Buyer, Rare Earth Metals

• Manage day-to-day procurement activities for assigned rare earth material suppliers, ensuring continuity of supply and alignment with production requirements
• Negotiate pricing, delivery schedules, payment terms, and commercial conditions to achieve optimal cost and value outcomes for Ford
• Execute and maintain supplier contracts, ensuring compliance with agreed commercial terms and conditions
• Monitor supplier performance (OTD, quality, cost) and drive corrective actions where gaps are identified
• Identify and deliver cost reduction opportunities through negotiation, sourcing alternatives, and process improvements
• Collaborate with production planning, logistics, and Tier 1+ suppliers to ensure accurate demand signals and supply alignment
• Resolve operational supply issues including delivery delays, quality concerns, and quantity discrepancies
• Support inventory optimization efforts to balance supply assurance and working capital efficiency
• Identify and upscale short-term supply risks (capacity constraints, quality issues, logistics disruptions) and coordinate corrective actions with suppliers and internal teams
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) by ensuring timely procurement of materials for prototypes and pre-production builds
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, and Logistics teams to align on technical requirements and supply readiness
• Maintain regular supplier engagement to ensure transparency on forecasts, production plans, and constraints
• Monitor market trends and supply conditions for rare earth materials and provide insights to the Commodity Manager

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in purchasing, procurement, or supply chain operations, preferably in automotive, electronics, or manufacturing environments
• 5+ years of experience in supplier negotiation and supplier relationship management
• Strong understanding of basic supply chain principles, procurement processes, and purchasing best practices
• Experience working with ERP systems (SAP preferred) and Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to manage operational supply issues effectively
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with ability to engage suppliers and cross-functional teams
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, global environment with multiple priorities and time-sensitive deliverables

Demonstrates expertise in procurement management, supplier negotiation, and supply chain operations, with a strong focus on cost reduction and supplier performance optimization. Proficient in collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure supply alignment and operational efficiency.

• Supplier Negotiation
• Procurement Management
• Supply Chain Operations
• ERP Systems (SAP)
• Analytical Problem-Solving

• Procurement Processes
• Supplier Relationship Management
• Cost Reduction Strategies
• Inventory Optimization
• Market Trend Analysis

• Strong Communication
• Interpersonal Skills
• Collaboration

• Automotive
• Electronics
• Manufacturing
• Rare Earth Materials

• Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint)