Manager, Buyer Strategic Sourcing Software

Ford Motor Company

. Lead the commercial transformation toward Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) architectures, ensuring software modularity and reusability are reflected in contract structures .

Posted 4/21/2026full-timeDearborn • California, Missouri • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorLead💰 $112,680 - $212,760 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead the commercial transformation toward Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) architectures, ensuring software modularity and reusability are reflected in contract structures
Own and lead sourcing strategy for in‑vehicle and embedded software categories, aligned to Ford’s technical roadmaps and long‑term business priorities
Act as the primary commercial owner for strategic software suppliers, accountable for relationship health, performance, cost, and risk
Partner with engineering, product, legal, and finance leaders to shape make/buy decisions, supplier selection, and contract strategy
Drive end‑to‑end commercial execution, including licensing purchases, renewals, change management, cost governance, and supplier performance reviews
Develop and maintain total cost of ownership (TCO) models, benchmarks, and market intelligence to support executive‑level decisions
Conduct 'should-cost' analysis and technical benchmarking to validate supplier pricing models for complex software development (Agile/Scrum-based delivery)
Lead complex negotiations across licensing, development, supply, and services agreements, balancing cost, flexibility, IP protection, and long‑term partnership value
Design and synthesize supplier, market, and industry research to anticipate risks, identify opportunities, and inform strategy
Establish and evolve supplier performance frameworks to support future sourcing and investment decisions
Identify and execute sourcing alternatives to improve cost efficiency, resilience, and scalability across the software supply chain
Drive continuous improvement of software sourcing and licensing processes across global, cross‑functional teams
Represent software sourcing perspectives in senior leadership discussions, influencing outcomes beyond direct reporting lines

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
7+ years of experience in software sourcing, supply chain, commodity management, software product management, or software engineering within automotive, electronics, or consumer technology environments
5+ years of experience owning software licensing purchases and renewals for production programs
5+ years of demonstrated success leading strategic sourcing initiatives, financial analysis, and complex contract negotiations
Strong working knowledge of software commercial models, legal frameworks, and supplier ecosystems
Ability to influence and align senior and executive stakeholders across engineering, legal, finance, manufacturing, and product organizations
Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data, market signals, and ambiguity into clear recommendations
Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with a track record of navigating high‑stakes, cross‑company decisions
Must be comfortable operating with limited structure and evolving priorities.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
Tuition assistance
Established and active employee resource groups
Paid time off for individual and team community service
A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

software sourcingsoftware licensingfinancial analysiscontract negotiationstotal cost of ownership (TCO) modelsshould-cost analysisAgileScrumsupplier performance frameworkscost governance

Soft Skills

influencing stakeholdersanalytical skillscommunication skillsnegotiation skillscross-functional collaborationstrategic thinkingrelationship managementproblem-solvingadaptabilityleadership

Certifications

Bachelor’s degree