Buyer, Thermal Management System and AUX HVAC

Ford; Dearborn (MI); On-site; USD 87,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Parental leave

Vehicle discount

Tuition assistance

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, MI seeks a Category Implementation Buyer for Thermal Management and AUX HVAC to lead strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, and cost optimization across Climate commodities, aligning with Ford+ goals.

You will partner with engineering, product development and finance to drive cost targets, assess supplier capabilities, manage risk, and strengthen supply continuity while delivering competitive total cost and robust supplier relationships.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of direct procurement, strategic sourcing, purchasing, or supply chain experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing strategy for Thermal Management System and AUX HVAC programs.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Supplier management

Cost analysis

Negotiations

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decisions

Education

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

Master's degree (Nice to have)

Job description

In this position...

The Category Implementation Buyer - Thermal Management System & AUX HVAC leads strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, cost optimization, and supply continuity for these Climate commodities. The role partners with global stakeholders and suppliers to deliver competitive cost, quality, delivery, technology, and supply resilience in support of Ford+ objectives

What you'll do

Strategic Sourcing & Commercial

Lead sourcing strategy, bid-list development, supplier selection, and negotiations for Thermal Management System and AUX HVAC programs.

Deliver competitive material costs through commercial leverage, design opportunities, supply-chain optimization, and Ford priorities including TVM, E2E, Inflation, and CRID.

Present data-driven sourcing recommendations and commodity / supplier strategies to cross-functional teams and executive leadership.

Cost & Business Planning

Develop cost targets, savings objectives, and material-cost roadmaps aligned with program and corporate objectives.

Evaluate supplier capabilities, financial health, technology, footprint, and market trends to identify cost and competitiveness opportunities.

Support Program Workshops and identify opportunities to improve vehicle competitiveness, cost, and long-term supply-base performance.

Supply Continuity & Risk

Identify and resolve supplier, commercial, quality, capacity, and supply risks that could impact launch or production.

Partner with Engineering and Product Development to develop alternative technologies, sources, and Tier 1/Tier 2 resiliency strategies.

Balance cost, quality, timing, capacity, technology, and supply continuity to protect production objectives.

Supplier & Stakeholder Leadership

Build strategic supplier relationships and lead cross-functional alignment across Engineering, Product Development, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing, Material Planning & Logistics, and Finance.

Lead supplier negotiations, issue resolution, and business reviews while driving accountability and timely closure.

Challenge existing processes and implement improvements that strengthen sourcing effectiveness, supplier performance, and business results.

What you'll have

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Finance, or a related field.
• 5+ years of direct procurement, strategic sourcing, purchasing, or supply chain experience, with demonstrated responsibility for supplier management and commercial activities.
• Proven experience developing and executing supplier negotiation strategies, including cost targets, sourcing decisions, commercial agreements, and supplier performance improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze cost, supplier, and market data and translate findings into sourcing strategies, cost-reduction opportunities, and business recommendations.
• Experience managing cross-functional and supplier relationships, including collaboration with Engineering, Product Development, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing, Material Planning & Logistics, and Finance.
• Strong ability to independently manage multiple priorities, communicate recommendations to business leaders and suppliers, and drive timely resolution of commercial and supply issues.

Even better, you may have

• Master's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Finance, or a related field.
• Automotive industry experience, preferably in thermal management, HVAC, climate systems, or related vehicle components.
• Experience with global sourcing, Tier 1/Tier 2 supplier management, automotive cost structures, and supply-chain resiliency.

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company,

As an established global company, 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
• Flexible family care days, 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
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year's Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

This position is a salary grade 7 and ranges from $86,600-$144,900., This position is a salary grade 8 and r