Commodity Manager - Metals

000305 Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership; Iowa (LA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership is seeking a strategic supply chain professional to own the metals commodity portfolio. You will lead supplier management, market analysis, and risk mitigation while aligning sourcing with the company’s innovation goals.

In this role you will negotiate supplier agreements, drive cost reduction, and collaborate with R&D and operations across global sites to ensure performance and continuity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, or related field.
• 5+ years of Purchasing or Supply Chain experience.
• Experience with commodity purchasing, automotive/metals preferred.
• Strong negotiation and data-driven decision making.

Responsibilities

• Own commercial strategy and supplier management for direct material metals.
• Develop market analysis and commodity strategies with supply base development.
• Forecast raw materials using datasets and feedstock market intelligence.
• Lead total cost management across the supply chain.
• Mitigate material risk for supply continuity and price volatility.
• Negotiate supplier agreements and NDAs, ensuring standards.
• Partner with R&D, material technology, and operations to align sourcing with innovation.

Skills

Negotiation

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collab

Supply chain knowledge

Education

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

Tools

SAP ERP

QAD ERP

Supplier portals

Job description

Working at Freudenberg: We will wow your world!

Responsibilities

Own commercial strategy and supplier management for assigned direct material commodities, with a focus on metals. Build and execute market analysis and commodity strategies, including supply base development and optimization. Develop raw material forecasts using complex datasets and feedstock market intelligence. Lead total cost management across the supply chain while aligning to divisional business objectives. Drive material risk mitigation strategies to address supply continuity, pricing volatility, and supplier performance. Negotiate and execute supplier agreements, including contracts and NDAs, ensuring compliance with company standards. Partner cross-functionally and globally with R&D, material technology, and operations to align sourcing with innovation and business needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in Purchasing or Supply Chain Management.
• Proven experience in commodity purchasing, preferably within automotive and metals.
• Strong negotiation skills with the ability to influence commercial outcomes.
• Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving capability and ability to interpret market and cost drivers.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, QAD, or similar, and familiarity with supplier portals.
• Strong communication skills, executive presence, and a collaborative, high-energy, team-oriented approach.

The Freudenberg Group is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion. Employment opportunities are available to all applicants and associates without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership

Without Freudenberg, indoor air would not be as clean, cars would not drive and wounds would not heal as quickly. And these are just three examples from thousands of our applications. Working at Freudenberg: "We will wow your world!" This is our promise. As a global technology group, we not only make the world cleaner, healthier and more comfortable, but also offer our 51,000 employees a networked and diverse environment where everyone can thrive individually. Be surprised and experience your own wow moments.