DescriptionWe are seeking an experienced
New Product Introduction (NPI) Buyer to join our Corporate Purchasing team. This role is ideal for an automotive purchasing professional with a strong background in strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, commercial analysis, and new product launch activities within a Tier-1 automotive manufacturing environment.
Position SummaryReporting to the Corporate Purchasing Manager, the NPI Buyer will manage commercial purchasing activities from customer Request for Quotation (RFQ) through supplier selection, nomination, and program launch up to Start of Production (SOP).
The successful candidate will work closely with Sales, Engineering, Supplier Quality, Program Management, Manufacturing, Logistics, and Finance to ensure competitive supplier selection, timely quotations, effective commercial negotiations, and successful new program launches across multiple North American manufacturing facilities.
Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Sourcing and RFQ Management- Support Sales and Quoting teams by obtaining supplier quotations within customer RFQ deadlines.
- Review customer RFQ requirements, program volumes, and sourcing strategies in collaboration with Sales and Engineering.
- Distribute completed RFQ packages to approved suppliers and manage quotation follow-ups.
- Prepare detailed commercial quote comparisons, cost analyses, and supplier sourcing recommendations.
- Identify and commercially pre-screen potential suppliers for new commodities and technologies.
Supplier Selection and Commercial Negotiations- Evaluate suppliers based on commercial competitiveness, automotive experience, financial stability, capacity, logistics capabilities, and overall supply chain risk.
- Coordinate supplier qualification activities with Supplier Quality Engineering (SQE).
- Lead commercial negotiations covering pricing, tooling, logistics, packaging, payment terms, and commercial agreements.
- Conduct commercial and supply chain risk assessments and recommend appropriate mitigation plans.
- Coordinate supplier selection meetings and issue Supplier Nomination Letters following the required approval process.
- Monitor tooling commercial status and supplier commitments to program timing.
New Product Launch and Program Support- Participate in Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) meetings to address commercial issues affecting program timing.
- Support prototype builds, pilot production, and production launch activities.
- Work cross-functionally to resolve sourcing and commercial issues that may affect launch readiness.
- Drive value analysis/value engineering (VA/VE) initiatives and cost reduction opportunities.
- Support the transition of suppliers and purchasing responsibilities to plant Buyers following stable Start of Production.
Documentation and Compliance- Maintain accurate and controlled purchasing documentation, including RFQ logs, supplier prequalification records, risk assessments, quotation comparisons, supplier selection approvals, nomination letters, contracts, and tooling trackers.
- Maintain accurate purchasing records and relevant ERP system information.
- Ensure compliance with company procedures, customer requirements, confidentiality obligations, and applicable automotive quality system requirements.
Qualifications and Experience- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Minimum 5 years of purchasing or sourcing experience in a Tier-1 automotive manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated experience supporting new product introductions, supplier sourcing, and program launches.
- Strong experience in supplier negotiations, cost analysis, quotation evaluation, and commercial risk assessment.
- Working knowledge of automotive industry requirements, including IATF 16949, AIAG APQP, and PPAP.
- Experience with ERP systems and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
- Strong project coordination, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and manufacturing locations.
- Ability to manage multiple RFQs, suppliers, and program deadlines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
What We Are Looking ForThe ideal candidate is a commercially minded automotive purchasing professional who can balance cost competitiveness, supplier capability, program timing, and supply chain risk.
You should be comfortable leading supplier negotiations, making data-driven sourcing recommendations, coordinating cross-functional teams, and supporting new programs from the initial RFQ stage through production launch.
We are looking for someone who takes ownership of deliverables, follows through on commitments, and proactively identifies opportunities to improve purchasing performance and supplier competitiveness.
