Senior Global Commodity Manager, Automation Strategy, Purchasing

General Motors

Senior Global Commodity Manager leading automation strategy, sourcing, and deployment for GM's global purchasing. Collaborating with various teams to optimize efficiency in manufacturing and logistics.

Posted 4/26/2026full-timeWarren • Missouri • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead and develop a team of purchasing professionals and automation strategy leaders supporting equipment, controls, and robotics.
Build an inclusive, high-performance culture focused on safety, innovation & disruption, data-driven decision making, and continuous improvement.
Ensure the right technical and leadership bench strength through thoughtful staffing, coaching, succession planning, and performance management.
Develop the automation purchasing and strategy vision for GPSC, including multi-year roadmaps for automation platforms, suppliers, standards, and commercial models.
Align automation strategy with vehicle and propulsion program cycles, capacity plans, industrialization/automation strategies, and plant network changes.
Establish and own KPIs for automation performance (e.g., launch readiness, availability, OEE impacts, cost, quality, safety) and drive improvement against targets.
Develop and execute global commodity strategies for automation categories (e.g., robotics, controls, material handling systems, vision systems, automated storage/retrieval, MES interfaces, services).
Segment the supply base, define preferred/strategic partners, and negotiate commercial agreements that optimize total cost of ownership, lifecycle support, and innovation access.
Lead supplier risk, resiliency, and capacity assessments for critical automation technologies; define and implement mitigation plans.
Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Logistics & Packaging, and plant teams to ensure automation sourcing and strategy are integrated early in program planning and GVDP milestones.
Support development of standardized specifications, design standards, and repeatable solutions that reduce complexity and enable reuse of automation designs.
Provide oversight and escalation support for key automation sourcing events, launches, and issue resolution, ensuring alignment to timing, budget, and performance requirements.
Reimagine and standardize purchasing and supplier management processes related to automation (from sourcing through lifecycle management) to improve speed, transparency, and control.
Leverage digital tools, analytics, and automation to manage spend, performance, and risk (e.g., standardized RFQ workflows, cost models, should-cost, supplier performance dashboards).

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing), Business, or related field.
Minimum 10+ years of progressive experience in purchasing, supply chain, operations, or manufacturing engineering, with significant exposure to automation equipment, controls, or robotics.
Demonstrated people leadership experience, including direct leadership of teams (typically 4–5+ direct reports) and talent development across diverse technical and commercial skill sets.
Proven success leading complex, cross-functional, and global initiatives in a matrixed environment, from strategy through implementation and value realization.
Deep knowledge of sourcing, supplier management, and contract/commercial structures for capital equipment and/or automation solutions, including risk and lifecycle cost management.
Experience supporting or leading automation programs in manufacturing or logistics (e.g., robotic cells, automated material handling, advanced controls, integrated systems).
Strong strategic orientation, analytical capability, and executive communication skills; able to simplify technical complexity and influence senior leaders.
Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity, drive change, and challenge the status quo while maintaining strong relationships and alignment.
High learning agility and comfort operating in a fast-changing environment with evolving technologies and competing priorities.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health insurance
401(k) matching
Flexible work hours
Paid time off
Professional development opportunities

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

purchasingsupply chain managementoperations managementmanufacturing engineeringautomation equipmentcontrolsroboticssourcingsupplier managementcontract management

Soft Skills

people leadershiptalent developmentstrategic orientationanalytical capabilityexecutive communicationchange managementrelationship managementinfluenceproblem-solvinglearning agility