Purchasing Manager Transportation

We made history and now we work to transform the future – for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.

The Ford Purchasing team adds critical value to the entire organization. You’ll help us source the highest quality parts and services from around the globe while ensuring optimal cost and on-time delivery. You’ll also contribute to establishing a robust supply.

In this position... 

• Supply Chain Manager leads a section of buyers responsible for:
  • Global Ocean (Finished Vehicles and Containers), Carhaul, and Customs and Freight Forwarding buying for our MP&L, Manufacturing Plants and FCSD customers
  • Network optimization initiatives 

• Serves as the Supply Chain interface with enterprise thought Leaders on network design, industry benchmarks, and operational excellence 

   

• Creates leverage by fully understanding the industry and anticipating changing demands 5-10 years out
• Seeks to understand the total value equation– short term and long term – in decision making (revenue, margin, capital needs, infrastructure needs, etc.)

What you'll do...

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute comprehensive purchasing strategies for categories, ensuring alignment with overall company objectives and financial targets. You will actively lead Pulse improvement initiatives and manage an effective team of 5 that optimizes delivering business results with employee development and fulfillment, including people development plans and career coaching.
• Actively manage supplier relationships: Cultivate and maintain robust relationships with key strategic suppliers, driving performance, innovation, and long-term partnerships. You will establish and maintain strong cross-functional relationships using Supplier Relationship Framework (SRF) principles and manage positive relationships with the supply base by acting like a partner, being accountable, trusting and being trustworthy, communicating with consistency, being fact-based while driving for results, and thinking value not just price.
• Risk Management & Resiliency: Proactively identify and mitigate supply chain risks, ensuring continuity of supply and building resilient supplier networks. This involves monitoring the financial health of the supply base, including follow-up on further development and establishment of a back-up plan in case of risk, and utilizing SRM (Supply Risk Management) tools to intervene proactively, avoiding potential supply disruption. You will also monitor quality and supply of the supply base, including follow-up on further development/improvement and establishment of a back-up plan in case of risk.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as a key interface and trusted advisor to MP&L as well as various internal skill teams, including Product Development, Engineering, Finance, and Legal, ensuring purchasing strategies support their objectives. You will be the Purchasing representative at cross-functional program/project management and launch meetings. 
• Market Analysis: Stay abreast of industry trends, market conditions, technological advancements, and evolving regulations to inform strategic decisions. Engage with external partners such as regulatory bodies, brokers, industry experts, benchmarking companies, industry associations etc to build a knowledge base on all transport modes.
• Category Management: Lead team to develop strategies that deliver cost-effective, efficient, sustainable solutions:
  • Develop category strategy plans for all categories. Include robust Resiliency Planning in this highly volatile and complex area
  • Negotiate MSAs, with SOWs, Service-Level-Agreements, KPI metrics, and supplier governance processes to deliver consistently high-quality services 
  • Secure favorable buy terms and claims management to sufficiently protect the business (e.g. IP rights, liability, warranty)

  • Ability to work cross functionally with NA Vehicle Logistics (NAVL) team, NA Materials Logistics team and our chosen Lead Logistics Providers to understand the Network design and complications, and help source to maximize efficiency within the Network

• Drive Purchasing discipline: Lean into dashboards, digital transformation and Purchasing Policy. Ensure appropriate sign-off on contracts, risk assessments, deviations in accordance with Delegations of Authority