PROCUREMENT DIRECTOR- NORTH AMERICA - AUTOMOTIVE

MODERN PURCHASING & AUTOMOTIVE PROCUREMENT DIRECTOR- NORTH AMERICA Greater Detroit, Michigan · Reporting to the CEO North America · New position Our client is the global leader , Number one worldwide , in its segment of industrial technical services. The group is highly profitable and continues to grow at a steady pace, organically and through acquisitions, with North America ( $ 100 + M ) as one of its active fronts. Its customers are automotive, aerospace , High Tech , Medical , Life Science , companies, among many others, …where technical standards – manufacturing & engineering - leave little room for approximation. In North America, the business operates a network of sites across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and that network keeps expanding. Purchasing has not kept pace. It is still handled locally and remains largely administrative. The group has decided to address this and is creating the position of Procurement Director for the region, reporting directly to the CEO North America. TO BUILD A MODERN & PROFESSIONAL PURCHASING / PROCUREMENT FUNCTION You will define the regional procurement strategy, put in place the governance, tools and price references that do not yet exist, and move a team of about twelve people from transactional purchasing to strategic sourcing and more . As the group acquires new sites, you will also bring them into the model. The bulk of the spend, over $10M a year, goes to technical and expert subcontracting. Purchase prices here feed straight into gross margin, which makes this category the heart of the job. The supplier base is wide and fragmented, around 800 suppliers ( to serve more than 1000 customers ) ranging from equipment manufacturers to small local specialists, some of whom are also competitors. A further $5M+ covers production-related purchasing, mainly packaging and logistics, while indirect categories are still managed site by site. Plus other indirect categories The mandate is to bring all direct and indirect purchasing into a structured, effective organization: consolidating the supplier base, driving measurable performance, and building long-term supplier development. In both cases, the gains will come from consolidation, intelligent negotiation strategies and practices / execution shared across the three countries. The position is Key for the organisation ; If the model succeeds in North America, it may be extended to other regions. The role therefore carries real visibility with group leadership and a natural path to wider responsibilities. YOU We are looking for a high-potential purchasing leader with an engineering degree (an MBA is a plus) and around +_15 years in purchasing / procurement, including team management. A track record in the automotive industry is expected, ideally with a major Tier 1 supplier reference in modern Purchasing / Procurement approach You have already structured or transformed a purchasing organization, preferably across several sites or countries, and you can show the results: savings delivered, supplier panels consolidated, processes put in place. You know how to buy technical services and negotiate them with credibility. You are as effective in front of an executive committee as at a tough negotiating table. You are hands-on, driven by results, and you want a function to build, not one to maintain. You are authorized to work in the United States. Spanish ( not mandatory ) is a strong asset. The package is competitive and in line with the level of the position. This search is conducted in strict confidence.

View the full posting and apply