Senior Category Manager, Plastics

About the Role

The Senior Category Manager, Plastics position is responsible for developing and implementing the regional supply base cost savings ideas and initiatives for divisions in region (covering sub-regions), ensuring that the ideas and initiatives are specific, fact-based, comprehensive, consistent, well-communicated and delivers superior financial returns and a competitive advantage to the business. This individual has primary responsibility for the supplier relationships and drives supplier selection, development, and overall supplier management. 

This role will be involved, to varying degrees, with all aspects of the strategic sourcing process, including project planning, specifications development, supply market research, supplier engagement, evaluation, selection, and new supplier implementation. Leads strategic sourcing activities for assigned sub-categories of spend, capturing savings through purchasing volume, leveraging, and negotiating price, working capital.

The ideal candidate must be comfortable working independently and, in a team, environment involving group representatives with no direct reporting line to the position. A strong ability to influence and convince stake holders is mandatory.
 

Your Responsibilities

• Develop and implement procurement cost savings ideas and initiatives for Magna divisions in Canada, US, and Mexico for sourcing plastic, resin, paint (topcoat, powder, and e-coat) and all chemicals involved, rubber, adhesives, oil bases commodities and gases. 
• Develop and maintain key Supplier relationships will all related Suppliers that manufacture metal components to continually improve the effectiveness of the supply chain.
• Develop adequate and precise cost models and price breakdowns for each component that is manufactured with metals.
• Provide fact-based understanding of bottom-line benefit of all decisions and opportunities.
• Develop expertise in assigned spend categories and distribute learning in his/her network.
• Responsible for Supplier categorization (Strategic, Approved and Phase Out) on a L2(/L3) commodity basis and work with the Divisional Buyers to respect this framework in their daily business and awards of new programs.
• Ensure compliance of internal controls as it relates to company policies and procedures.
• Lead cross-functional teams in design and execution of category sourcing strategies.
• Coordinate all Supplier issues with applicable functional organizations.
• In alignment with global best practices and guidelines, drive standardization of tools and processes linked to the sourcing & purchasing and /or lease of materials and services; conduct and manage the process for the evaluations of proposals, offers and bids.
• Lead, manage, and negotiate contracts and supply agreements in support of overall goals and objectives.
• Lead internal reviews of contracts with required functional areas such as Legal, Finance, etc.
• Keep abreast of professional developments, meet with Suppliers to conduct regular business reviews, and stay updated on business and market conditions, industry trends identifying relevant opportunities and upcoming changes that may affect company and suppliers.
• Identify, prioritize, and implement technical & commercial cost reduction and risk mitigation projects. 

Who we are looking for

• Bachelor's degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, or Business Degree required.
• 5+ years purchasing experience in the automotive industry, engineering, or operations for a large multi-plant enterprise.
• 5+ years purchasing experience, including procurement expertise in direct materials, including but not limited to plastics, resin, paint, and oil-based commodities with responsibility for Canada, USA, and Mexico.
• Thorough understanding of the plastics, resin, paint, rubber, adhesives, and oil-based commodities manufacturing processes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerBI, PowerPoint, Word, and ability to support and lead data analytics.
• Excellent communication, project management, and relationship building skills.
• Strong organizational and presentation skills

Your preferred qualifications

• Ability to work on extremely complex problems where analysis of situations or data requires an evaluation of intangible variables.
• Ability to analyze data to deliver logical conclusions and present data-driven opportunities and solutions using analytic tools and technologies.
• Ability to develop and execute strategies.
• Resourcefulness and ability to devise creative solutions to problems.
• Understanding of market trends, Supplier base, and Supplier economics for category.
• Knowledge in manufacturing process of injection molding, extrusion, and blow molding.
• Expertise in all plastics knowledge and all related products and subproducts that are linked to the oil price trends and needed to produce resin and paint. 
• Ability to Exercise independent judgment in developing methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.
• Ability to effectively communicate and influence key stakeholders to support proposed strategies, process improvements and operational decisions.
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple simultaneous projects with minimal direction.
• Strong negotiations, persuasive, and effective decision-making skills. 
• Strong understanding of contract language
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills and financial acumen to deliver results in a fast-paced environment. 
• Competence in writing reports and making presentations to highlight the effect of cost analysis and changes proposed.
• Hands on experience with spend analytics and IT software. 
• Experience with RFx strategy development and use of e-Sourcing tools.

What we offer

Site Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans 
• 401 (k) plan with employer matching 
• Exciting internal development opportunities 
• Profit sharing program 
• Cafe
• Motorcycle and electric vehicle parking 

Awareness. Unity. Empowerment.