Productivity Buyer

About the role

As a Series Productivity Buyer, you will lead supplier performance and purchasing productivity initiatives, driving cost, quality, and delivery improvements across the plant. This role combines supplier leadership and commercial ownership with a hands-on plant presence, requiring you to negotiate with suppliers, make purchasing decisions, and work directly in the plant to address issues and drive cross-functional execution.

Responsibilities

• Own Supplier Performance & Commercial Results:

  • Lead supplier cost reduction initiatives including TVO, VA/VE, resourcing, and negotiations
  • Drive QCD performance (Quality, Cost, Delivery) across the supplier base
  • Execute and support competitive resourcing, Make-or-Buy decisions, and supplier recoveries
  • Negotiate pricing improvements, manage cost breakdowns, and support commodity strategies

• Drive Purchasing Productivity in Serial Life:

  • Own delivery of the plant purchasing budget and savings targets
  • Build and manage a robust pipeline of productivity actions
  • Monitor and report savings, forecasts, and supplier-driven improvements
  • Challenge both suppliers and internal stakeholders to meet financial expectations

• Be the Link Between Plant & Suppliers:

  • Translate plant issues into clear supplier actions and commercial strategies
  • Work closely with PCL, Operations, Quality, and Engineering to align plant needs with supplier performance
  • Ensure supplier accountability in resolving delivery, quality, and cost issues

• Plant-Facing Execution & Continuous Improvement:

  • Spend time in the plant identifying inefficiencies and opportunities
  • Build structured action plans and drive execution across functions
  • Influence stakeholders and overcome resistance to implement change
  • Lead or support supplier performance reviews and plant productivity reviews

• Program & Change Management:

  • Lead purchasing activities related to ECRs, supplier transfers, and localization
  • Support smooth transition from program launch into serial production
  • Actively participate in program reviews and supplier selection input

Requirements

• Core Background:

  • Experience in Plant Control Logistics (PCL), Material Planning, Master Scheduling, OR Purchasing within a plant environment
  • 2+ years in automotive manufacturing (Tier 1 preferred)
  • Proven track record of working with suppliers to drive measurable improvements

• Purchasing & Supplier Expertise:

  • Strong negotiation skills and understanding of cost structures and price drivers
  • Experience with supplier management, resourcing, and performance recovery
  • Ability to hold suppliers accountable while maintaining strong partnerships

• Execution & Influence:

  • Ability to walk into a plant, identify gaps, and build actionable plans
  • Strong cross-functional leadership—able to drive alignment across Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance
  • Comfortable pushing through resistance to deliver results

• Technical Skills:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, or Business
  • Strong Excel skills; Power BI a plus
  • SAP or ERP experience preferred
  • Exposure to cost analysis, dashboards, and productivity tracking tools

Qualifications

At Forvia, you will find an engaging and dynamic environment where you can contribute to the development of sustainable mobility leading technologies. We are the seventh-largest global automotive supplier, employing more than 157,000 people in more than 40 countries, which makes a lot of opportunity for career development.

Skills

• Lifelong learner
• High performer
• Globally minded person

Benefits

We offer a multicultural environment that values diversity and international collaboration. We believe that diversity is a strength. To create an inclusive culture where all forms of diversity create real value for the company, we have adopted gender diversity targets and inclusion action plans.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $80,000 - $120,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications.

Schedule

This is a full-time position with a standard 40-hour workweek.