Indirect Purchasing Manager- Auburn Hills

Indirect Purchasing Manager - Auburn Hills

Location:

Auburn Hills, MI

Position: Indirect Purchasing Manager

About the Role: The Indirect Purchasing Manager is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for all non‑production (indirect) goods and services. This role leads category management, drives cost optimization initiatives, manages supplier relationships, ensures compliance with corporate policies, and partners cross‑functionally to deliver measurable value, mitigate risk, and support business objectives. This role will report directly to the US Executive Director of Purchasing and have a dotted line reporting structure to Nexteer's Global Indirect Commodity Purchasing Director.

• Develop and implement sourcing strategies across assigned indirect commodities (e.g., IT, Facilities, Machinery & Equipment, Logistics, Outside Services, MRO, Engineering and Corporate Expenditures).
• Oversee and conduct market research, benchmark pricing, and evaluate emerging trends to inform category strategies.
• Build multi‑year category roadmaps that align with organizational goals and operational needs.

• Analyze spend data to identify consolidation opportunities, inefficiencies, and cost‑saving initiatives.
• Use analytics tools to track spend patterns, supplier performance, and compliance.
• Develop cost models, total cost of ownership (TCO) analyses, and savings forecasts.
• Source, evaluate, and select suppliers based on quality, cost, capability, and risk profile.
• Lead supplier business reviews, performance scorecards, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Build strategic partnerships that enhance service levels, innovation, and long‑term value.

• Lead negotiations to secure competitive pricing, favorable terms, and measurable cost reductions.
• Drive year‑over‑year savings targets through strategic sourcing, demand management, and process improvements.
• Identify opportunities to optimize supplier portfolios and eliminate maverick spend.

• Ensure all purchasing activities comply with corporate policies, procedures, and governance standards.
• Enforce contract compliance, ethical sourcing practices, and regulatory requirements.
• Support internal audits and implement corrective actions where needed.

• Partner with Finance, Legal, Operations, IT, HR, Facilities, Engineering, IT and other stakeholders to understand business requirements.
• Influence decision‑making and align teams on sourcing strategies, supplier selection, and contract terms.
• Facilitate communication between internal teams and suppliers to ensure seamless execution.
• Assess supplier risks related to financial stability, operational capability, cybersecurity, and compliance.
• Develop mitigation plans, contingency strategies, and supplier diversification approaches.
• Ensure contracts include appropriate Terms and Conditions protections for liability, data security, and business continuity.

• 8+ years of experience in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain management.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience managing complex supplier relationships.
• Proficiency in procurement systems (QAD, Intelex, BPM, Power BI etc.) and spend analytics tools.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver cost savings and manage multiple categories.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and project leadership skills.

• Strategic thinking
• Negotiation & influence

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, or related field (Master’s preferred).

Nexteer is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Disabled/Minorities/Veterans/Women.

Nexteer is an E-Verify employer. E-Verify is an internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows participating employees to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees in the United States.

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