Materials Buyer / Procurement

Strategic Buyer - Raw Materials Metals
We made history and now we work to transform the future - for our customers, our communities, and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. We are seeking a highly analytical, strategic, and collaborative Global Supply Manager / Strategic Buyer for Raw Materials Metals, including 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.

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.

Market Intelligence & Risk Mitigation

Geopolitical & regulatory risk: monitor global trade policies, tariffs, USMCA 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 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 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 and proactively resolve supply constraints or capacity bottlenecks.

Supplier Relationship & Performance Management

Supplier performance: own the relationship with global aluminum suppliers, establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to cost performance, quality, delivery, and sustainability.

Continuous improvement: identify and drive technical and commercial cost‑reduction opportunities including material substitution, gauge optimization, and scrap reduction.

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.

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.

Negotiation & financial acumen: proven track record of negotiating high‑value, multi‑year contracts with index‑based pricing formulas.

Systems & tools: proficiency in ERP systems (SAP preferred) and advanced data‑analysis tools (such as Microsoft Excel, Power BI).

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

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

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week.

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