Purchasing Program Manager

The Purchasing Program Manager is responsible for leading the activities and the sourcing functions for serial life programs. This position will support the production buyers on purchasing responsibilities for the program and act as the liaison between purchasing and the cross functional teams including engineering, supplier quality, supply chain management, finance, VCE, manufacturing and suppliers. The Program Manager ensures purchasing requirements and KPIs are met at each milestone by removing obstacles, aligning purchasing tasks with timelines, and prioritizing actions for execution and management support. This role leads the sourcing cycle and proactively manages risk by systematically identifying, assessing, and prioritizing potential issues. The Program Manager develops and implements mitigation plans, monitors risk status, escalates critical issues promptly, and coordinates cross-functional responses to minimize impact. The PPM will also be responsible for coordinating and managing all the necessary cross functional activity required to perform Program Extension, Traplines, and managing the sourcing for serial-life programs.

The candidate must have excellent communication skills, strong systems knowledge, and experience navigating cross-functional teams to deliver challenging targets. The PPM will have deep understanding and presence at NA manufacturing plants, as well as well-rounded knowledge of supply base and critical supplier commodities/locations. This requires travel to support the on-site actions to drive cost savings development and execution. Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and cost analysis skills are also critical to success.

Activity description for this role includes:

• Interfacing with both internal and external enterprise: Manufacturing, Purchasing, Engineering, Supply Base, and Supply Chain
• Trapline Management: Evaluate, coordinate and control cost impacts for volume, mix and extensions for specific vehicle programs
• Sourcing Timing and Cost: Manage sourcing timelines, source package creation and cost targets
• Support and manage the Purchasing input and cost roll up for Product / Industrial Governance Committees; actively lead governance communication for vehicle program

Main deliverables include but not limited to:

• Coordinate / lead trapline and supply base activity, managing sourcing, tooling refurb and CN related activity
• Quick responses to cost and program timing for traplines and bulletins
• Working closely with Commodity Purchasing teams, study, communicate and manage cost impact of program changes and product actions
• Coordination and communication development to all levels of leadership and as well as external communication for program changes

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain Management, or related field (ABET accredited)
• A minimum 8 years of relevant purchasing experience or other disciplines that require significant negotiation/exposure to sourcing processes
• Strong organizational skills; excels in fast-paced, complex environments
• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to think and act strategically
• Self-motivated, resourceful, and able to manage multiple projects
• Results-oriented leader with experience guiding cross-functional teams
• Excellent communication skills; comfortable with all management levels
• Deep understanding of Group Purchasing business processes
• Proficient in MS Office, SAP, and Qlik Sense
• Effective under pressure; strong interpersonal skills
• Willingness to travel (0-20%), primarily within North America

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA / Master's degree
• Commodity Purchasing experience
• Previous Purchasing Program Management experience
• Experience working with SAP
• General knowledge of supplier cost structures and cost breakdown analysis
• Business case development skills