Commodity Buyer – Automotive

The Commodity Buyer is responsible for end‑to‑end ownership of assigned commodities, including contract management, capacity uplift, 

sourcing strategy, supplier negotiations, cost reduction initiatives, and supply‑base development. The role supports programme targets, long‑term value creation, and global purchasing strategies.

Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Cost Management

• Negotiate the supplier contract for the design changes, capacity increase and Material movement.
• Develop and execute sourcing and negotiation strategies to meet programme cost and tooling targets.
• Deliver year‑on‑year and multi‑year cost reduction initiatives through data‑driven analysis.
• Identify cost drivers and optimise total cost of ownership.

Supplier Management & Development

• Lead and participate in cross‑functional teams to develop a sustainable and competitive supplier base.
• Identify high‑risk suppliers and implement mitigation plans.
• Drive localisation and cost‑saving opportunities in line with regional market requirements.

Programme & Global Collaboration

• Represent the region in global commodity discussions and negotiations.
• Align regional commodity strategies with global business plans.
• Support new programme launches and ongoing production requirements.

Continuous Improvement & Leadership

• Champion lean manufacturing and value engineering initiatives with suppliers.
• Lead structured supplier meetings and negotiations to achieve defined outcomes.
• Mentor and collaborate with team members to build capability and knowledge sharing.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (MBA preferred).

Experience

• 5–10 years of experience in automotive purchasing or strategic sourcing.
• Hands‑on experience managing suppliers and negotiations in a manufacturing environment.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong negotiation and commercial acumen.
• Excellent analytical, data interpretation, and problem‑solving skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes across automotive commodities.
• Project management experience and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Comfortable working across time zones with global and cross‑functional teams.

Leadership & Behavioural Attributes

• Demonstrates integrity, accountability, and ownership.
• Proactive, self‑driven, and solution‑oriented.
• Collaborative mindset within multicultural and cross‑functional environments.
• Willingness to learn, coach, and share knowledge.