Indirect Purchasing Manager- Auburn Hills

Position: Indirect Purchasing Manager

At Nexteer, our strength lies in the diversity of our team—each member contributing unique backgrounds, experiences, and aspirations. We believe this diversity fuels our innovation, broadens our perspectives, and propels our collective growth.

For over a century, we’ve been innovators in the automotive industry.  Our vision is clear - we are a global leading motion control technology company accelerating mobility to be safe, green and exciting. Our unwavering commitment to Quality, Collaboration, Integrity, and Accountability guides us as we solve motion control challenges for our global customers. If you’re ready to join a dynamic team that drives change and makes a difference, Nexteer welcomes you! 

 

About the Role:

The Indirect Purchasing Manager is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for all non‑production (indirect) goods and services. This role leads category management, drives cost optimization initiatives, manages supplier relationships, ensures compliance with corporate policies, and partners cross‑functionally to deliver measurable value, mitigate risk, and support business objectives.

 

This role will report directly to the US Executive Director of Purchasing and have a dotted line reporting structure to Nexteer’s Global Indirect Commodity Purchasing Director.

 

Key Responsibilities

As an Indirect Purchasing Manager, you will be responsible to:

Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

• Develop and implement sourcing strategies across assigned indirect commodities (e.g., IT, Facilities, Machinery & Equipment, Logistics, Outside Services, MRO, Engineering and Corporate Expenditures).
• Oversee and conduct market research, benchmark pricing, and evaluate emerging trends to inform category strategies.
• Build multi‑year category roadmaps that align with organizational goals and operational needs.

 

Spend Analysis & Cost Optimization

• Analyze spend data to identify consolidation opportunities, inefficiencies, and cost‑saving initiatives.
• Use analytics tools to track spend patterns, supplier performance, and compliance.
• Develop cost models, total cost of ownership (TCO) analyses, and savings forecasts.

 

Supplier Relationship Management

• Source, evaluate, and select suppliers based on quality, cost, capability, and risk profile.
• Lead supplier business reviews, performance scorecards, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Build strategic partnerships that enhance service levels, innovation, and long‑term value.

 

Cost Savings & Value Delivery

• Lead negotiations to secure competitive pricing, favorable terms, and measurable cost reductions.
• Drive year‑over‑year savings targets through strategic sourcing, demand management, and process improvements.
• Identify opportunities to optimize supplier portfolios and eliminate maverick spend.

 

Policy Adherence & Compliance

• Ensure all purchasing activities comply with corporate policies, procedures, and governance standards.
• Enforce contract compliance, ethical sourcing practices, and regulatory requirements.
• Support internal audits and implement corrective actions where needed.

 

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Finance, Legal, Operations, IT, HR, Facilities, Engineering, IT and other stakeholders to understand business requirements.
• Influence decision‑making and align teams on sourcing strategies, supplier selection, and contract terms.
• Facilitate communication between internal teams and suppliers to ensure seamless execution.

 

Risk Management

• Assess supplier risks related to financial stability, operational capability, cybersecurity, and compliance.
• Develop mitigation plans, contingency strategies, and supplier diversification approaches.
• Ensure contracts include appropriate Term