Buyer, Engine Components

Ford Motor Company; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 87,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Paid parental leave

Vehicle discount program

Tuition assistance

Onsite gym or wellness programs

Employee resource groups

Job summary

Ford Motor Company is seeking a Buyer to own Plastic Tubes sourcing and supplier management for Ford engine programs. You will lead cross-functional resilience actions, manage supplier relationships, and drive cost, quality, and delivery targets across programs.

The role requires navigating market analyses, renewals, and launches with a focus on Best Cost at Job One. Ideal candidates have a Bachelor's in Business, Supply Chain, or Engineering, 5+ years in purchasing or sourcing, and strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, or Engineering.
• 5+ years in purchasing, supply chain, or sourcing, preferably automotive.
• Experience assessing supplier risk and developing mitigation plans.
• Experience with resilience strategies: resourcing, dual sourcing, stockpile planning.
• Strong negotiation skills and data-driven cost analysis.

Responsibilities

• Own Plastic Tubes sourcing and supplier-management strategy and relationships.
• Lead sourcing for programs: market analysis, tests, business cases, negotiation, contracting, and launches.
• Build market intelligence and set cost targets with Product Development.
• Develop and strengthen global supplier relationships; feed back on cost positions.
• Co-lead commodity strategy including ICE to BEV transition; assist in price workshops.
• Lead supplier reviews and strategic initiatives.

Skills

Negotiation

Cost analytics

Analytical skills

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, or Engineering

Tools

Power BI

Microsoft Office

Job description

In this position...

As a Buyer, you will own sourcing and supplier management for Plastic Tubes supporting Ford engine programs. You will also help lead cross‑functional resilience efforts across the broader supply base protecting production and launches by identifying supply risks and driving actions such as resourcing, dual sourcing, stockpiles, supplier restructuring, and capacity or plant development. You will partner with Product Development, Finance, Supply Chain (STA) and other teams to balance cost, quality, delivery, and launch readiness, and to ensure continuity of supply.

What you'll do...

Own Plastic Tubes sourcing and supplier management

• Own the sourcing and supplier-management strategy for Plastic Tubes, including supplier relationships, commercial negotiations, and performance against cost, quality, delivery, and program requirements.
• Lead sourcing for assigned programs: market analysis, design competitions and market tests, business cases, negotiation, contracting, and launch milestones, delivering best cost at Job One and over the life of the component.
• Build market intelligence on cost drivers, bills of process, supplier capacity, and competitive position; use it to set and deliver cost targets, working with Product Development to develop forward‑model cost targets.
• Build and strengthen global supplier relationships and influence supplier technology roadmaps; give suppliers clear feedback on their cost position relative to the market.
• Co‑lead commodity strategy with Product Development, including the transition from ICE to BEV, and contribute to program workshops to identify vehicle‑competitive pricing.
• Lead supplier business reviews and strategic initiatives (e.g., quarterly business reviews, cost strategy and gap‑closure sessions).

Engine Commodity resilience

Identify and assess supply risks across the broader Engine commodity base, including capacity, financial health, sub‑tier, and geographic exposure.

Develop and drive mitigation plans, including resourcing, dual sourcing, stockpile strategies, supplier restructuring or improvement plans, and new capacity or plant development.

Manage emerging supplier issues (supply, quality, cost, capacity), align internal stakeholders on mitigation, and follow through to closure.

Co‑lead the cross‑functional interface with Product Development, Finance, and Supply Chain to keep resilience actions on track and funded.

You’ll have...

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, or Engineering
• 5+ years of experience in purchasing, supply chain, or sourcing, preferably in automotive or a manufacturing environment
• Experience assessing supplier and supply‑chain risk and developing mitigation plans
• Experience with resilience strategies such as resourcing, dual sourcing, inventory/stockpile planning, supplier capacity expansion, or supplier restructuring
• Strong negotiation skills, including creating leverage in both offensive and defensive situations
• Cost analytics skills: understanding of commodity cost drivers, part cost breakdowns, and gap‑to‑target analysis
• Strong analytical skills, including sourcing evaluations and business cases
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, with the ability to influence cross‑functional teams without direct authority
• Working knowledge of purchasing policies, procedures, and systems
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools
• Ability to travel as required

Even better, you may have...

• MBA or other advanced degree
• Knowledge of plastic and polymer components, such as extruded or molded tubing, resin materials, tooling, and related manufacturing processes
• Experience with distressed or financially at‑risk suppliers, including working with Legal and Finance on commercial agreements
• Experience with data and visualization tools (e.g., Power BI) for risk monitoring
• Familiarity with engine or powertrain components

We offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder...or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage
• Paid parental leave, new parent ramp‑up programs, subsidized back‑up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• Generous vacation time, sick/personal time, and paid holidays, including between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day

This position is a salary grade 7 and ranges from $86,600-$144,900., This position is a salary grade 8 and ranges from $99,100-$166,200.

Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.

This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week.