Senior Buyer

Venteon; Novi (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full-time

Paid time off

Medical / Dental / Vision

401(k)

Job summary

Venteon in Novi, MI is seeking an experienced Senior Buyer – Aluminum Castings to join a leading automotive manufacturer. The role focuses on direct material purchasing, strategic sourcing, and global supplier management to support cost reductions and robust supply continuity.

The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of automotive procurement experience, hands-on RFQ/RFI leadership, and strong analytical skills. Experience with SAP or Oracle is preferred, and travel ~10% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• 5+ years of procurement experience in automotive manufacturing.
• Direct material purchasing experience required in automotive.
• Experience sourcing aluminum castings or related metals preferred.
• Experience with global suppliers and international sourcing.
• Experience leading RFQ/RFI, negotiations, and contracts.
• Knowledge of TCO, landed cost, and global sourcing.
• Awareness of PPAP, NPI, and supplier performance metrics.
• Experience with SAP/Oracle or similar ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic sourcing and commodity management for aluminum castings and direct materials.
• Manage a significant annual commodity spend (~$80M) and drive cost reductions.
• Lead RFQ/RFI processes, supplier evaluations, and sourcing decisions.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, contracts, and supply agreements.
• Prepare sourcing recommendations and financial documentation for reviews.
• Coordinate supplier readiness, PPAP requirements, and new product launches.
• Monitor supplier performance and implement corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Sales, Quality, Operations, Finance, and PM teams.

Skills

Direct material purchasing

Automotive manufacturing

RFQ/RFI leadership

Supplier negotiations

Contract management

Global sourcing

Cost reduction

Total cost of ownership

Lean manufacturing

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in SCM / Purchasing / Business / Engineering / Manufacturing

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Job description

Minimum 5 Years of Direct Purchasing Experience within Automotive Manufacturing

Venteon is currently seeking an experienced Senior Buyer – Aluminum Castings to fill an opening with a leading automotive manufacturer located near Novi, MI. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in direct material purchasing, strategic sourcing, global supplier management, and cost reduction initiatives within the automotive industry. Experience purchasing aluminum castings or other engineered metal components is preferred.

Requirements of the Senior Buyer:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Purchasing, Business, Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years of procurement or purchasing experience, ideally 5–7 years, within the automotive manufacturing industry
• Direct material purchasing experience within automotive manufacturing required
• Experience sourcing aluminum castings, metal components, or related engineered manufacturing commodities preferred
• Experience managing global suppliers, international sourcing activities, and supplier relationships
• Experience managing large commodity portfolios and significant annual purchasing spend preferred
• Strong experience leading RFQ/RFI processes, supplier negotiations, and contract management activities
• Experience developing and executing commodity sourcing strategies to achieve cost reduction and supplier performance objectives
• Strong understanding of total cost of ownership, landed cost analysis, and global sourcing strategies
• Knowledge of automotive manufacturing processes, PPAP requirements, and new product launch activities
• Experience working with SAP, Oracle, or similar ERP systems preferred
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, technical specifications, and manufacturing requirements
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, VA/VE, benchmarking, and cost reduction methodologies preferred
• Strong analytical, organizational, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
• Professional supply chain certification preferred
• Ability to travel approximately 10%

Benefits of the Senior Buyer:

• Full-time
• Paid time off
• Medical / Dental / Vision
• 401(k)

Responsibilities of the Senior Buyer:

• Develop and execute strategic sourcing and commodity management initiatives for aluminum castings and related direct material commodities
• Manage a significant annual commodity spend portfolio, approximately $80M, while driving cost reduction, supplier performance, and supply continuity
• Formulate annual business plans focused on year-over-year cost savings, sourcing improvements, and operational efficiency
• Lead RFI/RFQ processes, supplier evaluations, competitive sourcing activities, and sourcing recommendations
• Analyze supplier quotations, total landed costs, and total cost of ownership to identify competitive global sourcing solutions
• Develop and implement commodity sourcing strategies utilizing supplier capability assessments, market analysis, and global spend evaluations
• Negotiate supplier pricing, commercial terms, contracts, and supply agreements to optimize overall business value
• Prepare sourcing recommendations and supporting financial documentation for sourcing reviews and approvals
• Manage multiple sourcing projects while coordinating supplier readiness, technical reviews, PPAP requirements, and new product launch milestones
• Monitor global supplier performance in quality, delivery, cost, and service while leading performance reviews and corrective action initiatives
• Identify and mitigate supplier risks related to financial stability, production capacity, quality, and continuity of supply
• Track sourcing project savings, supplier performance metrics, cost reduction forecasts, and actual results
• Lead cost reduction initiatives through benchmarking, value analysis/value engineering (VA/VE), Lean Manufacturing, resourcing, and value stream mapping
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Sales, Quality, Operations, Finance, and Program Management teams to support sourcing decisions, resolve supplier issues, and achieve business objectives
• Identify opportunities to reduce inventory requirements, eliminate non-value-added activities, and improve overall supply chain efficiency
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on procurement processes, global supplier relationships, and commodity management strategies