Category Manager

Ford Motor Company

Category Manager leading sourcing strategies for critical components at Ford. Overseeing negotiations, supplier relations, and commodity strategies to enhance vehicle production.

Posted 4/28/2026full-timeDearborn • Missouri • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorLead💰 $115,500 - $218,100 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Own and lead global category strategy for critical components, aligning sourcing decisions with business, engineering, and financial objectives
Drive end-to-end sourcing execution for new programs, including supplier selection, negotiations, and executive-level approvals
Lead complex supplier negotiations to deliver optimal outcomes across cost, quality, technology, and supply continuity
Manage strategic supplier relationships and performance, ensuring accountability while proactively mitigating risk
Ensure supply continuity for serial production, resolving commercial issues and leading cross-functional escalations as needed
Develop and execute multi-year cost and commodity strategies, including annual savings targets and long-term roadmaps
Build forward-looking supply base strategies (3-, 5-, and 10-year outlooks) using market intelligence and capacity planning
Influence senior leadership and cross-functional teams to align on sourcing strategies, key trade-offs, and business decisions

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field
7+ years of experience in automotive procurement, strategic sourcing, or supply chain management, including production purchasing
7+ years of experience leading sourcing initiatives, including supplier selection, negotiations, and delivering measurable cost, quality, and supply improvements
7+ years of experience operating in global supply chains, with strong commercial acumen and understanding of market dynamics
Proven ability to lead complex negotiations and influence senior/executive-level stakeholders
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate technical and business inputs into actionable sourcing decisions
Demonstrated ability to operate independently and manage high-impact, ambiguous challenges with a high degree of ownership.

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

strategic sourcingsupplier selectionnegotiationscost managementquality managementsupply chain managementmarket intelligencecapacity planningcommodity strategiesproduction purchasing

Soft Skills

leadershipanalytical skillsproblem-solvinginfluencecommunicationaccountabilityrisk managementcross-functional collaborationownershipdecision-making

Certifications

Bachelor’s degree