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.

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.

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.