Senior Buyer

Schedule: On-site Monday–Thursday; flexible scheduling available

Compensation: $100,000–$120,000 annually

Travel: Less than 25%

• Reliance One, Inc. is hiring an experienced Senior Buyer for one of our established clients in the automotive industry.
• Lead strategic purchasing activities involving supplier negotiations, sourcing, pricing, contracts, commercial terms, and cost-reduction opportunities.
• Negotiate component packages, supplier-requested price increases, price reductions, and commercial agreements.
• Analyze supplier and purchasing data to develop negotiation strategies and recommendations.
• Present and defend commercial positions to suppliers, internal stakeholders, and leadership.
• Work independently while mentoring other buyers and demonstrating the potential to take on additional leadership responsibilities.
• This is a strategic sourcing role—not a traditional purchasing position focused primarily on placing purchase orders.

Strategic Purchasing and Supplier Negotiations

• Lead supplier negotiations involving pricing, contracts, commercial terms, and sourcing agreements.
• Evaluate and negotiate supplier-requested price increases.
• Identify and pursue price reductions, cost savings, and commercial improvement opportunities.
• Develop negotiation strategies based on business requirements, market conditions, cost information, and supplier data.
• Source and negotiate complete component packages within the automotive supply base.
• Clearly communicate and defend the company’s commercial position during supplier negotiations.
• Manage multiple supplier concerns, negotiations, and sourcing priorities simultaneously.
• Take ownership of supplier-related issues through final resolution.

• Develop and maintain productive relationships with key suppliers.
• Review supplier proposals and identify cost, pricing, contract, and sourcing risks.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities, commercial terms, and overall value.
• Collaborate with purchasing team members supporting a range of automotive commodities.
• Work with suppliers involving raw materials, routing, connections, electronics, wire-related products, tape, sleeving, and other bulk materials.
• Travel to supplier facilities and other business locations as required.

• Analyze purchasing, supplier, pricing, and sourcing data using Microsoft Excel.
• Create professional PowerPoint presentations that clearly communicate findings, strategies, risks, and recommendations.
• Present sourcing strategies and commercial recommendations to internal leadership and other stakeholders.
• Translate complex purchasing information into clear, actionable business recommendations.
• Use sound judgment and data to support supplier and sourcing decisions.

• Work independently with minimal direction.
• Demonstrate initiative when addressing complex supplier and commercial issues.
• Support and mentor buyers and other purchasing team members.
• Serve as a knowledgeable resource regarding supplier negotiations and strategic sourcing.
• Demonstrate the ability and potential to take on additional leadership responsibilities.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Purchasing, Engineering, or a related field.
• Five to seven years of automotive purchasing, procurement, strategic sourcing, or comparable experience.
• Strong automotive purchasing and sourcing experience involving direct supplier interaction.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating:
• Contracts and commercial terms
• Supplier-requested price increases
• Price reductions and cost-saving opportunities
• Component packages and sourcing agreements
• Strong understanding of the automotive supplier environment.
• Proven ability to…