Advanced Purchasing Specialist

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Successful coordination of the required program activities to assure the preferred suppliers are selected for pre-launch collaboration activities that will meet Stage Gate “0” timing requirements.
• Liaise with Purchasing, Engineering, Cost Engineering, Cost Estimating, and OE program management to assure the best suppliers are selected and assist in defining cost targets.
• Work cross region to understand cost and supply chains to ensure the best total cost is applied to new inquiries.
• Form and lead program teams to ensure development of a robust sourcing plan that will achieve cost targets to obtain new profitable business, addressing complexity reduction, supplier consolidation opportunities, and concurrent engineering.
• Plan, lead & conduct timely team meetings to review timing status, issue resolution, and regional coordination for purchased components.
• Communicate and present project cost status through reports and reviews at all levels.
• Work with Business Unit Program Managers to ensure that design, quality, financial, and cost targets of the Program are met by chosen suppliers and Dana Buyers/Commodity Managers.
• Identify and resolve project cost issues, elevating to management as appropriate for expedient resolution.
• Liaise with Business Unit/OE Program Management regarding purchasing issues on programs.
• Provide oversight and guidance for communication channels for significant program information & data.
• Ensure Dana financial authorization for procurement of Dana-funded and customer-funded supplier tooling (CPT/RFA approvals).
• Track purchased Bill of Materials proforma to budget. (Including tooling)
• Support pre-launch VA/VE initiatives where appropriate to drive cost out.
• Manage and track supplier timing for all program milestones related to the OE program.

Education and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Manufacturing, or Finance required.
• Minimum 3 years of buying experience, including contract and program execution.

Skills and Competencies

• Extensive knowledge and understanding of sourcing processes and requirements.
• Demonstrated maturity and increased responsibilities over career.
• Expertise in utilizing and a general understanding of marketplace intelligence, including pricing indices, exchange rates, and geopolitical factors.
• Experience identifying, researching, and analyzing changing business trends, marketplace conditions, raw material price trends, changes in the labor market and competitive information.
• Proven excellent Customer & Supplier relationship management skills.
• Track record of process improvement and delivering results.
• Able to effectively interface with other disciplines in the organization to achieve results and drive performance.
• Able to successfully function in a matrix style of management, managing a variety of cross-functional team members globally.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Excellent organizational and follow-up skills; competent in problem-solving, team building, planning, and decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to drive results.
• Mechanical Engineering or Manufacturing experience preferred.
• Must have demonstrated Project Management & leadership skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Project software. (Advance Excel & PowerPoint Skills is a must, MS Access is Preferred)
• Must have strong project and program management skills and experience in a global project delivery environment.
• Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
• Highly collaborative and team-oriented approach to work.

Travel Requirements

• 10% travel and the ability to work non-traditional business hours to manage in a global environment.
• 90% of work requirements in Maumee, OH, World Headquarters