Strategic Category Lead - Indirect Services

Strategic Category Lead

At Magna, you can expect an engaging and dynamic environment where you can help to develop industry-leading automotive technologies. We invest in our employees, providing them with the support and resources they need to succeed. As a member of our global team, you can expect exciting, varied responsibilities as well as a wide range of development prospects. Because we believe that your career path should be as unique as you are.

The Magna Exteriors portfolio of products includes access systems such as liftgates, exterior trim, modular systems, front-end modules including fascia, active aerodynamic systems and other lightweight structural components for automotive, commercial truck and other industrial markets. Recognized globally as an innovator in all aspects of vehicle exteriors, Magna provides everything needed, from materials development and design through manufacturing and assembly, to help automakers create sleek, state-of-the-art vehicles across the world.

Job Responsibilities:

The Strategic Category Lead is responsible for key coordination, strategic sourcing and organizational leadership of assigned commodities, while ensuring immediate and long-term strategies are focused and effective.

As a member of Global Magna Exteriors Purchasing team, is responsible for contributing to the overall business strategy, establishing commodity goals and objectives. Also responsible for building strong, cross-functional internal relationships and key relationships with suppliers.

This position closely collaborates with Purchasing, Plant Materials and Logistics, Operations, Product Line, Sales, Engineering, Quality, Finance, Manufacturing Strategy, EHS, and Data Analytic teams at all levels.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Create, implement and maintain category and supplier strategies.

• Develop bidder lists that align with the category strategy and execute RFI / RFQ's according to OEM and engineering requirements.

• Negotiate, award and maintain supplier pricing & supply agreements.

• Develop and present logical, value based, sourcing recommendations to sourcing council.

• Responsible for category performance & financial reporting on monthly and quarterly basis.

• Responsible for working closely with divisions globally for Purchasing CRT (Cost Reduction Tracker) reviews cost reductions, contingencies to meet and exceed the business plan.

• Responsible for providing and sharing expert level category knowledge across the organization as required, including forecasting, business planning.

• Collaborate on strategic objectives and maximizing leverage with Magna International and Cross Group Category Leads, as required.

• Assist with assessing market conditions, identify industry best practices and emerging trends to identify new cost reduction and value creation opportunities.

• Lead and participate in cross-functional teams to find, assess, select and consolidate suppliers that will improve value to the organization and help attain targeted business results.

• Ensure effective operational controls, methods, and best practices developed and shared throughout the divisions. Collaborate cross-functionally in all business activities to exceed expected outcomes.

• Demonstrate leadership by establishing credibility; acting with integrity; showing commitment; inspiring, motivating, and guiding purchasing teams to achieve strategic objectives and goals.

• Uphold the principles of the Magna Employee's Charter, Magna's Operational Principles, Magna's Environmental Health and Safety Policy & Procedures, Magna Exteriors Quality Policy, Program Execution Process and Business Protocols. Must understand and respect the laws and cultures in countries which Magna conducts business & Magna compliances.

• Promote and ensure corporate compliance for the Purchasing community as applicable to local law and Magna Policies.

• Additional duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education/Special Knowledge/Skills - A Post-Secondary Degree in Purchasing, Supply Chain Management, or related field. MBA preferred.

Experience – Minimum 6 years in automotive and/or diversified manufacturing experience, with related technical knowledge of products, processes and technologies. Minimum 4+ years of experience in leadership positions with a track record of progression.

Demonstrated ability to work in and lead in a large matrix organization, work collaboratively with colleagues at all levels of the organization, and get results through others by building constructive, trusting relationships with internal partners and global supply base.

Must have demonstrated success in working with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers in a complex, competitive automotive market.

Broad functional experience in areas of strategic planning, materials, manufacturing, purchasing, supply chain management, logistics and cost reduction.

Experience with total quality manufacturing management and continuous improvement.

Experience in Lean Manufacturing environment is a plus.

Knowledgeable of business quoting and launch processes, industry best practices, standards, and performance metrics.

Skills/Special Knowledge: Sourcing Strategy, Finance, International Sourcing, Total Landed Cost, Make-vs-Buy, and Cost Modeling experience highly preferred.

Very strong PC skills required along with knowledge and experience with data analysis tools such as Power BI and Microsoft Office (especially Excel).

Professional Certification(s) a plus: C.P.M, CPIM, CSCP

Executive Presence

Effective communication and presentation skills

Key Behavioral Traits for Success:

Business Acumen. Able to; ensure that everyone is constantly reviewing options for enhancing revenue or profitability; share knowledge of trends, competitors, etc. that affect the organization; hold people accountable for making good fiscal decisions; make significant investments to facilitate continued or long-term organizational strength; provide cost justification to decision makers to obtain resources.

Strategic Alignment. Able to; ensure that all systems in the organization are aligned toward achieving overall strategic goals; continually communicate and reinforce the highest priority strategic initiatives to keep the organization focused on the right things; hold others accountable for meeting the needs of the total business rather than optimizing the performance of only their area; ensure that the organization has broad strategies and plans that focus on market needs and competitive advantage; set and articulate a compelling vision for the organization.

Planning & Organizing. Able to; establish priorities among the organization's strategies to help people understand which initiatives are most important; ensure that organization has people skills and resources to meet business goals; set an organization expectation that people will plan, prioritize, and organize their work effectively; drive the judicious use of resources throughout the organization; monitor others' adherence to project plans or timetables. Effective at managing change and conflicting priorities.

Problem Solving & Analysis. Able to; establish resources and/or processes to gather information/data for problem solving or analysis; create an environment that supports cross-functional analysis and problem solving; support the definition and resolution of ill-defined, complex problems that cross organizational boundaries; ensure redundant organization-wide systems to facilitate accurate and complete data collection and analysis; recognize and resolve emerging problems for the business before they become reality.

Continuous Quality & Performance Improvement. Able to; foster an organizational environment in which individuals take personal responsibility for improving work processes and products; identify and resolve quality issues that cross departments or functions; support efforts that enhance the organization's quality performance; create an environment where best practices are freely shared among teams throughout the organization and performance is measured to facilitate continuous improvement.

Customer / Supplier. Understands their role in creating customer/supplier strategies to generate and sustain profitable business; Develops and maintains strong customer and supplier relationships; Demonstrates global cultural sensitivity in dealing with customers and suppliers; Demonstrates ability to manage the customer/supply base.

Communication and Empowerment. Establishes effective communication plans, demonstrating clear and respectful communications in all situations. Demonstrates openness and responsiveness to feedback. Creates a positive work environment which inspires and challenges employees to do their best. Gives employees authority to take responsibility for their work.

Physical Demands/Work Environment - Normal amount of sitting or standing, average mobility to move around an office environment, able to conduct normal amount of work at a computer, may require travel up to travel up to 25% on average including internationally as required.

Awareness, Unity, Empowerment:

At Magna, we believe that a diverse workforce is critical to our success. That's why we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We hire on the basis of experience and qualifications, and in consideration of job requirements, regardless of, in particular, color, ancestry, religion, gender, origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability or gender identity. Magna takes the privacy of your personal information seriously. We discourage you from sending applications via email or traditional mail to comply with GDPR requirements and your local Data Privacy Law.

AI-Assisted Screening Disclosure

As part of our commitment to a fair, consistent, and efficient recruitment process, we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the initial screening of applications submitted through our Workday system. These tools help identify qualifications and experience that align with the role requirements. Please note that AI is used solely to support our recruiters. Final decisions are always made by the hiring manager and the hiring team. Importantly, no applicant data is shared externally through these AI tools. All information remains securely within our systems and is handled in accordance with our privacy and data protection policies.