Collaborate with Costing and Category Managers to build, implement, and maintain cost models and rate development frameworks
Direct the planning and execution of supplier Value Analysis and Value Engineering (VAVE) initiatives. Act as the bridge between Engineering, Program Management, and Procurement to identify and implement technical cost-reduction opportunities and product enhancements.
Partner with Engineering and Category Managers to develop and utilize purchased part preferred solutions.
Provide expert support to Procurement during supplier cost audits by leveraging market benchmarks and "should-cost" data. Conduct on-site audits as needed to validate supplier overhead, labor rates, and material costs, ensuring total transparency and contract compliance.
Facilitate proactive cooperation across all YF divisions, in order to leverage category-specific intelligence and benchmarking.
Act as a bridge with other key functions of the organization to enhance alignment of Procurement with customer demands, product roadmaps, and innovation priorities.
Support the development of a Procurement Academy in alignment with procurement leadership.
Act as a strategic coach, developing and standardizing category playbooks in conjunction with Category Managers.
Serve as a central resource for market intelligence, providing the greater procurement team with actionable insights on emerging technologies, global market trends, and economic indicators.
Act as a functional knowledge resource in the development and optimization of procurement systems, driving digital efficiencies to automate workflows and enhance data-driven decision-making
Assure accurate and timely reporting of key measurables.
Qualifications
Bachelors level degree; supply chain management or business administration.
7-10+ years strategic sourcing, category management, or procurement operations.
3-5+ years of experience within the automotive industry.
Strong financial/costing knowledge.
Excellent relational/interpersonal skills.
Experience with negotiating complex situations.
Willingness to travel up to 25% and work at customer or supplier sites, including industrial manufacturing plants which may require climbing, lifting, or working in confined spaces.
Lean/CI knowledge.
Knowledge of various manufacturing processes (examples: assemblies, injection molding, electro plating, painting, foam, coverstocks, metal forming)
CPSM preferred
***This role can be based in Novi, MI or Holland, MI.
Essential Common Requirements for all Employees:
International Operating System (IOS): Understand, apply, and meet all function-related IOS requirements.
Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS): Understand, apply, and meet all function-related EHS requirements.
Product Safety: Understand, apply, and meet all function-related Product Safety requirements.
Compliance: Understand, apply, and meet all function-related IT/ Information Security and confidentiality of YFAI information requirements.
Must comply with all company policies and procedures.
Employee must have the ability to work additional hours and/ or overtime as needed or assigned to complete job duties on time.
Ability to multitask, interact politely and professionally with customers, suppliers, and vendors, and work cooperatively with employees at all levels.
Ability to maintain predictable and regular attendance, arrive to designated location on time, or be at assigned location ready to work for assignment (plant, cooperate office, or remote).
