Strategic Buyer - Raw Materials - Metals

Ford; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 86,600 - 166,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Vehicle discount program

Tuition assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

Ford is seeking a Global Supply Manager / Strategic Buyer for Raw Materials Metals (aluminum and steel). You will lead end-to-end procurement, manage a multi-million-dollar portfolio, and negotiate multi-year, index-based contracts.

The role emphasizes market intelligence, risk mitigation, and closed-loop recycling leadership across Ford's vehicle programs. The position requires metals experience, cross-functional collaboration, and strong supplier relationship management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a technical or analytical field with business focus.
• 5+ years in strategic purchasing, procurement, or supply chain operations in manufacturing.
• Experience with metals commodities and long-term contracts preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine global sourcing strategy for aluminum sheet and related metals.
• Lead RFIs/RFQs, evaluate proposals, and negotiate terms with major mills.
• Draft and execute long-term supply agreements and price-based contracts.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, and finance teams to ensure supply continuity.

Skills

Strategic purchasing

Supplier relationship management

Data analysis

Cost optimization

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration

Metallurgy

Materials Science

Engineering

Tools

SAP

Microsoft Excel

Power BI

Job description

Strategic Buyer - Raw Materials Metals

We made history and now we work to transform the future – for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.

In this position...

We are seeking a highly analytical, strategic, and collaborative Global Supply Manager / Strategic Buyer for Raw Materials Metals, this includes Steel & Aluminum. In this high-impact role, you will lead the end-to-end procurement strategy for automotive-grade streel & aluminum sheet (primarily 5xxx and 6xxx series alloys) used in Body-in-White (BIW), closures (hoods, doors, tailgates), and structural components across ICE, hybrid, and electric vehicle programs.

You will manage a multi-million-dollar commodity portfolio, negotiate multi-year index-based contracts, and champion Ford’s industry-leading Closed-Loop Recycling program—which recovers and upcycles millions of pounds of aluminum scrap monthly. This position requires a deep understanding of global metal markets, excellent supplier relationship management, and the ability to collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, and finance teams.

What you'll do...

Commodity Strategy & Sourcing Execution

• Global Sourcing Strategy: Develop, execute, and continuously refine Ford’s global sourcing strategy for aluminum sheet to guarantee supply continuity, optimize total cost of ownership (TCO), and support new vehicle program launches.
• RFIs/RFQs & Negotiations: Lead complex RFIs/RFQs, evaluate supplier proposals, and negotiate conversion costs, tooling, and commercial terms with major global aluminum mills.
• Contract Management: Draft and execute robust, long-term supply agreements and formula-driven contracts that protect Ford against supply disruptions and market volatility.

Market Intelligence & Risk Mitigation

• Index Pricing & Hedging: Monitor and analyze global metal market trends, including LME (London Metal Exchange) or CME pricing, physical premiums (e.g., US Midwest Premium), and energy surcharges. Collaborate with corporate treasury and finance teams to implement hedging and price-mitigation strategies.
• Geopolitical & Regulatory Risk: Monitor global trade policies, tariffs (e.g., Section 232), USMCA regional value content requirements, and global logistics bottlenecks to proactively mitigate supply chain risks.

Closed-Loop Recycling & Sustainability (ESG)

• Circular Economy Leadership: Manage and optimize Ford’s closed-loop recycling program in partnership with stamping plants (e.g., Dearborn Stamping) and aluminum suppliers to ensure scrap metal is efficiently segregated, returned, and re-melted into automotive-grade sheet.
• Decarbonization Goals: Partner with suppliers to secure low-carbon, green aluminum (e.g., powered by renewable energy) to help Ford achieve its carbon neutrality goals and reduce Scope 3 emissions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Launch Management

• Engineering & Quality Alignment: Collaborate closely with Product Development, Advanced Materials Engineering, and Quality teams to validate new material grades, optimize blanking/nesting designs, and ensure suppliers meet strict automotive quality standards.
• Capacity Planning: Work alongside Production Planning and Logistics to align mill capacity with Ford’s assembly plant build schedules, proactively resolving supply constraints or capacity bottlenecks.

Supplier Relationship & Performance Management

• Supplier Performance: Own the relationship with global aluminum suppliers. Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to cost performance, quality, delivery, and sustainability.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify and drive technical and commercial cost-reduction opportunities (e.g., material substitution, gauge optimization, scrap reduction).

You'll have...

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Metallurgy, Materials Science, Engineering, or a highly analytical related field.

Experience

5+ years of strategic purchasing, procurement, or supply chain operations experience in automotive, aerospace, or heavy industrial manufacturing.

Metals Expertise

Minimum of 3 years specifically managing metals commodities (aluminum sheet/extrusions or steel or resale programs), with a solid understanding of physical and financial metal trading markets.

Even better, you may have...

Negotiation & Financial Acumen

Proven track record of negotiating high-value, multi-year contracts with index-based pricing formulas.

Systems & Tools

Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP preferred) and advanced data analysis tools (such as Microsoft Excel, Power BI).

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, we encourage you to apply!

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.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/GSR

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. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week.