Project Purchasing Buyer

Location: Walker, MI

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 and raw materials used in manufacturing of finished good assemblies. The position will be involved in the complete lifecycle of parts from pre-sourcing and product development activities to service requirements and end-of-life winddown.

What You’ll Do

• Manage several procurement activities and multiple tasks at once
• Participate, under minimum supervision, in broad assignments requiring originality and ingenuity
• Team player, detail oriented, structured, and persistent
• Influencing and supporting our internal stakeholders with regards to their Procurement needs
• Provide timely, effective, and efficient status reports on work in progress
• Issue Request for Quotation (RFQ) for raw material, production parts and tool outsourcing
• Prepare the commercial bid analysis of proposals received
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms and terms and conditions of purchase with suppliers
• Management of contract negotiations with support from the legal and leadership team
• Issues Purchase Orders in accordance with schedule constraints
• Works closely with other disciplines, such as engineering, program management, accounting, operations, and quality to meet project requirements
• Liaise between suppliers, manufacturers and relevant internal departments and customers
• Leading and managing relationships with key suppliers throughout the program lifecycle
• Evaluate cost data and work diligently to identify cost saving opportunities
• Maintains awareness of current and future market conditions and the probable effect on the supply and prices of equipment, materials and/or services
• Help develop strategic supplier initiatives within the purchase part commodity utilizing the Company’s detailed forecast model
• Work collaboratively with Challenge’s finance team to evaluate supplier risk and reduce exposure to the company through diversification of supply chain and analysis of supplier performance
• Promote transparent communications between supplier and customer regarding manufacturing limitations and/or opportunities

When and Where

This will be a 8AM-5PMM-F position located at our Corporate Office in Walker, MI.

What You Need to Have

• 1-3 years of relevant experience in a similar Industry
• General purchasing knowledge with experience in using MS Office and ERP tools
• Reliable in fulfilling obligations and consistently meets deadlines
• Experience in sourcing activities, negotiations, engineering, design and project management related activities
• This position requires a highly motivated individual with excellent analysis and problem-solving skills, good interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to multi-task
• Ability to form and lead cross functional teams
• Analytical skills with ability to capture total economic impact of multiple business alternatives
• Knowledge of quality system requirements such as ISO 9000
• Proactive, energetic and ability to handle stress
• Perform responsibilities with a sense of energy, ownership and personal commitment to the work and the overall work environment
• Bachelor’s Degree from a 4-year college or university
• Tool and die purchasing experience
• Experience in a project related SCM environment
• This position requires a highly motivated individual with excellent analysis and problem-solving skills, good interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to multi-task
• Reliable in fulfilling obligations and consistently meets deadlines
• Encourages others to be accountable for commitments in their areas of responsibility
• Able to effectively communicate at all levels in the organization
• Cooperative and flexible attitude
• Ambition and team spirit required