Strategic Buyer - Raw Materials - Metals

About the role

We are seeking a highly analytical, strategic, and collaborative Global Supply Manager / Strategic Buyer for Raw Materials Metals, this includes Steel & Aluminum. In this high-impact role, you will lead the end-to-end procurement strategy for automotive-grade steel & aluminum sheet (primarily 5xxx and 6xxx series alloys) used in Body-in-White (BIW), closures (hoods, doors, tailgates), and structural components across ICE, hybrid, and electric vehicle programs.

Responsibilities

• Global Sourcing Strategy: Develop, execute, and continuously refine Ford’s global sourcing strategy for aluminum sheet to guarantee supply continuity, optimize total cost of ownership (TCO), and support new vehicle program launches.
• RFIs/RFQs & Negotiations: Lead complex RFIs/RFQs, evaluate supplier proposals, and negotiate conversion costs, tooling, and commercial terms with major global aluminum mills.
• Contract Management: Draft and execute robust, long-term supply agreements and formula-driven contracts that protect Ford against supply disruptions and market volatility.
• Index Pricing & Hedging: Monitor and analyze global metal market trends, including LME (London Metal Exchange) or CME pricing, physical premiums (e.g., US Midwest Premium), and energy surcharges. Collaborate with corporate treasury and finance teams to implement hedging and price-mitigation strategies.
• Geopolitical & Regulatory Risk: Monitor global trade policies, tariffs (e.g., Section 232), USMCA regional value content requirements, and global logistics bottlenecks to proactively mitigate supply chain risks.
• Circular Economy Leadership: Manage and optimize Ford’s closed-loop recycling program in partnership with stamping plants (e.g., Dearborn Stamping) and aluminum suppliers to ensure scrap metal is efficiently segregated, returned, and re-melted into automotive-grade sheet.
• Decarbonization Goals: Partner with suppliers to secure low-carbon, green aluminum (e.g., powered by renewable energy) to help Ford achieve its carbon neutrality goals and reduce Scope 3 emissions.
• Engineering & Quality Alignment: Collaborate closely with Product Development, Advanced Materials Engineering, and Quality teams to validate new material grades, optimize blanking/nesting designs, and ensure suppliers meet strict automotive quality standards.
• Capacity Planning: Work alongside Production Planning and Logistics to align mill capacity with Ford’s assembly plant build schedules, proactively resolving supply constraints or capacity bottlenecks.
• Supplier Relationship & Performance Management: Own the relationship with global aluminum suppliers. Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to cost performance, quality, delivery, and sustainability. Identify and drive technical and commercial cost-reduction opportunities (e.g., material substitution, gauge optimization, scrap reduction).

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Metallurgy, Materials Science, Engineering, or a highly analytical related field.
• Experience: 5+ years of strategic purchasing, procurement, or supply chain operations experience in automotive, aerospace, or heavy industrial manufacturing.
• Metals Expertise: Minimum of 3 years specifically managing metals commodities (aluminum sheet/extrusions or steel or resale programs), with a solid understanding of physical and financial metal trading markets.
• Even better: Proven track record of negotiating high-value, multi-year contracts with index-based pricing formulas. Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP preferred) and advanced data analysis tools (such as Microsoft Excel, Power BI).

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Metallurgy, Materials Science, Engineering, or a highly analytical related field.
• Experience: 5+ years of strategic purchasing, procurement, or supply chain operations experience in automotive, aerospace, or heavy industrial manufacturing.
• Metals Expertise: Minimum of 3 years specifically managing metals commodities (aluminum sheet/extrusions or steel or resale programs), with a solid understanding of physical and financial metal trading markets.
• Even better: Proven track record of negotiating high-value, multi-year contracts with index-based pricing formulas. Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP preferred) and advanced data analysis tools (such as Microsoft Excel, Power BI).

Skills

• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Excellent negotiation and financial acumen.
• Collaborative and cross-functional leadership abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Understanding of global metal markets and regulatory environments.
• Experience with ERP systems and advanced data analysis tools.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage.
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more.
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more.
• Vehiclediscount program for employees and family members and management leases.
• Tuition assistance.
• Established and active employee resource groups.
• Paid time off for individual and team community service.
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

Pay

This position is a salary grade 7 and ranges from $86,600-$144,900.

Schedule

This position is a salary grade 8 and ranges from $99,100-$166,200.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage.
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more.
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more.
• Vehiclediscount program for employees and family members and management leases.
• Tuition assistance.
• Established and active employee resource groups.
• Paid time off for individual and team community service.
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.