Indirect Supply Chain Manager - Dearborn, MI

Indirect Supply Chain Manager - Dearborn, MI

Attention Military Affiliated Job Seekers: Our organization works with partner companies to source qualified talent for their open roles. The following position is available to Veterans, Transitioning Military, National Guard and Reserve Members, Military Spouses, Wounded Warriors, and their Caregivers. If you have the required skill set, education requirements, and experience, please follow the application process.

We are the movers of the world and the makers of the future. We get up every day, roll up our sleeves and build a better world -- together. At Ford, we're all a part of something bigger than ourselves. Are you ready to change the way the world moves? In this position

Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and develop a team of procurement professionals focused on supporting Ford Performance and Motorsports and Special Vehicle Programs supply chain initiatives. Set performance objectives, provide guidance, and foster a collaborative and high-performing team environment dedicated to this specialized domain.

Strategic Planning: Develop and implement both strategic and tactical procurement plans specifically tailored to oversee the entire commercial lifecycle of Performance and Motorsports projects and contracts, ensuring alignment with the overall objectives of these programs.

Sourcing & Negotiation Leadership: Lead the end-to-end sourcing process for all goods and services required for this space. This includes defining requirements with stakeholders, conducting RFx (RFI, RFP, RFQ) processes, leading strategic market tests, conducting thorough supplier assessments, evaluating proposals, and leading complex negotiations with suppliers to achieve favorable terms, pricing, and service levels. Ensure timely and quality sourcing activities in collaboration with the Performance and Motorsports and Special Vehicle Programs teams.

Contract Drafting, Negotiation, & Management: Oversee the creation, review, execution, and management of competitive contracts. Ensure contracts are detailed with clear deliverables, terms & conditions, payment terms, and pricing models to protect organizational interests. Ensure contracts comply with company policies and legal requirements and manage contract renewals or terminations. Collaborate closely with Performance and Motorsports Business Owners and Legal teams to mitigate risk within these contracts.

Commodity Strategy Development: Maintain and evolve a Procurement Commodity Strategy specifically tailored to these spaces. Identify and execute supplier and commodity-focused sourcing plans designed to achieve savings targets and support technical requirements within this specialized area.

Supplier Relationship & Performance Management: Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with key suppliers supporting Ford Performance and Motorsports and Special Vehicle Programs. Monitor supplier performance against contractual obligations and KPIs, conduct regular business reviews, and drive continuous improvement initiatives. Act as the primary point of contact for critical supplier issue resolution and crisis management within the supply chain to mitigate risks and maintain continuity.

Cost Management & Savings: Identify, analyze, and pursue opportunities for cost reduction and value improvement. Track, report, and forecast savings achieved through strategic sourcing and negotiation efforts in this domain.

Market Data Analysis & Benchmarking: Conduct comprehensive market data analyses and perform benchmarking activities (via market tests, third-party studies, etc.) to establish expertise within the specialized categories. Leverage this knowledge for superior sourcing strategies, informing decisions and competitive positioning.

Process, Policy & Systems Management: Ensure adherence to company procurement policies, procedures, and ethical standards across the team and all sourcing activities. Identify opportunities to streamline procurement processes and improve efficiency using procurement systems and tools. Oversee the accurate creation and issuance of purchase orders (e.g., in Ariba) based on requisitions from the business teams, ensuring all necessary information is accurately reflected.

Risk Management: Identify and mitigate potential risks within the supply chain, including financial, operational, compliance, and supply continuity risks unique to supporting high-performance programs.

Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner effectively with the Business, Engineering, Legal, Finance, and other relevant internal departments to understand their requirements, align procurement activities with project objectives, and ensure timely and effective delivery of goods and services essential for their success.

Reporting & Analytics: Prepare and present reports on spend analysis, savings performance, supplier performance, market trends, and project-specific procurement status relevant to Ford Performance and Motorsports and Special Vehicle Programs initiatives to senior management and stakeholders.

Qualifications You'll have Minimum Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience). 8+ Years - Proven experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, and complex contract management, preferably within a project-driven or specialized industry context. 8+ Years - Demonstrated experience leading and managing a team of procurement or supply chain professionals. Strong background in leading complex negotiations and managing supplier relationships, including performance monitoring and issue resolution. Experience with end-to-end sourcing processes, including RFx development and evaluation, market tests, and supplier assessments. Solid understanding of contract law principles and experience drafting, reviewing, and managing commercial contracts. Ability to conduct market analysis, benchmarking, and cost analysis within specialized categories. Proficiency in procurement systems and tools (experience with Ariba or similar systems, especially for PO processes, is a plus). Excellent strategic thinking, problem-solving, and risk management skills. Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build relationships with technical teams, legal counsel, and business leaders. Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects in a demanding, fast-paced environment like motorsports.

Even better, if you have Preferred Experience specifically within the automotive, motorsports, performance, or a related project/contract-heavy, fast-paced industry is highly desirable.

As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builderor all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount 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

Location: Dearborn, Michigan

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