Sr Project Purchasing Buyer

Who We Are:
Challenge Manufacturing’s mission is to manufacture with operational excellence by empowering our employee-owners. As a leading tier 1 supplier of complex metal assemblies for the global automotive industry, we drive innovative solutions for future mobility. We believe the best ideas come from individual unique perspectives. These ideas combined with the teamwork of industry leaders allow us to accomplish any challenge. Our team members take pride in the work we do and embody our core values of safety, ownership, and teamwork every day; they are the true driving force in our operations.

Challenge is proud to be one of the largest employee-owned automotive companies in North America. One of the many benefits of joining the Challenge team is the ESOP program. This program allows Challenge to give shares of the Company to all employee-owners annually. These shares are an additional retirement benefit that will continue to grow during your time at Challenge. Being part of an ESOP means our employee-owners share in Challenge’s success!

Challenge is #QualityDriven and #PeoplePowered!

Who We Want:

The Project Purchasing Buyer position is responsible for coordinating the sourcing of component parts & outside services used in manufacturing of finished good assemblies. The position will be involved in the complete lifecycle of parts from Early Source, Product Development, Production, Engineering Changes, End of Life and Service needs.

What You'll Do:

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and evaluate potential suppliers.

• Work with engineering to understand sourcing specifications and requirements.

• Negotiate the establishment of commercial contracts, including, but not limited to, piece price, tooling, freight, and payment terms.

• Responsible for issuing Purchase Order amendments pursuant to engineering and/or commercial changes.

• Periodically update Purchase Orders to reflect market-indexed pricing.

• Coordinate the communication and supplier quoting of product changes required by the internal engineering team.

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with suppliers to foster collaboration and ensure a reliable supply chain.

• Monitor supplier performance and implement continuous improvement initiatives.

• Analyze market trends and pricing to make informed decisions on cost-effective sourcing.

• Implement cost-saving strategies without compromising quality or delivery timelines.

• Identify and assess potential risks in the supply chain, developing strategies to mitigate disruptions.

• Evaluate capability, capacity, and quality certification data of potential suppliers.

• Proactively address issues related to supplier capacity, lead times, and quality concerns.

• Support the finance team in examining and resolving any concerns related to invoicing or pricing.

• Communicate end of program life to relevant teams, including supply chain and operations teams, to minimize the financial impacts of inventory obsolescence and promote accurate business planning.

• Assist Sales department with all Obsolescence claims with customers.

• Promote transparent communications between supplier and customer regarding manufacturing limitations and/or opportunities.

When and Where:
This will be a 8 AM - 5 PM M-F position located at our Corporate Office in Walker, MI.
Occasionally, this may require you to arrive early, stay late, or work on weekends, outside of our regular hours, to ensure we successfully meet customer needs, deadlines, or urgent requests.

What You Need to Have:

• Degree from a 4-year college or university

• Proven experience in procurement, purchasing, or supply chain roles, preferably in a manufacturing environment

• ERP systems knowledge (experience with Plex a plus)

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel

• Strong communication and collaboration skills

• Motivated and results-driven personality

• Proficient in negotiation skills

• Highly organized with strong time management skills

• Operates with a sense of urgency to fulfill the requirements of customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders

• Working knowledge of quality systems

• Embraces change positively, focusing on its benefits, and seeing it as a learning opportunity.

• Seeks the positive in others, collaborates effectively, and shares information and knowledge

• Adheres to the scheduled work hours and ensures coverage during absences

What We Offer:
We’re excited to offer a range of awesome benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a Health Savings Account with annual employer contributions, Flexible Spending Accounts, company-paid Short-Term Disability and Basic Life Insurance, Voluntary Life and Long-Term Disability options, an Employer 401k Match, ESOP shares, tuition reimbursement, a Referral Bonus Program, Challenge Incentive Program, and paid time off.

Please note, while these benefits are part of what we offer, they may not all apply to this specific role. The details shared in this job description are intended to give you a general idea, but duties and responsibilities may evolve over time, with or without notice. And of course, we’re happy to provide reasonable accommodations to help individuals with disabilities succeed in their role.