Strategic Purchasing Manager Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

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 Terms and Conditions protections for liability, data security, and business continuity.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain management.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience managing complex supplier relationships.
• Proficiency in procurement systems (QAD, Intelex, BPM, Power BI etc.) and spend analytics tools.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver cost savings and manage multiple categories.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and project leadership skills.

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinking
• Analytical problem‑solving
• Negotiation & influence
• Supplier management
• Financial acumen
• Risk mitigation
• Cross‑functional collaboration
• Policy & compliance discipline

Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, or related field (Master’s preferred).

This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored work authorization. Do not apply for this role if you will need immigration sponsorship now or in the future. This includes direct company sponsorship, entry of Nexteer as the immigration employer of record on a government form, and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (e.g., H1-B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.)

Nexteer is an Equal Opportunity Employer Disabled/Minorities/Veterans/Women

Nexteer is an E-Verify employer. E-Verify is an internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows participating employees to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees in the United States.

Accessibility for Applicants with Disabilities: If you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please email careers@nexteer.com. Please provide your contact information and details about the posted position of interest. Only inquiries regarding assistance for those who need an accommodation with the online application process due to a disability will be returned.

About Nexteer

Nexteer Automotive is a global leader in advanced steering and motion control systems, enabling intuitive, safe, and comfortable mobility for drivers around the world. Our innovative product portfolio includes Electric Power Steering (EPS), Steer-by-Wire™, Driveline, and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) technologies that support electrification, software-defined vehicles, and autonomous driving.

With approximately 13,000 employees and operations in more than 20 manufacturing plants and multiple technical centers globally, Nexteer partners with nearly every major global and regional automotive manufacturer.