Strategic Purchasing & Supplier Development Lead

Reliance One, Inc.; Auburn Hills (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Reliance One, Inc. is seeking an experienced procurement leader in Michigan to drive strategic sourcing and supplier performance across automotive direct materials.

You will lead cross-functional teams with Engineering, Program Management, Quality, Operations, and Finance to secure cost-effective, timely supply. Expertise in negotiating terms, evaluating suppliers, and developing a resilient supply base is required.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of purchasing, sourcing, or procurement in a manufacturing environment.
• Automotive, high-volume manufacturing, stamping, welding, and assembly experience preferred.
• Direct-material sourcing across steel, aluminum, stampings, fasteners, tooling, or related metals.
• Strong supplier development and cost-reduction capabilities.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and supplier performance metrics.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in SCM, Business, or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies aligned with operations and finance.
• Lead strategic sourcing across direct-material categories (steel, aluminum, tooling, etc.).
• Negotiate contracts, payment terms, rebates, and long-term supplier agreements.
• Evaluate suppliers via capability assessments and performance reviews.
• Develop new suppliers to diversify the supply base.
• Manage supplier quality, delivery, cost, and launch performance.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Sales, PM, Quality, and Finance on procurement goals.
• Mentor purchasing staff and lead plant-level and corporate sourcing teams.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Supplier management

Contract negotiation

Cost reduction

Cross-functional collaboration

Leadership/mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in SCM or related field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Microsoft Excel

MS Word/Outlook

Job description

Reliance One, Inc. is seeking an experienced procurement leader in Michigan to drive strategic sourcing and supplier performance across automotive direct materials.

You will lead cross-functional teams with Engineering, Program Management, Quality, Operations, and Finance to secure cost-effective, timely supply. Expertise in negotiating terms, evaluating suppliers, and developing a resilient supply base is required.