Role Purpose
The Direct Purchasing Buyer is responsible for managing the sourcing and purchasing activities for new and existing production parts. The role works closely with Project, Engineering, Supplier Quality and suppliers throughout the RFQ, supplier selection, development and industrialization stages.
The position also manages supplier performance during mass production and drives continuous improvement in quality, cost, delivery and commercial performance.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute sourcing strategies for new parts, including RFQ preparation, economic target setting and supplier evaluation.
- Ensure sourcing decisions comply with technical, industrial, project and purchasing requirements.
- Evaluate, select and nominate suppliers based on quality, cost, delivery, capability and risk.
- Lead commercial negotiations and finalize purchasing agreements and contracts with suppliers.
- Achieve purchasing economic targets through commercial savings, technical optimisation, resourcing and logistics improvements.
- Manage the impact of raw material prices, foreign exchange movements and inflation.
- Monitor supplier performance during development, industrialization and mass production.
- Identify supplier risks or performance issues at an early stage and ensure effective corrective action plans are implemented.
- Manage supplier relationships and contract execution to meet expected quality, cost and delivery targets.
- Work closely with Supplier Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Production, Project and Finance teams to resolve operational and commercial issues.
- Provide timely escalation and support to remove roadblocks affecting project or production requirements.
- Drive continuous cost-reduction initiatives for mass-production parts using all available purchasing levers.
- Ensure suppliers comply with agreed contractual, quality and delivery obligations.
Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, Purchasing or a related discipline.
- Minimum 8 years of relevant experience in direct material purchasing, preferably within the automotive or manufacturing industry.
- Strong experience in RFQ management, supplier selection and commercial negotiation.
- Knowledge of automotive product development and industrialization processes.
- Experience managing suppliers from development through mass production.
- Strong understanding of cost breakdown analysis, risk management and project management.
Equal Opportunity Statement
When you join us, you're not just building a career — you're joining a company that supports you, inside and outside of work.
At Stellantis, we assess candidates based on qualifications, merit and business needs. We welcome applications from all people without regard to sex, age, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any characteristic protected by law. We believe that diverse teams reflect our identity as a global company, enabling us to better address the evolving needs of our customers and care for our future.
EOE / Disability / Veteran
