The Purchasing Program Manager is responsible for leading the activities and the sourcing functions for new programs. This position will support the production buyers on purchasing responsibilities for the program and act as the liaison between Purchasing and the cross functional teams including engineering, supplier quality, supply chain management, finance, VCE, manufacturing and suppliers. The Program Manager ensures purchasing requirements and KPIs are met at each milestone by removing obstacles, aligning purchasing tasks with timelines, and prioritizing actions for execution and management support. This role leads the sourcing cycle and proactively manages risk by systematically identifying, assessing, and prioritizing potential issues. The Program Manager develops and implements mitigation plans, monitors risk status, escalates critical issues promptly, and coordinates cross-functional responses to minimize impact.
Additionally, this position features executive-level interface as the Program Manager is responsible for supporting Product Committee meetings in addition to other product development and governance activities.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Report out to executive leadership on purchasing metrics to support vehicle program metrics
- Guarantee the achievement of project targets through the selection of suppliers
- Ensure purchasing requirements and metrics are met at all program milestones by removing roadblocks
- Guarantee the adequacy / alignment between the project and the commodity teams on sourcing strategies for all parts, including carry over, also taking into account the supplier risk
- Align to the program variable and investment targets for purchased components
- Contribute to the development of economic targets
- Guarantee the achievement of 'Tool Kick off' with supplier in line with the planning and the capacity requirements of the project
- Ensure compliance with the conditions of execution of the supplier contract (in particular cost, time and production capacity, etc.) in the development, industrialization and / or mass production phase
- Monitor the supplier's economic impacts for evolutions during development
- Support to detect failing suppliers as early as possible and ensure the right level of reactivity and escalation to deal with these cases of failure
- Assess program capacities, communicating the vehicle program needs so the team can properly support the program
- Provide purchasing's input throughout the various milestones of the development cycle (sourcing, launch readiness, post launch supplier issues/recognitions, etc.) to ensure a successful program
- Implement Resourcing strategy, optimizing DMC for all North America vehicles
Basic Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain Management, or related field (ABET accredited)
- Minimum 8+ years' experience, including 3+ years in Supplier Quality, Purchasing, or related areas
- Strong organizational skills; excels in fast-paced, complex environments
- Strong negotiation skills and the ability to think and act strategically
- Self-motivated, resourceful, and able to manage multiple projects
- Results-oriented leader with experience guiding cross-functional teams
- Excellent communication skills; comfortable with all management levels
- Deep understanding of Group Purchasing business processes
- Proficient in MS Office, SAP, and Qlik Sense
- Effective under pressure; strong interpersonal skills
- Willingness to travel (0-20%), primarily within North America
Preferred Qualifications:- MBA / Master's degree
- Previous buyer experience
- Experience working with SAP
