What you will do: The Program Buyer coordinates purchasing-related simultaneous engineering activities based on Clarios purchasing processes and the Energy Systems operating model. The role leads and guides a cross-functional purchasing project team across different locations, motivates stakeholders to generate the best possible outcome, and acts as the purchasing representative for assigned programs from RFQ through SOP and launch stabilization. The successful candidate Fulfil external and internal customer expectations through a target-oriented transition from customer RFQ phase to mass production, with clear accountability for price, timing, quality, supplier readiness, and commercial program execution in partnership with the supply base.
How you will do it:• Responsible for tracking sourcing and launch-related purchasing activities on time, including PPAP readiness, tooling status, sourcing and nominations, prototype orders, sample deliveries, supplier milestones, and launch open points.
• Report supplier readiness, BOM cost status, commercial risks, and project purchasing status to Program Management and Purchasing senior management.
• Prepare and lead supplier negotiations regarding cost, timing, legal and contractual topics, while mirroring customer requirements into supplier commitments and supporting alternative negotiation concepts and make-or-buy decisions.
• Prepare, invite, and execute supplier workshops covering cost-down actions, feasibility, synergies, capacity, supply chain issues, technical constraints, and launch-readiness risks.
• Support cost estimates, target price setting, business case assumptions, and purchased material cost build-up during customer RFQ and program development phases.
• Execute the purchasing process, including RFQ package preparation, RFQ execution, quote analysis, negotiations, supplier nominations, sourcing documentation, and change request processing.
• Process and supervise prototype, sample, tooling, and launch-related orders until structured handover to the plant, Serial Life Buyer, and relevant commodity owners.
• Develop, define, and track cost-saving potentials including VA/VE, design-to-cost, localization, benchmarking, dual sourcing, and supplier productivity actions.
• Support preparation and presentation of project-relevant purchasing data to Program Management, Finance, Engineering, Supplier Quality, Operations, Purchasing leadership, and management board stakeholders when
required.
• Create and maintain expert understanding of supplier markets, key sub-suppliers, capacity constraints, cost drivers, and supplier business relationships relevant to assigned programs.
• Act as purchasing head of project for assigned programs and provide functional leadership to the purchasing project team.
• Monitor safe and timely launch activities and support resolution of issues related to sourcing, cost, supplier readiness, capacity, tooling, delivery, or commercial alignment.
• Act as first escalation level, sparring partner, and trainer for purchasing colleagues and cross-functional team members on program purchasing topics.
• Organize and set up the purchasing project team for assigned programs, ensuring clear roles, interfaces, and open-action tracking across Commodity Management, Serial Life Buying, Supplier Quality, Supplier Development, Operations, Finance, and Engineering.
• Support improvement and challenge of existing purchasing tools and methods, including screening helpful IT tools and digital enablers for project purchasing execution.
What we look for: Required: • University degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Economics, Engineering, Operations Management, or equivalent.
• 5+ years of experience in Program Purchasing, Strategic Sourcing, Commodity Management, Supplier Development, Program Management, or Supply Chain Management within an automotive, battery, electronics,
or industrial manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting customer RFQs, supplier sourcing, supplier nominations, cost tracking, launch readiness, and new product introduction activities.
• Knowledge of purchasing practices, contract negotiation, commercial risk management, supplier relationship management, and cross-functional project execution.
Preferred:• Experience in automotive Tier-1 program purchasing, Mechanical components, plastics, metallic parts, battery systems, BMS, electronics, PCBA/EMS, energy storage systems, or electrification-related products.
• Understanding of automotive launch processes including APQP, PPAP, IATF 16949, VDA expectations, customer gates, tooling readiness, and SOP stabilization.
• Experience managing suppliers across EMEA, North America, and Asia, including cost, capacity, delivery, tooling, and escalation topics.
• Knowledge of cost modeling, should-cost analysis, value engineering, design-to-cost, product lifecycle cost management, and supplier market analysis.
• Ability to lead supplier workshops, lessons learned reviews, launch escalations, and cross-functional cost improvement initiatives
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What you get:- Medical, dental and vision care coverage and a 401(k) savings plan with company matching - all starting on date of hire
- Tuition reimbursement, perks, and discounts
- Parental and caregiver leave programs
- All the usual benefits such as paid time off, flexible spending, short-and long-term disability, basic life insurance, business travel insurance, and Employee Assistance Program
- Global market strength and worldwide market share leadership
- HQ location earns LEED certification for sustainability plus a full-service cafeteria and workout facility
