Position

Product Launch Buyer

Location

US format: Arden, NC

Job Purpose

The BorgWarner Arden campus offers two world class technical centers and a cutting-edge manufacturing facility that designs and produces turbos, fan, and fan drive components for the automotive industry. The Arden campus offers a multitude of career opportunities and is in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina.

Responsibilities for the Product Launch Buyer include supplier evaluation, estimating and tracking cost metrics to budget for the Bill of Materials (BOMs), supplier sourcing, driving the supplier timeline, and securing component sourcing approval and deliveries through PPAP approval. This role requires working closely with supplier representatives as well as internal team members such as Product and/or Applications Engineers, Design Engineers, Supplier Development Engineers (SDE), and Global Supply Chain Managers.

Key Responsibilities

• Sourcing and procurement activities for programs to meet program timing and commercial targets under the direction of the Supply Chain Supervisor/Manager.
• Prepares RFQ’s, summarizes, and presents quotations for prototype and production supply.
• Developing strategy and timing for procurement of new components to meet stakeholder expectations.
• Identifying, developing, and qualifying new suppliers to achieve program goals.
• Supporting supplier risk assessment evaluations and mitigation actions.
• Adhering to commodity strategies (global & local)
• Reporting progress against KPI metrics to measure progress against goals.
• Aligning sourcing to the global guidelines.
• Follows the supplier selection process to identify and recommend optimal source selection considering criteria such as value, risk, sustainability, quality, and delivery.
• Presenting proposals to a global sourcing review board or a local committee and strategies to management and leadership.
• Interfaces with suppliers to optimize value and feasibility by interpreting feedback on specifications and blueprints to align with engineering needs. Communicates proposed changes to stakeholders.
• Presenting component design proposals and feasibility feedback from suppliers to engineering obtain optimum value.
• Procuring pre-production samples and approval samples (First Article of PPAP) and driving suppliers to meet program requirements.
• Performing a lead role for Supply Chain to compile Program Gate Review content which would include communicating status to Program Management and launch team from Supplier Development and/or Supplier Quality, Global Commodity Management, Risk Management, and other Supply Chain support functions.l
• Coordinates design and technical review for new components in preparation for sourcing.
• Facilitates reviews of component and feasibility feedback from suppliers with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Logistics, and back to suppliers to optimize cost and manufacturability.
• Estimates costs for new components using existing component and supplier data.
• Develops and maintains costed BOMs and maintains history of BOM cost.
• Sends and tracks Request for Quotes (RFQs)for prototype and production incorporating global and local sourcing strategies.
• Estimates and maintains a tooling budget per program.
• Issues tooling purchase orders (PO) for tooling.
• Assures tooling documentation has been received prior to releasing payment to the vendor per the Supplier Manual procedure.
• Considers cost of logistics in value stream mapping for source selections.
• Works with Finance to monitor blocked invoices to assure vendors are paid in a timely manner.
• Negotiates complex contracts and critical long-term agreements for new production components.
• Develops new suppliers that meet BW cost, quality, and delivery requirements.
• Coordinates and facilitates supplier relationship with internal functions.
• Provides status updates for Program Gate Reviews and other intermediate reviews, which can include assisting or participating in presentations to the leadership team.
• Leads supplier selection meetings and presents recommended supplier.
• Support the We Are Ready launch audits.
• Conforms to the Global Sourcing Policy process and requirements.
• Understands and adheres to current quality and control policies.
• Understands and adheres to current health, safety, and environmental policies.
• Adheres to the Purchasing and sourcing policies and practices.
• Scope of position will include a wide range of difficult and complex problems.
• Work is assigned in terms of objectives.
• Complies to current health, safety, and environmental policies.
• Identifies and closes safety issues (suggestions, inspection, and investigation findings) and their corrective actions.
• Performs other duties as requested, directed, or assigned.

What we are looking for

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree (Engineering, Supply Chain, Business or related)
• 1-2 years purchasing experience (automotive environment desired)
• Good knowledge of purchasing, negotiation, commercial understanding, and cost breakdown
• Must have strong communication skills (both written and verbal); good presentation skills; strong demonstrated negotiation skills; and can read and interpret drawings/blueprints.
• Organizational skills with attention to detail required
• ERP/MRP experience preferred (SAP a plus)
• Industry knowledge preferred
• Engineering background is a plus
• Practical experience in the procurement of industrial type components or commodities
• MS Office knowledge is a must
• Proficient in English
• Presence on-site is required
• Must be able to work in a team environment
• Must be able to follow instructions, safety rules, and regulations

What we offer

All positions start at an above market pay rate for that position. Benefits are also above market and include the below for all fulltime employees:

• Day 1 Medical Coverage with potential of no monthly premium
• Onsite Health Clinic for employees and dependents (age 14 and over) at no cost
• Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, and Disability Coverage
• Tuition Reimbursement Program after 18 months
• Retirement Savings Plan (401k) with a matching program
• Company paid holidays and vacation starting Day 1

Join the company that is creating solutions that support a cleaner, more energy-efficient world. For more information about BorgWarner, please visit

Salary Range: