Commodity Buyer

Position Summary:

The Commodity Buyer is responsible for developing and executing purchasing strategies for assigned commodities, ensuring optimal supplier performance, cost competitiveness, supply continuity, and operational excellence. This role will lead supplier sourcing and negotiations, manage supplier relationships, mitigate supply chain risks, and support business objectives related to quality, cost, delivery, and sustainability.

The ideal candidate will bring strong commodity management experience within an automotive or industrial manufacturing environment, with demonstrated expertise in supplier negotiations, material shortage management, and cross-functional collaboration. Experience purchasing chemicals, paints, coatings, resins, or related raw materials is highly preferred.

Key Responsibilities

Commodity Strategy & Supplier Management

• Develop and execute commodity sourcing strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Conduct market analysis to identify cost-saving opportunities, emerging technologies, market trends, and supply risks.
• Manage and optimize the supplier base, including supplier selection, evaluation, development, and performance management.
• Lead RFQ processes, supplier sourcing activities, and commercial negotiations to achieve quality, cost, and delivery targets.
• Establish and maintain long-term supplier relationships while ensuring compliance with company policies and contractual requirements.

Negotiation & Cost Management

• Lead commercial negotiations related to pricing, contracts, payment terms, productivity initiatives, and supplier agreements.
• Drive cost reduction initiatives and support budget achievement through strategic sourcing activities.
• Develop cost models and benchmarking analyses to support sourcing decisions and negotiation strategies.
• Identify and implement value engineering and material optimization opportunities.

Supply Chain Risk & Shortage Management

• Proactively identify supply chain risks and develop mitigation plans to ensure uninterrupted production.
• Manage supplier-related crises, material shortages, allocation situations, and supply disruptions.
• Coordinate with suppliers, plants, logistics, engineering, and operations teams to resolve critical supply issues.
• Monitor supplier capacity, financial health, and operational performance to prevent supply interruptions.

Automotive Program Support

• Support new product launches and engineering changes by ensuring supplier readiness and material availability.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Program Management, Quality, Manufacturing, and Sales teams throughout the product lifecycle.
• Manage material changes and supplier change requests in accordance with automotive standards and customer requirements.
• Ensure compliance with automotive quality requirements, industry standards, and customer-specific specifications.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Act as the primary purchasing representative for assigned commodities.
• Participate in supplier reviews, sourcing committees, and cross-functional problem-solving activities.
• Provide regular reporting on supplier performance, sourcing activities, productivity initiatives, and risk management actions.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Purchasing, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum 5-8 years of purchasing, strategic sourcing, or commodity management experience in an automotive or industrial manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading supplier negotiations and managing commercial agreements.
• Proven experience handling supply chain disruptions, shortage management, and supplier escalation situations.
• Strong understanding of automotive manufacturing processes, quality systems, and supplier management practices.
• Experience supporting engineering changes, material change management, and product launch activities.

Preferred Experience

• Direct experience managing commodities such as:
• Chemicals
• Paints
• Coatings
• Resins
• Adhesives
• Surface treatment materials
• Other specialty chemical products

Technical Skills

• Strategic sourcing and commodity strategy development.
• Supplier performance management.
• Contract negotiation and commercial analysis.
• Cost modeling and financial acumen.
• SAP or equivalent ERP systems.
• Advanced Excel and data analysis capabilities.

Competencies

• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Results-oriented with a proactive and customer-focused mindset.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and lead cross-functional initiatives.

Preferred Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be a hands-on purchasing professional with a strong automotive background who can confidently negotiate with suppliers, manage complex commodity strategies, respond quickly to supply chain challenges, and drive continuous improvement. Candidates with experience in chemicals, paints, coatings, resins, or related commodities will be particularly well suited for this position.