Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or related field
10+ years of purchasing or manufacturing experience
Experience with iron castings preferred
Thorough knowledge of purchasing policies and commercial practices
Understanding of global sourcing and supply chain risk management
Strong negotiation skills with a proven track record of cost savings
Proficiency in ERP systems (Oracle/Plex preferred) and data analytics tools
Responsibilities
Serve as the subject matter expert and global category owner for executive leadership
Lead the strategic sourcing process from RFQ to contracting
Execute the Global Strategy by consolidating suppliers and reducing costs
Collaborate on sourcing strategies for new business programs
Analyze supplier cost structures to identify cost reduction opportunities
Implement process improvements and cost reduction activities
Contribute to annual procurement budget development and monthly forecasts
Conduct negotiations and establish long-term agreements with suppliers
Develop and manage relationships with key suppliers for quality and delivery
Lead technical sourcing reviews with cross-functional teams
Align procurement strategies with internal teams' objectives
Benefits
Opportunity to work at the World Headquarters in Detroit, MI
Engagement in strategic decision-making at a global level
Collaboration with cross-functional teams
Focus on continuous improvement and innovation
Potential for professional growth in a leading automotive company
Full Job Description
Job Posting Title
Lead Category Management Strategist
Job Description Summary
This role located at our World Headquarters based in Detroit, MI.
The Lead Category Management Strategist drives long-term planning, category strategy development, and continuous improvement across our worldwide footprint. Serving as the global lead for the designated category, this role executes end-to-end strategic sourcing to deliver cost-effective solutions while upholding Tier 1 automotive standards for quality, capacity, and on-time delivery across all Dauch manufacturing facilities
Job Description:
Serve as the definitive subject matter expert and global category owner in front of executive leadership, delivering routine performance reviews, supply-market forecasts, risk outlooks, and multi-year cost-down strategies with full command of underlying data.
Lead the strategic sourcing process; including request for quotation, evaluation of bids, cost breakdown analysis, negotiation, supplier evaluation, sourcing recommendation, and contracting.
Execute the Global Strategy with the approved supply base, consolidating strategic suppliers while reducing costs, maintaining quality and performance standards and align across all regions.
Collaborate on sourcing strategies for new business programs to ensure timely supplier sourcing and readiness.
Analyze supplier cost structures and market trends to identify opportunities for cost reductions.
Lead and implement process improvements / cost reduction and VAVE activities to improve competitiveness of category spend to meet or exceed budget and business plan targets.
Contribute to annual procurement budget development process and support submission of monthly forecasts to finance team.
Conduct cost and price negotiations and establish long-term agreements with suppliers to deliver the highest value materials that meet cost, quality, and delivery requirements and drive cost savings and supplier performance improvements.
Develop and manage relationships with key suppliers to ensure quality, cost competitiveness, and on-time delivery.
Lead technical sourcing reviews with supply base, systems engineering, component engineering and supplier quality engineering contacts to close out all issues and ensure cross-functional support of sourcing recommendations. Identify and mitigate risks in the supply chain, including capacity, price fluctuations, and geopolitical factors.
Work with internal teams (engineering, manufacturing, finance) to align procurement strategies with company objectives.
All other duties as assigned.
Required Skills and Education
Bachelor’s degree required, preferred major in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or other related field
10+ years previous purchasing or related manufacturing experience preferred
Preferred experience with iron castings
Thorough knowledge of industry purchasing policies, procedures, and commercial practices
Understanding of global sourcing, landed cost, and supply chain risk management
Strong negotiation skills with a history of cost savings and supplier performance improvement
Proficiency in ERP systems (Oracle / Plex Preferred) and data analytics tools
About American Axle & Manufacturing
American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (AAM) is a leading global Tier 1 automotive supplier of driveline and metal forming technologies that are used to power a wide range of vehicles. AAM’s products are found in vehicles that drive on the road, fly through the air, and even drive under the sea. AAM’s engineering, design, and manufacturing capabilities allow it to produce products that meet the needs of its customers around the world. AAM has over 25,000 associates operating at nearly 90 facilities in 17 countries to support its customers on global and regional platforms with a focus on quality, operational excellence and technology leadership.
