Senior Global Commodity Manager, Automation Strategy & Purchasing

Job Description

The Role:

This role leads the strategy, sourcing, and deployment roadmap for automation solutions that enable Global Purchasing and Supply Chain's (GPSC) manufacturing and logistics footprint. This leader is accountable for developing and executing an integrated automation commodity and technology strategy that reduces total enterprise cost, improves safety and quality, and increases resiliency across GM’s global operations.

This role partners closely with GPSC commodity teams, Manufacturing Engineering, Plant Leadership, GM IT, Finance, Supplier Quality, Logistics & Packaging, and strategic automation suppliers to deliver standard, scalable solutions for equipment, controls, robotics, and related services. The Manager sets clear objectives and owns key performance indicators that directly impact launch readiness, productivity, and capital efficiency, while championing change.

The Manager will lead a team based in Warren, MI, with responsibility for collaboration and influence across regional GPSC and plant locations. Some domestic and international travel is required to engage plants, suppliers, and technology partners.

What You’ll Do:

Team & Talent Leadership

• Lead and develop a team of purchasing professionals and automation strategy leaders supporting equipment, controls, and robotics.

• Build an inclusive, high-performance culture focused on safety, innovation & disruption, data-driven decision making, and continuous improvement.

• Ensure the right technical and leadership bench strength through thoughtful staffing, coaching, succession planning, and performance management.

Automation Strategy & Roadmap

• Develop as part of a team the automation purchasing and strategy vision for GPSC, including multi-year roadmaps for automation platforms, suppliers, standards, and commercial models.

• Align automation strategy with vehicle and propulsion program cycles, capacity plans, industrialization/automation strategies, and plant network changes.

• Establish and own KPIs for automation performance (e.g., launch readiness, availability, OEE impacts, cost, quality, safety) and drive improvement against targets.

Commodity & Supplier Strategy

• Develop and execute global commodity strategies for automation categories (e.g., robotics, controls, material handling systems, vision systems, automated storage/retrieval, MES interfaces, services).

• Segment the supply base, define preferred/strategic partners, and negotiate commercial agreements that optimize total cost of ownership, lifecycle support, and innovation access.

• Lead supplier risk, resiliency, and capacity assessments for critical automation technologies; define and implement mitigation plans.

Automation Program & Project Support

• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Logistics & Packaging, and plant teams to ensure automation sourcing and strategy are integrated early in program planning and GVDP milestones.

• Support development of standardized specifications, design standards, and repeatable solutions that reduce complexity and enable reuse of automation designs.

• Provide oversight and escalation support for key automation sourcing events, launches, and issue resolution, ensuring alignment to timing, budget, and performance requirements.

Process, Systems & Data

• Reimagine and standardize purchasing and supplier management processes related to automation (from sourcing through lifecycle management) to improve speed, transparency, and control.

• Leverage digital tools, analytics, and automation to manage spend, performance, and risk (e.g., standardized RFQ workflows, cost models, should-cost, supplier performance dashboards).

Stakeholder & Change Leadership

• Influence across functions, plants, and regions to align on common standards, platforms, and suppliers; remove roadblocks and drive adoption of new ways of working.

• Lead structured change management and communication plans to support deployment of automation standards, new commercial models, and updated processes.

External Engagement & Technology Scouting

• Maintain strong external connectivity with automation OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, integrators, technology startups, consultants, and industry forums to bring leading practices and innovations into GM.

• Benchmark GM’s automation cost, performance, and commercial models against best-in-class peers and convert insights into actionable strategies and sourcing approaches.

Capability Building

• Design and implement training, playbooks, and communities of practice to build capability in automation technologies, commercial models, and data-driven decision making.

• Embed continuous improvement methods (e.g., Lean, OPEX) into how the team manages automation sourcing, negotiations, and supplier performance.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications):

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing), Business, or related field.

• Minimum 10+ years of progressive experience in purchasing, supply chain, operations, or manufacturing engineering, with significant exposure to automation equipment, controls, or robotics.

• Demonstrated people leadership experience, including direct leadership of teams (typically 4–5+ direct reports) and talent development across diverse technical and commercial skill sets.

• Proven success leading complex, cross-functional, and global initiatives in a matrixed environment, from strategy through implementation and value realization.

• Deep knowledge of sourcing, supplier management, and contract/commercial structures for capital equipment and/or automation solutions, including risk and lifecycle cost management.

• Experience supporting or leading automation programs in manufacturing or logistics (e.g., robotic cells, automated material handling, advanced controls, integrated systems).

• Strong strategic orientation, analytical capability, and executive communication skills; able to simplify technical complexity and influence senior leaders.

• Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity, drive change, and challenge the status quo while maintaining strong relationships and alignment.

• High learning agility and comfort operating in a fast-changing environment with evolving technologies and competing priorities.

• Travel Requirements: Occasional domestic and international travel to GM plants, suppliers, and technology partners up to 50%.

What Can Give You a Competitive Advantage (Preferred Qualifications):

• MBA or advanced degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations, or Engineering.

• Hands-on experience with factory automation and digital industrialization (e.g., smart factory, IIoT, digital twins, advanced analytics on equipment performance).

• Experience in automotive or complex manufacturing, including launch environments and high-volume operations.

• Proficiency with data and analytics tools (e.g., Power BI, Python, ML or AI Agentic development, cost modelling tools, supplier performance dashboards) to support decision making and performance management.

• Formal training or certification in AI, ML, Operational Excellence, Lean, Agile, or Change Management.

GM does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. Do not apply for this role if you will need GM immigration sponsorship now or in the future. This includes direct company sponsorship, entry of GM as the immigration employer of record on a government form, and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (e.g., H1-B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc).

This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location at least 3 times a week {or other frequency dictated by their manager}.

This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

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