical components. The role requires 8–10 years in procurement or supply chain, with automotive/manufacturing exposure preferred.

You will manage supplier relations, drive sourcing strategies, and lead negotiations to meet program cost targets and launch timing. A startup mindset thrives here, with cross-functional collaboration across Engineering, Manufacturing, and Program Management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Business, Engineering or related field.
• 8-10 years of experience in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, or Engineering; automotive/manufacturing preferred.
• Proven experience sourcing automotive wiring harnesses and electrical components.
• Strong supplier negotiation and relationship management skills.
• Experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Plex, or similar platforms.

Responsibilities

• Manage a strategic supply base for high/low voltage wiring harnesses and electrical components.
• Source qualified supplier candidates, establish sourcing strategies and agreements.
• Lead supplier RFIs, RFQs, negotiations, and commercial agreements to meet targets.
• Ensure supplier production readiness and program timing.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing, and Program Management to resolve issues.
• Perform cost analyses to identify cost reduction opportunities including value engineering.
• Monitor supplier performance and develop risk mitigation actions for launches.
• Ensure supplier compliance with global terms and commercial agreements.
• Identify critical risk components and develop mitigation strategies.
• Communicate supplier risks and sourcing priorities to internal stakeholders.

Job description

About Slate

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.

Who We Are Looking For

Slate is looking for an energetic, organized, and experienced High Voltage Low Voltage Wiring Harnesses, Electrical Distribution, Electrical Components Buyer to join our growing team. This role requires someone who possesses experience in electrical distribution / wiring components buying and market realities and brings a "roll up the sleeves" mindset. Automotive buying experience is desired but not required. A solid candidate here will thrive in a fast-paced startup environment where responsibilities are wide-ranging and collaboration is key.

We embrace a startup company mindset of being fast, frugal, scrappy, and fun. Important skills include strong business acumen, negotiations, personal accountability, strategic commodity thinking, relationship building, total cost analysis, and communications.

What You Get To Do

• Manage a strategic supply base for SLATE’s tiered high voltage and low voltage electrical wiring harnesses and low voltage electrical components.
• Sourcing: Seek out high quality, qualified supplier candidates, establish sourcing strategies and agreement principles, and drive sourcing approvals for electrical production and service parts, tooling, and services. Document the sourcing agreements and own the supplier agreements which drive the relationships.
• Lead supplier RFIs, RFQs, negotiations, and commercial agreements to meet program cost targets, functional and manufacturing deliverables, and our Job 1 launch timing.
• Ensuring supplier production and capacity readiness, and program timing.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing, and Program Management to resolve cost, quality, and delivery issues.
• Perform financial analysis and cost break down analysis to identify, negotiate, and implement cost reduction opportunities including value engineering initiatives with our supplier partners.
• Monitor SLATE partner performance and develop risk mitigation actions to support program launch and ensure supply continuity.
• Ensure supplier compliance with Slate’s Global Terms and Conditions and commercial agreements.
• Identify critical / high risk tiered subcomponents and develop risk mitigation strategies.
• Communicate supplier risks, program impacts, and sourcing priorities to internal stakeholders.

What You Bring To The Team

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business, Engineering, or a related field or experience.
• 8-10 years of experience in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, or Engineering. Automotive or manufacturing industries are preferred.
• Proven experience sourcing automotive wiring harnesses and electrical components.
• Strong supplier negotiation and relationship management skills.
• Sufficient experience to identify process issues and drive improvements.
• Experience working with ERP systems such as SAP, Plex, or similar platforms.
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• An orientation to action and accountability.
• Flexibility. Ability to adapt to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment.

WHY JOIN TEAM SLATE?

SLATE is a new OEM bringing an innovative new vehicle to the market that has left many customers behind. Team Slate fosters a culture of resourcefulness, excellence, innovation, and mutual respect, and is motivated by shared principles.

• Safety First
• Delight Customers
• One Team
• Relentless Improvement
• Fast, Frugal, and Scrappy
• Respectful Collaboration
• Positive Legacy

WE WANT TO WORK WITH PEOPLE THAT REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE OPERATE.

Slate is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affifmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason.

Slate is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail].

WHY JOIN TEAM SLATE?

At Slate, we’re fueled by grit, determination, and attention to detail. The start-up spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness move our business forward. Team Slate fosters a culture of excellence, innovation, and mutual respect, and is motivated by shared principles.

• Safety First
• Delight Customers
• One Team
• Relentless Improvement
• Fast, Frugal, and Scrappy
• Respectful Collaboration
• Positive Legacy

WE WANT TO WORK WITH PEOPLE THAT REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE OPERATE.

Slate is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affifmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason.

Slate is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail].