Senior Buyer

Senior Buyer

Location: Plymouth, Michigan

Position Type: Direct Hire

Schedule: On-site Monday–Thursday; flexible scheduling available

Compensation: $100,000–$120,000 annually

Travel: Less than 25%

Position Overview

• Reliance One, Inc. is hiring an experienced Senior Buyer for one of our established clients in the automotive industry.
• Lead strategic purchasing activities involving supplier negotiations, sourcing, pricing, contracts, commercial terms, and cost-reduction opportunities.
• Negotiate component packages, supplier-requested price increases, price reductions, and commercial agreements.
• Analyze supplier and purchasing data to develop negotiation strategies and recommendations.
• Present and defend commercial positions to suppliers, internal stakeholders, and leadership.
• Work independently while mentoring other buyers and demonstrating the potential to take on additional leadership responsibilities.
• This is a strategic sourcing role—not a traditional purchasing position focused primarily on placing purchase orders.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Purchasing and Supplier Negotiations

• Lead supplier negotiations involving pricing, contracts, commercial terms, and sourcing agreements.
• Evaluate and negotiate supplier-requested price increases.
• Identify and pursue price reductions, cost savings, and commercial improvement opportunities.
• Develop negotiation strategies based on business requirements, market conditions, cost information, and supplier data.
• Source and negotiate complete component packages within the automotive supply base.
• Clearly communicate and defend the company’s commercial position during supplier negotiations.
• Manage multiple supplier concerns, negotiations, and sourcing priorities simultaneously.
• Take ownership of supplier-related issues through final resolution.

Supplier and Commercial Management

• Develop and maintain productive relationships with key suppliers.
• Review supplier proposals and identify cost, pricing, contract, and sourcing risks.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities, commercial terms, and overall value.
• Collaborate with purchasing team members supporting a range of automotive commodities.
• Work with suppliers involving raw materials, routing, connections, electronics, wire-related products, tape, sleeving, and other bulk materials.
• Travel to supplier facilities and other business locations as required.

Data Analysis and Leadership Communication

• Analyze purchasing, supplier, pricing, and sourcing data using Microsoft Excel.
• Create professional PowerPoint presentations that clearly communicate findings, strategies, risks, and recommendations.
• Present sourcing strategies and commercial recommendations to internal leadership and other stakeholders.
• Translate complex purchasing information into clear, actionable business recommendations.
• Use sound judgment and data to support supplier and sourcing decisions.

Team Leadership and Development

• Work independently with minimal direction.
• Demonstrate initiative when addressing complex supplier and commercial issues.
• Support and mentor buyers and other purchasing team members.
• Serve as a knowledgeable resource regarding supplier negotiations and strategic sourcing.
• Demonstrate the ability and potential to take on additional leadership responsibilities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Purchasing, Engineering, or a related field.
• Five to seven years of automotive purchasing, procurement, strategic sourcing, or comparable experience.
• Strong automotive purchasing and sourcing experience involving direct supplier interaction.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating:
• Supplier pricing
• Contracts and commercial terms
• Supplier-requested price increases
• Price reductions and cost-saving opportunities
• Component packages and sourcing agreements
• Strong understanding of the automotive supplier environment.
• Proven ability to negotiate effectively and defend commercial positions using supporting data.
• Ability to independently manage complex supplier negotiations and competing priorities.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and commercial decision-making skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience analyzing data and creating clear, professional presentations.
• Confidence presenting recommendations to suppliers, internal stakeholders, and leadership.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated initiative, independence, and leadership potential.
• Ability and willingness to mentor other buyers or team members.
• Ability to travel less than 25%, including local, regional, national, and international travel.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least five years of experience working with blueprints and schematics.
• Purchasing experience involving:
• Raw materials
• Routing and connections
• Electronics
• Wire suppliers and wire-related products
• Tape, sleeving, and other bulk materials
• Ability to develop tooling cost estimates from the ground up.
• Experience sourcing and negotiating complete component packages.
• Previous experience mentoring buyers or serving as an informal team leader.
• Senior-level experience as a Senior Buyer, Strategic Buyer, Purchasing Specialist, Procurement Specialist, or Strategic Sourcing professional.

What Will Make You Successful

Success in this role requires more than transactional purchasing experience. The strongest candidate will be comfortable sitting across the table from a supplier and negotiating pricing, contracts, and commercial terms backed by accurate data.

You should be able to evaluate supplier requests, determine an appropriate negotiating position, communicate that position professionally, and develop solutions that support the needs of the business. Strong ownership, commercial judgment, analytical thinking, and the ability to communicate recommendations clearly will be essential.

Apply today to be considered for this direct-hire Senior Buyer opportunity in Plymouth, Michigan.

Reliance One, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex—including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity—national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities.

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