Engineering Services Buyer
Dearborn, MI - USA
Department:
Job Summary
We made history and now we work to transform the future for our customers our communities and our families. Youll see your work on the road every day helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.
The Ford Purchasing team adds critical value to the entire organization. Youll help us source the highest quality parts and services from around the globe while ensuring optimal cost and on-time delivery. Youll also contribute to establishing a robust supply chain so that we can continually produce the vehicles our customers want.
In this position...
Ford Motor Company is seeking a strategic results-driven Category Manager/Implementation Buyer to lead sourcing and category strategy for Vehicle Engineering Services. This role is responsible for shaping the future of Engineering Services procurement by driving cost competitiveness advancing sourcing strategies and enabling Product Development through high-performing supplier partnerships.
The ideal candidate brings a strong combination of commercial acumen engineering alignment and forward-thinking strategy transitioning traditional purchasing models into outcome-based value-driven engagements that deliver measurable cost savings and operational efficiency.
Is This You
- Strategic thinker who challenges the status quo and drives innovation in sourcing approaches
- Cost-focused leader who proactively identifies and delivers value beyond traditional savings
- Strong collaborator who can influence Engineering and business stakeholders with credibility
- Data-driven decision-maker with a passion for continuous improvement and operational excellence
- Influential leader who drives alignment across teams customers while fostering a high-performing accountable culture
- Resilient and adaptable able to navigate ambiguity and lead through transformation
Responsibilities
What youll do...
Category Strategy & Transformation
- Lead development and execution of forward-looking category strategies aligned with Product Development priorities with a strong focus on cost optimization and value delivery.
- Drive transformation from time & material engagements to deliverable-based performance-driven sourcing models to improve cost predictability and accountability.
- Identify and implement innovative sourcing levers including global benchmarking should-cost modeling demand management and supplier consolidation.
Cost Leadership & Financial Performance
- Deliver year-over-year cost savings through strategic negotiations commercial restructuring and continuous market testing.
- Analyze spend supplier cost structures and industry benchmarks to uncover cost reduction opportunities and improve total cost of ownership.
- Partner with Finance and other key stakeholders to align budgets forecasts and sourcing strategies with enterprise cost targets.
Supplier Strategy & Relationship Management
- Build and manage a high-performing competitive supply base across specialized engineering service providers.
- Lead supplier negotiations for complex high-value contracts ensuring optimal pricing terms and service levels.
- Drive supplier performance through KPIs SLAs and continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency quality and innovation.
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Act as a key interface between Supply Chain Engineering Finance Legal and external partners to ensure alignment on sourcing strategy and execution.
- Influence stakeholders to adopt best-in-class sourcing practices and challenge legacy ways of working.
- Lead or support strategic initiatives workshops and supplier engagements (e.g. tech days benchmarking reviews) to drive innovation and capability building.
Operational Excellence & Governance
- Ensure timely execution of sourcing events contract renewals and compliance with corporate purchasing policies.
- Implement robust contracting frameworks (MSAs SOWs SLAs) that incentivize performance and mitigate risk.
- Continuously improve procurement processes tools and systems to enhance efficiency transparency and data-driven decision-making.
Qualifications
Youll have...
Minimum
- Bachelors degree in Engineering Supply Chain Business or related field.
- 5 years of experience in supply chain purchasing or category management with exposure to Engineering Services or technical procurement.
- Strong track record of delivering measurable cost savings and driving strategic sourcing initiatives.
- Experience developing and executing category strategies including market analysis benchmarking and supplier segmentation.
- Advanced negotiation skills with experience in complex commercial agreements and contract structuring.
- Ability to translate technical engineering requirements into effective sourcing and commercial strategies.
- Strong financial and analytical acumen including spend analysis and cost modeling.
- Proven ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and lead without direct authority.
- Experience managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced transformation-driven environment.
- Proficiency in procurement tools (e.g. Ariba) Excel (advanced) and PowerPoint.
Even better you may have...
Preferred
- Master degree preferred
You may not check every box or your experience may look a little different from what weve outlined but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company we encourage you to apply!
As an established global company we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe or keep you close to home Will your career be a deep dive into what you love or a series of new teams and new skills Will you be a leader a changemaker a technical expert a culture builderor all of the above No matter what you choose we offer a work life that works for you including:
Immediate medical dental vision and prescription drug coverage
Flexible family care days paid parental leave new parent ramp-up programs subsidized back-up child care and more
Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement fertility treatments and more
Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
Tuition assistance
Established and active employee resource groups
Paid time off for individual and team community service
A generous schedule of paid holidays including the week between Christmas and New Years Day
Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.
This position is a range of salary grades 6-8 and ranges from $63480-$166200.
Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidates skills and experience and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope responsibility and competitive market value.
For more information on salary and benefits click here: sponsorship is not available for this position.
Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race religion color age sex national origin sexual orientation gender identity disability status or protected veteran the United States if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability please call 1-.
This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week.
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Required Experience:
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