Purchasing Manager - Restraints

Purchasing Manager - Restraints

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...

Ford is seeking a dynamic and strategic professional to lead sourcing efforts for the Seats commodity, driving initiatives across sourcing strategy development, program sourcing activities, material cost reduction, risk and resilience management, supplier relationship management, market analysis, and cross-functional collaboration. This is a business-critical, high-visibility position with a direct and significant impact on Ford's overall turnover and bottom-line performance.

In this role, you will lead the Restraints sourcing strategy, partnering closely with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative, cost-effective, and resilient supply solutions that support Ford's broader business objectives. This position offers substantial career growth potential, with a clear path to Senior Manager and the opportunity to advance one to two levels as part of Ford's ongoing investment in developing top talent within this team.

Seat sourcing strategy development, program sourcing activities, material cost reductions, risk and resilience management, supplier relationship management, Market analysis, cross functional collaboration etc. This is a business-critical, high-visibility role with a significant impact on Ford's turnover. We expect this role to lead Restraints strategy and have the ability as a next step to become a senior manager. It would be good for this individual to have a runway to be promoted 1-2 levels higher as we upskill this team.

What you'll do...

* Strategic Leadership:
Develop and execute comprehensive purchasing strategies for Restraints categories, ensuring alignment with overall company objectives and financial targets. You will actively lead Pulse improvement initiatives and manage an effective team of 4 that optimizes delivering business results with employee development and fulfillment, including people development plans and career coaching.

* Actively manage supplier relationships:
Cultivate and maintain robust relationships with key strategic suppliers, driving performance, innovation, and long-term partnerships. You will establish and maintain strong cross-functional relationships using Supplier Relationship Framework (SRF) principles and manage positive relationships with the supply base by acting like a partner, being accountable, trusting and being trustworthy, communicating with consistency, being fact-based while driving for results, and thinking value not just price.

* Risk Management & Resiliency:
Proactively identify and mitigate supply chain risks, ensuring continuity of supply and building resilient supplier networks. This involves monitoring the financial health of the supply base, including follow-up on further development and establishment of a back-up plan in case of risk, and utilizing SRM (Supply Risk Management) tools to intervene proactively, avoiding potential supply disruption. You will also monitor quality and supply of the supply base, including follow-up on further development/improvement and establishment of a back-up plan in case of risk.

* Cross-Functional Collaboration:

Serve as a key interface and trusted advisor to MP&L as well as various internal skill teams, including Product Development, Engineering, Finance, and Legal, ensuring purchasing strategies support their objectives. You will be the Purchasing representative at cross-functional program/project management and launch meetings.

* Market Analysis:
Stay abreast of industry trends, market conditions, technological advancements, and evolving regulations to inform strategic decisions. Engage with external partners such as regulatory bodies, brokers, industry experts, benchmarking companies, industry associations etc to build a knowledge base on all transport modes.

* Category Management:
Lead team to develop strategies that deliver cost-effective, efficient, sustainable solutions:

* Develop category strategy plans for Restraints commodities. Include robust Resiliency Planning in this highly volatile and complex area

* Negotiate MSAs, with SOWs, Service-Level-Agreements, KPI metrics, and supplier governance processes to deliver consistently high-quality services

* Secure favorable buy terms and claims management to sufficiently protect the business (e.g. IP rights, liability, warranty)

* Ability to work cross functionally with NA Vehicle Logistics (NAVL) team, NA Materials Logistics team and our chosen Lead Logistics Providers to understand the Network design and complications, and help source to maximize efficiency within the Network

* Drive Purchasing discipline:
Lean into dashboards, digital transformation and Purchasing Policy. Ensure appropriate sign-off on contracts, risk assessments, deviations…