Strategic Category Lead - Indirect Services

Professional

Certifications:

C.P.M, CPIM, CSCP

The Strategic Category Lead is responsible for key coordination, strategic sourcing and organizational leadership of assigned commodities, while ensuring immediate and long‑term strategies are focused and effective. As a member of the Global Magna Exteriors Purchasing team, they contribute to overall business strategy, establish commodity goals and objectives, build strong cross‑functional relationships with suppliers, and collaborate with Purchasing, Plant Materials and Logistics, Operations, Product Line, Sales, Engineering, Quality, Finance, Manufacturing Strategy, EHS and Data Analyst teams at all levels.

• Create, implement and maintain category and supplier strategies.
• Develop bidder lists that align with the category strategy and execute RFI / RFQ’s according to OEM and engineering requirements.
• Negotiate, award and maintain supplier pricing & supply agreements.
• Develop and present logical, value based, sourcing recommendations to sourcing council.
• Responsible for category performance & financial reporting on a monthly and quarterly basis.
• Responsible for working closely with divisions globally for Purchasing CRT (Cost Reduction Tracker) reviews cost reductions, contingencies to meet and exceed the business plan.
• Responsible for providing and sharing expert‑level category knowledge across the organization as required, including forecasting, business planning.
• Collaborate on strategic objectives and maximizing leverage with Magna International and Cross Group Category Leads, as required.
• Assist with assessing market conditions, identify industry best practices and emerging trends to identify new cost‑reduction and value‑creation opportunities.
• Lead and participate in cross‑functional teams to find, assess, select and consolidate suppliers that will improve value to the organization and help attain targeted business results.
• Ensure effective operational controls, methods, and best practices developed and shared throughout the divisions. Collaborate cross‑functionally in all business activities to exceed expected outcomes.
• Demonstrate leadership by establishing credibility; acting with integrity; showing commitment; inspiring, motivating, and guiding purchasing teams to achieve strategic objectives and goals.
• Uphold the principles of the Magna Employee’s Charter, operational principles, EHS policy, quality policy, execution process and business protocols. Must understand and respect the laws and cultures in countries where Magna conducts business and compliance.
• Promote and ensure corporate compliance for the Purchasing community as applicable to local law and Magna policies.
• Additional duties and responsibilities as assigned.

A Post‑Secondary Degree in Purchasing, Supply Chain Management, or related field. MBA preferred.

• Minimum 6 years in automotive and/or diversified manufacturing experience with technical knowledge of products, processes, and technologies. Minimum 4+ years in leadership positions with a track record of progression.
• Demonstrated ability to work in and lead in a large matrix organization, build constructive, trusting relationships with internal partners and global supply base, and get results through others.
• Must have demonstrated success in working with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers in a complex, competitive automotive market.
• Broad functional experience in strategic planning, materials, manufacturing, purchasing, supply chain management, logistics and cost reduction.
• Experience with total quality manufacturing management and continuous improvement.
• Experience in Lean Manufacturing environment is a plus.
• Knowledgeable about business quoting and launch processes, industry best practices, standards, and performance metrics.
• Skills in sourcing strategy, finance, international sourcing, total landed cost, make‑vs‑buy, and cost modeling are highly preferred.
• Very strong PC skills required along with experience with data analysis tools such as Power BI and Microsoft Office (especially Excel).
• Professional
  
  Certifications:
  
  C.P.M, CPIM, CSCP.
• Executive Presence.
• Effective communication and presentation skills.