Sr. Program Purchasing Buyer

Req ID 86483 | Gbl Elec HQ - Farmington Hills, United States ZF Active Safety and Electronics US LLC

Job Description

About the Team:
The team supports end to end program purchasing by working closely with engineering, manufacturing, and suppliers to ensure on time launches, cost competitiveness, and supply continuity. They drive sourcing excellence, manage risks, and continuously improve cost, quality, and delivery performance across the product lifecycle.

What you can look forward to as Sr Program Purchasing Buyer:

• Act as the purchasing representative for assigned programs, leading sourcing and procurement activities to support successful new product launches and program execution.
• Coordinate cross‑functionally with Engineering, Project Management, Logistics, Plants, and shared services to ensure timely deliveries, supplier readiness, and transparent communication and execution.
• Manage Bill of Material (BOM) cost, drive cost‑reduction initiatives, and implement VA/VE, localization, tariff mitigation, and productivity improvement actions.
• Take a leading role in providing purchasing input to the CQA (Customer Quote Analysis) team, driving alignment of product BOM costs with cross‑functional stakeholders through a forward‑looking cost strategy.
• Lead supplier sourcing, evaluation, nomination, and performance management to meet Quality, Cost, and Delivery (QCD) targets throughout the product lifecycle.
• Support sourcing preparation, RFQs, negotiations, contracts, tooling, prototypes, and capacity planning in alignment with commodity and purchasing strategies.
• Monitor program and supplier risks, including capacity constraints, material shortages, engineering changes, and lifecycle topics such as CRB (Change Review Board), LTB (Last Time Buy / Bridge), and make‑versus‑buy decisions.
• Track sourcing status, savings, and program metrics; maintain purchasing documentation, support continuous improvement, and ensure compliance with policies and processes.

Your profile as Sr Program Purchasing Buyer:

• Bachelors degree required
• A minimum of 6+ years of experience in purchasing or supplier development
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, Good at spoken English
• Structured and organized, outspoken personality
• Advanced skills in Excel/Word/PowerPoint) and SAP
• High assertiveness and negotiation skills
• Continuous improvements mind set
• Experience in automotive electronics business
• Knowledge of automotive APQP/PPAP and Gate review process

What We Offer:

• A supportive collaborative team environment
• Annual Incentive Plan
• Paid Vacation
• 401k Plan
• Health Care Benefits
• Paid Holidays
• A Hybrid Work Schedule (2 days remote/3 days onsite)
• A strong diversity culture
• Supportive Employee Groups and community outreach activities

Be part of our ZF team as Sr. Program Purchasing Buyer and apply now!

Contact

Bethany Vijayakumar

DIVERSITY COMMITMENT:
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are more than just words for us. They are at the core of the ZF Way that propels our team members towards their utmost success. We strive to build and nurture a culture where inclusiveness is a natural reflex. We actively seek ways to remove barriers so that every member of ZF can rise to their full potential. We aim to embed this in our legacy through how we operate and build our products as we shape next generation mobility, safety, sustainability and social justice.

With four generations across 118 nationalities in 41 countries, ZF combines a unique variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas. Together, we solve problems, drive innovation and shape next generation mobility.

Our company is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment with us and are in need of accommodation or special assistance to navigate our website or to complete your application, please contact us. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. ZF is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law. Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer M/F/Disability/Veteran