Category Lead, Packaging NA

Magna International Limited; Troy (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Magna Exteriors is seeking a Category Lead, Packaging NA to drive the development and execution of packaging strategy across North America and beyond. You will lead supplier relations, RFIs/RFQs, and cross-functional initiatives to reduce total cost while improving quality and logistics efficiency.

The role requires deep packaging procurement experience, leadership ability, and strong analytics using Power BI and Excel. Travel up to 25% is expected.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Purchasing, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Work Experience: Minimum 6 years of experience in packaging procurement, packaging engineering, supply chain, logistics, manufacturing, or related automotive operations. Minimum 4+ years of leadership experience with demonstrated progression and category ownership.
• Experience sourcing and managing packaging commodities including returnable containers, expendable packaging, pallets, racks, dunnage, corrugate, and packaging services.
• Strong understanding of OEM packaging requirements, automotive supply chains, material flow, and logistics principles.
• Experience leading packaging optimization and transportation density improvement projects.
• Proven success negotiating commercial agreements and managing strategic supplier relationships.
• Demonstrated experience with cost reduction initiatives, value engineering, and total landed cost analysis.
• Experience working with Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs in a competitive automotive environment.
• Knowledge of launch processes, packaging validation requirements, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Travel up to 25%, including international travel as required.
• Skills/Special Knowledge: Sourcing Strategy, Finance, International Sourcing, Total Landed Cost, Make-vs-Buy, and Cost Modeling experience highly preferred.
• Very strong PC skills required along with knowledge and experience with data analysis tools such as Power BI and Microsoft Office (especially Excel).
• Executive Presence
• Effective communication and presentation skills

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain global packaging category strategies aligned with Magna Exteriors business objectives.
• Oversee divisional sourcing and lead group activities for returnable packaging, expendable packaging, pallets, racks, dunnage, totes, corrugate, bulk containers, and packaging-related services.
• Develop bidder lists and execute RFIs, RFQs, and sourcing events in alignment with engineering, operational, and OEM packaging requirements.
• Negotiate and manage supplier pricing, commercial agreements, service contracts, and long-term strategic partnerships.
• Oversee division level QCA and CERF submissions to validate alignment with commodity strategies and cost efficiency targets.
• Partner with Packaging Engineering, Manufacturing, and Logistics teams to identify opportunities for packaging optimization, standardization, and transportation efficiency.
• Support packaging cost reduction initiatives through material optimization, design improvements, freight density enhancements, and supplier consolidation.
• Work with Group Packaging Engineer to support development of packaging standards and best practices across divisions to improve quality, operational efficiency, and cost performance.
• Monitor market conditions and trends affecting packaging commodities, including corrugate, resin, lumber, steel, recycled materials, and reusable transport packaging.
• Collaborate with Magna International and cross-group category teams to maximize leverage through enterprise agreements and best practice sharing.
• Drive sustainability initiatives including reusable packaging expansion, waste reduction, recycled content utilization, and circular economy initiatives.
• Develop and present value-based sourcing recommendations and business cases to sourcing councils and leadership teams.
• Track category performance, supplier performance, savings projects, capital investments, and financial results on a monthly and quarterly basis.
• Lead cross-functional teams to identify, assess, select, and implement innovative packaging solutions that improve operational performance and reduce total cost.
• Promote supplier innovation and emerging technologies that improve packaging efficiency, automation readiness, and environmental performance.
• Additional duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Skills

Sourcing Strategy

Finance

International Sourcing

Total Landed Cost

Make-vs-Buy

Cost Modeling

Power BI

Excel

Executive Presence

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Purchasing, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related field

Tools

Power BI

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job descriptions may display in multiple languages based on your language selection.

What We Offer

At Magna, you can expect an engaging and dynamic environment where you can help to develop industry-leading automotive technologies. We invest in our employees, providing them with the support and resources they need to succeed. As a member of our global team, you can expect exciting, varied responsibilities as well as a wide range of development prospects. Because we believe that your career path should be as unique as you are.

Group Summary

The Magna Exteriors portfolio of products includes access systems such as liftgates, exterior trim, modular systems, front-end modules including fascia, active aerodynamic systems and other lightweight structural components for automotive, commercial truck and other industrial markets.

Recognized globally as an innovator in all aspects of vehicle exteriors, Magna provides everything needed, from materials development and design through manufacturing and assembly, to help automakers create sleek, state-of-the-art vehicles across the world.

Job Responsibilities

Job Responsibilities:

The Category Lead, Packaging NA reports to the Director of Purchasing and Supply Chain and is responsible for the development and execution of Magna Exteriors' packaging strategy across North America and globally where applicable. This role provides strategic leadership for packaging commodities including returnable containers, expendable packaging, pallets, dunnage, racks, totes, bulk containers, packaging services, and related logistics solutions.

