Description
Ford Motor Company is seeking a strategic, results-driven Category Implementation Buyer to lead sourcing and category strategy for Engineering/Professional Services. This role is responsible for shaping the future of Services procurement by driving cost competitiveness, advancing sourcing strategies, and enabling Product Development through high-performing supplier partnerships.
In this position... The ideal candidate brings a strong combination of commercial acumen, stakeholder alignment, and forward-thinking strategy, transitioning traditional purchasing models into outcome-based, value-driven engagements that deliver measurable cost savings and operational efficiency.
Responsibilities
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 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, Business Owner Stakeholders, 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 to drive innovation and capability building.
Qualifications
Minimum
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or related field.
- 3+ years of experience in supply chain, purchasing, or category management, with exposure to 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 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.
Benefits
- 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 Year’s Day
- Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.