Indirect Purchasing Manager- Auburn Hills

About the Role The Indirect Purchasing Manager is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for all non‑production (indirect) goods and services. This role leads category management, drives cost optimization initiatives, manages supplier relationships, ensures compliance with corporate policies, and partners cross‑functionally to deliver measurable value, mitigate risk, and support business objectives. This role will report directly to the US Executive Director of Purchasing and have a dotted line reporting structure to Nexteer’s Global Indirect Commodity Purchasing Director. What You'll Do

• Develop and implement sourcing strategies across assigned indirect commodities (e.g., IT, Facilities, Machinery & Equipment, Logistics, Outside Services, MRO, Engineering and Corporate Expenditures).
• Oversee and conduct market research, benchmark pricing, and evaluate emerging trends to inform category strategies.
• Build multi-year category roadmaps that align with organizational goals and operational needs.
• Analyze spend data to identify consolidation opportunities, inefficiencies, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Use analytics tools to track spend patterns, supplier performance, and compliance.
• Develop cost models, total cost of ownership (TCO) analyses, and savings forecasts.
• Source, evaluate, and select suppliers based on quality, cost, capability, and risk profile.
• Lead supplier business reviews, performance scorecards, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Build strategic partnerships that enhance service levels, innovation, and long-term value.
• Lead negotiations to secure competitive pricing, favorable terms, and measurable cost reductions.
• Drive year-over-year savings targets through strategic sourcing, demand management, and process improvements.
• Identify opportunities to optimize supplier portfolios and eliminate maverick spend.
• Ensure all purchasing activities comply with corporate policies, procedures, and governance standards.
• Enforce contract compliance, ethical sourcing practices, and regulatory requirements.
• Support internal audits and implement corrective actions where needed.
• Partner with Finance, Legal, Operations, IT, HR, Facilities, Engineering, IT and other stakeholders to understand business requirements.
• Influence decision-making and align teams on sourcing strategies, supplier selection, and contract terms.
• Facilitate communication between internal teams and suppliers to ensure seamless execution. What We're Looking For
• Experience in indirect purchasing and strategic sourcing, with a track record of leading category management and cost optimization initiatives.
• Ability to build category roadmaps, conduct spend analysis, and develop TCO models.
• Strong supplier relationship management and negotiation skills; able to drive measurable savings and value.
• Cross-functional collaboration with Finance, Legal, Operations, IT, HR, Facilities, Engineering, and other stakeholders.
• Analytical mindset with comfort using data analytics tools to monitor spend and supplier performance.