As a member of the Global Magna Exteriors Purchasing team, this position is responsible for driving packaging sourcing strategy, supplier management, transportation optimization, sustainability initiatives, and cost reduction programs. The role partners closely with Packaging Engineering, Operations, Materials, Logistics, Manufacturing Strategy, Quality, Finance, and Sustainability teams to identify innovative packaging solutions that improve quality, material flow, ergonomics, transportation efficiency, and total delivered cost.

The position requires strong cross-functional leadership, packaging market expertise, and the ability to develop long-term category strategies while delivering measurable value creation across the organization.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain global packaging category strategies aligned with Magna Exteriors business objectives.
• Oversee divisional sourcing and lead group activities for returnable packaging, expendable packaging, pallets, racks, dunnage, totes, corrugate, bulk containers, and packaging-related services.
• Develop bidder lists and execute RFIs, RFQs, and sourcing events in alignment with engineering, operational, and OEM packaging requirements.
• Negotiate and manage supplier pricing, commercial agreements, service contracts, and long-term strategic partnerships.
• Oversee division level QCA and CERF submissions to validate alignment with commodity strategies and cost efficiency targets.
• Partner with Packaging Engineering, Manufacturing, and Logistics teams to identify opportunities for packaging optimization, standardization, and transportation efficiency.
• Support packaging cost reduction initiatives through material optimization, design improvements, freight density enhancements, and supplier consolidation.
• Work with Group Packaging Engineer to support development of packaging standards and best practices across divisions to improve quality, operational efficiency, and cost performance.
• Monitor market conditions and trends affecting packaging commodities, including corrugate, resin, lumber, steel, recycled materials, and reusable transport packaging.
• Collaborate with Magna International and cross-group category teams to maximize leverage through enterprise agreements and best practice sharing.
• Drive sustainability initiatives including reusable packaging expansion, waste reduction, recycled content utilization, and circular economy initiatives.
• Develop and present value-based sourcing recommendations and business cases to sourcing councils and leadership teams.
• Track category performance, supplier performance, savings projects, capital investments, and financial results on a monthly and quarterly basis.
• Lead cross-functional teams to identify, assess, select, and implement innovative packaging solutions that improve operational performance and reduce total cost.
• Promote supplier innovation and emerging technologies that improve packaging efficiency, automation readiness, and environmental performance.
• Additional duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Purchasing, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Work Experience:
• Minimum 6 years of experience in packaging procurement, packaging engineering, supply chain, logistics, manufacturing, or related automotive operations. Minimum 4+ years of leadership experience with demonstrated progression and category ownership.
• Experience sourcing and managing packaging commodities including returnable containers, expendable packaging, pallets, racks, dunnage, corrugate, and packaging services.
• Strong understanding of OEM packaging requirements, automotive supply chains, material flow, and logistics principles.
• Experience leading packaging optimization and transportation density improvement projects.
• Proven success negotiating commercial agreements and managing strategic supplier relationships.
• Demonstrated experience with cost reduction initiatives, value engineering, and total landed cost analysis.
• Experience working with Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs in a competitive automotive environment.
• Knowledge of launch processes, packaging validation requirements, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Travel up to 25%, including international travel as required.
• Skills/Special Knowledge: Sourcing Strategy, Finance, International Sourcing, Total Landed Cost, Make-vs-Buy, and Cost Modeling experience highly preferred.
• Very strong PC skills required along with knowledge and experience with data analysis tools such as Power BI and Microsoft Office (especially Excel).
• Executive Presence
• Effective communication and presentation skills

Awareness, Unity, Empowerment

At Magna, we believe that a diverse workforce is critical to our success. That’s why we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We hire on the basis of experience and qualifications, and in consideration of job requirements, regardless of, in particular, color, ancestry, religion, gender, origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability or gender identity. Magna takes the privacy of your personal information seriously. We discourage you from sending applications via email or traditional mail to comply with GDPR requirements and your local Data Privacy Law.

AI-Assisted Screening Disclosure

As part of our commitment to a fair, consistent, and efficient recruitment process, we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the initial screening of applications submitted through our Workday system. These tools help identify qualifications and experience that align with the role requirements. Please note that AI is used solely to support our recruiters. Final decisions are always made by the hiring manager and the hiring team. Importantly, no applicant data is shared externally through these AI tools. All information remains securely within our systems and is handled in accordance with our privacy and data protection policies.

Under conditions defined by applicable law, you may have the right to request an explanation of how AI is used to support decision-making.

If you have any questions or concerns about this process, feel free to contact our Talent Attraction team.

Worker Type

Regular / Permanent

Group

Magna Exteriors