A Commodities or Manufacturing Buyer is responsible for sourcing and purchasing the commodities needed for ongoing or future production in a manufacturing process. Responsible for maintaining supplier relationships. May also be responsible growing supplier relationships with new and/or existing suppliers.
Teijin Automotive Technologies is an innovative and full-service Tier One supplier with a global presence and emphasis in development for lightweight technologies. Teijin Automotive offers employees the opportunity to join a leading edge company within the composite material industry and enjoy the benefits offered by a growing company in North America and internationally.
Essential Job Functions:
Sourcing & Supplier Management Evaluate and select sources for production components/materials based on technical fit, capacity, quality, and total cost Develop and maintain deep knowledge of assigned commodity markets (e.g., resin/SMC, metals, chemicals) including pricing drivers, index tracking (e.g., PPI, resin indices), and supply/demand trends Develop Long Term Agreements (LTAs) with suppliers as appropriate Manage pricing at a corporate level across CSP plants, including inflation/deflation tracking and index-based pricing mechanisms Support CSP facilities in resolution of supplier issues; lead negotiations as necessary Build and maintain strong working relationships with suppliers supporting CSP plants May participate in Supplier Quality audits and financial health assessments of critical suppliers Analytical & Cost Management Identify and execute cost savings opportunities using data analysis (e.g., spend analytics, should-cost modeling, PPV and BIP tracking) Analyze supplier quotes and proposals using structured cost breakdowns to determine most competitive and lowest-risk suppliers Build and maintain reporting/dashboards (e.g., Power BI, Excel) to track commodity pricing trends, savings pipelines, and supplier performance Monitor and forecast commodity price exposure; support rolling forecast reconciliation (e.g., 6+6, 3+9) across programs Program & Systems Execution Place purchase orders (via QAD EE) with suppliers Work closely with Engineering to understand program requirements and coordinate Engineering Changes Participate in program kickoff meetings; work with Sales, Engineering, CSP plant personnel, and suppliers to ensure duties and timelines are met; expedite as necessary Participate in development of new or enhanced Purchasing policies and procedures Ensure customer requirements are met throughout the sourcing and program lifecycle Perform a variety of complex tasks with a wide degree of independence and decision-making latitude Adhere to all CSP company policies, guidelines, and procedures
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience) 2-4 years of direct material purchasing experience in an automotive or manufacturing environment Working knowledge of assigned commodity category(ies) - material properties, cost drivers, and supplier landscape Strong analytical skills, including proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, modeling) and familiarity with BI tools (Power BI preferred) Experience with ERP/procurement systems (QAD, Coupa, or similar) Strong negotiation, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
