Senior Global Commodity Manager, Automation Strategy & Purchasing

Job Description

The Role:

This role leads the strategy sourcing and deployment roadmap for automation solutions that enable Global Purchasing and Supply Chains (GPSC) manufacturing and logistics footprint. This leader is accountable for developing and executing an integrated automation commodity and technology strategy that reduces total enterprise cost improves safety and quality and increases resiliency across GMs global operations.

This role partners closely with GPSC commodity teams Manufacturing Engineering Plant Leadership GM IT Finance Supplier Quality Logistics & Packaging and strategic automation suppliers to deliver standard scalable solutions for equipment controls robotics and related services. The Manager sets clear objectives and owns key performance indicators that directly impact launch readiness productivity and capital efficiency while championing change.

The Manager will lead a team based in Warren MI with responsibility for collaboration and influence across regional GPSC and plant locations. Some domestic and international travel is required to engage plants suppliers and technology partners.

What Youll Do:

Team & Talent Leadership

• Lead and develop a team of purchasing professionals and automation strategy leaders supporting equipment controls and robotics.
• Build an inclusive high-performance culture focused on safety innovation & disruption data-driven decision making and continuous improvement.
• Ensure the right technical and leadership bench strength through thoughtful staffing coaching succession planning and performance management.

Automation Strategy & Roadmap

• Develop as part of a team the automation purchasing and strategy vision for GPSC including multi-year roadmaps for automation platforms suppliers standards and commercial models.
• Align automation strategy with vehicle and propulsion program cycles capacity plans industrialization/automation strategies and plant network changes.
• Establish and own KPIs for automation performance (e.g. launch readiness availability OEE impacts cost quality safety) and drive improvement against targets.

Commodity & Supplier Strategy

• Develop and execute global commodity strategies for automation categories (e.g. robotics controls material handling systems vision systems automated storage/retrieval MES interfaces services).
• Segment the supply base define preferred/strategic partners and negotiate commercial agreements that optimize total cost of ownership lifecycle support and innovation access.
• Lead supplier risk resiliency and capacity assessments for critical automation technologies; define and implement mitigation plans.

Automation Program & Project Support

• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering Logistics & Packaging and plant teams to ensure automation sourcing and strategy are integrated early in program planning and GVDP milestones.
• Support development of standardized specifications design standards and repeatable solutions that reduce complexity and enable reuse of automation designs.
• Provide oversight and escalation support for key automation sourcing events launches and issue resolution ensuring alignment to timing budget and performance requirements.

Process Systems & Data

• Reimagine and standardize purchasing and supplier management processes related to automation (from sourcing through lifecycle management) to improve speed transparency and control.
• Leverage digital tools analytics and automation to manage spend performance and risk (e.g. standardized RFQ workflows cost models should-cost supplier performance dashboards).

Stakeholder & Change Leadership

• Influence across functions plants and regions to align on common standards platforms and suppliers; remove roadblocks and drive adoption of new ways of working.
• Lead structured change management and communication plans to support deployment of automation standards new commercial models and updated processes.

External Engagement & Technology Scouting

• Maintain strong external connectivity with automation OEMs Tier 1 suppliers integrators technology startups consultants and industry forums to bring leading practices and innovations into GM.
• Benchmark GMs automation cost performance and commercial models against best-in-class peers and convert insights into actionable strategies and sourcing approaches.

Capability Building

• Design and implement training playbooks and communities of practice to build capability in automation technologies commercial models and data-driven decision making.
• Embed continuous improvement methods (e.g. Lean OPEX) into how the team manages automation sourcing negotiations and supplier performance.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications):

• Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Engineering (Mechanical Electrical Industrial Manufacturing) Business or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in purchasing supply chain operations or manufacturing engineering with significant exposure to automation equipment controls or robotics.
• Demonstrated people leadership experience including direct leadership of teams (typically 45 direct reports) and talent development across diverse technical and commercial skill sets.
• Proven success leading complex cross-functional and global initiatives in a matrixed environment from strategy through implementation and value realization.
• Deep knowledge of sourcing supplier management and contract/commercial structures for capital equipment and/or automation solutions including risk and lifecycle cost management.
• Experience supporting or leading automation programs in manufacturing or logistics (e.g. robotic cells automated material handling advanced controls integrated systems).
• Strong strategic orientation analytical capability and executive communication skills; able to simplify technical complexity and influence senior leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity drive change and challenge the status quo while maintaining strong relationships and alignment.
• High learning agility and comfort operating in a fast-changing environment with evolving technologies and competing priorities.
• Travel Requirements: Occasional domestic and international travel to GM plants suppliers and technology partners up to 50%.

What Can Give You a Competitive Advantage (Preferred Qualifications):

• MBA or advanced degree in Business Supply Chain Operations or Engineering.
• Hands-on experience with factory automation and digital industrialization (e.g. smart factory IIoT digital twins advanced analytics on equipment performance).
• Experience in automotive or complex manufacturing including launch environments and high-volume operations.
• Proficiency with data and analytics tools (e.g. Power BI Python ML or AI Agentic development cost modelling tools supplier performance dashboards) to support decision making and performance management.
• Formal training or certification in AI ML Operational Excellence Lean Agile or Change Management.

About GM

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Why Join Us

We believe we all must make a choice every day individually and collectively to drive meaningful change through our words our deeds and our culture. Every day we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.

Benefits Overview

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Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

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We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required where applicable to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more visit How we Hire.

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