Buyer - Rare Earth Metals at Ford Motor Company

Job Description

Buyer - Rare Earth Minerals

We are the movers of the world and the makers of the future. We get up every day, roll up our sleeves and build a better world -- together. At Ford, we’re all a part of something bigger than ourselves. Are you ready to change the way the world moves?

What you'll do...

Procurement & Negotiation:

Negotiate pricing, delivery schedules, payment terms, and other commercial conditions with rare earth suppliers to achieve optimal cost and value for Ford.

Manage supplier contracts, ensuring compliance with agreed-upon terms and conditions.

Identify and pursue cost reduction opportunities through negotiation, process improvements, or alternative sourcing.

Supplier Relationship Management:

Maintain strong, professional relationships with assigned rare earth suppliers, acting as the primary point of contact for operational purchasing matters.

Monitor supplier performance against key metrics (e.g., on-time delivery, quality, cost) and address any deviations or issues promptly.

Facilitate regular communication with suppliers to ensure alignment on demand forecasts, production plans, and potential supply challenges.

Demand & Inventory Management Support:

Collaborate with production planning and logistics teams as well as any necessary Tier 1+ suppliers to ensure accurate demand forecasts for rare earth components.

Address and resolve operational supply issues, such as delivery delays, quality discrepancies, or quantity mismatches.

Risk Mitigation (Operational Focus):

Identify and report potential supply risks related to rare earth materials (e.g., short-term capacity constraints, quality issues).

Work with suppliers and internal teams to implement immediate corrective actions and maintain continuity of supply.

Escalate significant supply chain risks to the Rare Earth Commodity Manager for strategic resolution.

Cross-functional Collaboration:

Work closely with Ford and Tier 1+ Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, and Logistics teams to understand technical specifications, quality requirements, and delivery needs for rare earth materials.

Support new product introduction (NPI) by ensuring timely procurement of rare earths for prototypes and pre-production builds.

Participate in cross-functional teams to resolve rare earth and magnet-related issues and drive process improvements.

Market Awareness:

Stay informed about market trends, material availability, and technological advancements related to magnets and rare earth elements.

Provide input to the Rare Earth Commodity Manager on potential new suppliers or market shifts.

You'll have...

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field.

2+ years of experience in purchasing, procurement, or supply chain operations, preferably within the automotive, electronics, or a similar manufacturing industry.

2+ years of experience with technical components or materials, with direct exposure to critical mineral procurement being a significant advantage.

Proven Negotiation Skills And Experience Managing Supplier Relationships.

Even better, you may have...

Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to address operational challenges and optimize purchasing decisions.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of building effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP) and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint).

Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic global environment.

Understanding of basic supply chain principles and purchasing best practices.

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!

As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder…or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:

• 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.
  
  
  

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/GSRSP1

This position is a range of salary grades 5-8

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.

This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week.