Senior Category Buyer

Job Description:

Summary:

The Direct Category Buyer at Astemo plays a key role in managing supplier relationships and overseeing procurement strategies within assigned commodities. This role requires deep product knowledge and strong sourcing acumen to ensure suppliers meet company standards for quality, cost, and delivery, while also promoting continuous improvement and innovation. The ideal candidate will be proactive, analytical, and capable of influencing strategic decisions across a global supply base.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years of experience in purchasing or a closely related field
• Willingness and ability to travel to suppliers and Astemo facilities as needed (domestic and international)

Preferred Qualifications

• Procurement experience in the automotive industry
• Strong background in casting and rubber parts sourcing and strategy
• Working with SAP
• Bilingual fluency in English and Japanese is a plus

Key Responsibilities

• Collect and analyze category, regional, and supplier-specific data
• Recommend strategic direction to the Global Category Manager based on market intelligence
• Propose and implement cost reduction, avoidance, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Contribute to annual budget planning and forecasting activities
• Lead negotiations with suppliers (pricing, payment terms, tooling, commercial terms, capacity, EOL, etc.)
• Formalize and manage supplier contracts
• Own sourcing decisions within assigned categories, aligning with global strategy and BU timelines
• Support Business Units during acquisition phases with cost estimates and “should-cost” analysis via the Cost Engineering team
• Ensure implementation of global/regional category strategies
• Assist in Value Engineering/Cost (VEC) initiatives and supplier negotiations
• Report KPIs by supplier and part number
• Develop and manage relationships with regional and local suppliers
• Monitor and track supplier performance and ensure compliance
• Adjust negotiation strategies based on supplier conditions and market dynamics
• Support issue resolution and supplier escalations in collaboration with Business Units and regional teams

Required Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Proven negotiation and contract management skills
• Results-oriented with a demonstrated ability to implement strategic initiatives
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence, collaborate, and build relationships across teams
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Effective time management, organization, and problem-solving abilities

Supervisory Responsibilities

This role does not include direct supervision of staff

Working Conditions

• Primarily office-based (hybrid schedule), with regular interaction in factory environments
• Occasional exposure to noise typical of manufacturing settings
• Domestic and international travel required, depending on supplier and business needs

Physical & Mental Requirements

• Ability to sit for extended periods
• Visual acuity to work accurately with data, documents, and computer monitors

If you’re ready to play a strategic role in shaping Astemo’s global supply chain while driving value and innovation—Own the Future and apply today

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by law. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) – Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, identity, disability, protected veteran status and national origin.

At Astemo, we’re challenging the status quo with the power of diversity, inclusion, and collaboration. Our goal is to build an inclusive work environment that celebrates the differences of our employees. We want to ensure that every employee feels valued, respected and empowered. We don’t just accept difference—we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Astemo is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job at Astemo, please send the nature of the request and contact information to [email protected] when applying for the position.