Senior Buyer – Metal Components; Automotive

Senior Buyer – Metal Components (Automotive) Job Description

Flex-N-Gate is a leading manufacturer and supplier of components for the automotive industry, recently ranked 10th of the 150 Top North American Suppliers in "Automotive News." A growing and vital company, Flex-N-Gate provides a great opportunity for hard-working and skilled individuals.

The Senior Buyer – Metal Components is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for metal parts and raw materials used in automotive manufacturing. This role manages supplier relationships, negotiates long-term agreements, ensures continuity of supply, and drives cost, quality, and delivery performance across various blanked, formed, welded, hot-upset, forged, machined and assembled metal components.

The position requires strong technical understanding of metals, components, global supply markets, and automotive quality and compliance standards, along with proven commercial negotiation expertise.

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for metal components and raw materials (e.g., steel, aluminum, flat rolled, long products,)
• Identify, evaluate, and onboard suppliers capable of meeting automotive quality, capacity, and cost requirements
• Lead supplier RFQs/RFPs, benchmarking, and cost modeling
• Establish and manage long-term supply agreements and pricing structures
• Monitor supplier financial health, capacity, and geopolitical risk exposure
• Lead commercial negotiations including pricing, tooling, payment terms, cost recoveries, and capacity commitments
• Drive year-over-year cost improvement initiatives while maintaining quality and supply continuity
• Analyze commodity trends, surcharges, and indices; manage price adjustment mechanisms
• Support should-cost and value engineering initiatives in collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams
• Execute purchase orders and manage supplier deliveries to support production schedules
• Resolve supplier performance issues including quality, delivery, and cost variances
• Support production launches and engineering changes related to metal components
• Ensure compliance with internal procurement policies and audit requirements
• Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Operations, Finance, and Program Management teams
• Support APQP, PPAP, and launch readiness activities
• Participate in make-versus-buy and supplier consolidation decisions
• Provide procurement input during new product development and change management processes
• Ensure suppliers comply with automotive standards (e.g., IATF 16949, ISO 9001)
• Support regulatory and sustainability requirements (e.g., resiliency, conflict minerals, ESG initiatives)
• Drive risk mitigation plans for supply disruptions and capacity constraints

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field
• Professional certifications (e.g., CPSM, SCMP, CPM) are an asset
• 8+ years of purchasing or strategic sourcing experience in an automotive or manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated experience sourcing metal components such as blanked, formed, welded, hot-upset, forged, machined and assembled parts
• Proven track record of successful supplier negotiations and cost reduction initiatives
• Experience working with Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive suppliers
• Strong knowledge of metal manufacturing processes and material cost drivers
• Advanced negotiation, contract management, and analytical skills
• Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Excel
• Ability to interpret drawings, specifications, and bills of materials
• Strong problem-solving and risk management capabilities

• Medical, dental, prescription, vision, life and disability insurance
• Extensive safety training, new hire orientation, continuous learning and development programs and tuition reimbursement
• Paid holidays and vacation time

Flex-N-Gate is an equal opportunity employer. Ontario Human Rights Code and AODA.