Indirect Procurement Buyer

Description

At Ford, we are committed to delivering operational excellence through strategic supplier partnerships and efficient procurement practices.

As an Indirect Procurement Buyer, you will support end-to-end procurement activities, supplier engagement, sourcing initiatives, and compliance processes across indirect spend categories. This role combines transactional purchasing responsibilities with strategic sourcing support and requires strong analytical, commercial, and stakeholder management skills.

You will contribute to supplier performance improvement, sourcing strategies, risk management, cost reduction initiatives, and procurement governance while ensuring adherence to company policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

Procurement Operations

• Process purchase requisitions and create purchase orders accurately and efficiently.
• Review procurement requests to ensure policy and procedural compliance.
• Support procurement execution for business projects and operational requirements.
• Monitor purchase order status and supplier fulfilment performance.
• Maintain procurement records and documentation.

Invoice and Payment Management

• Monitor open invoices and payment exceptions.
• Collaborate with suppliers, Accounts Payable teams, approvers, and stakeholders to resolve payment issues.
• Support timely invoice processing and supplier payments.
• Identify recurring payment issues and drive corrective actions.

Audit and Compliance

• Conduct purchase order release reviews and compliance audits.
• Support annual Contract Management System (CMS) audits.
• Maintain procurement documentation and audit readiness.
• Ensure adherence to procurement controls, policies, and governance requirements.

Sourcing and Supplier Management

• Support strategic sourcing projects, supplier evaluations, and supplier selection activities.
• Participate in supplier negotiations and commercial discussions.
• Assist in developing annual and multi-year commercial agreements.
• Monitor supplier performance using cost, quality, delivery, and service metrics.
• Identify supplier development and continuous improvement opportunities.

Commodity Strategy and Cost Optimisation

• Support development and execution of commodity and category sourcing strategies.
• Analyse market trends, supplier capabilities, and cost structures.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction, process efficiency, and value improvement.
• Support localisation and supplier footprint optimisation initiatives.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Partner with Finance, Operations, Logistics, Legal, and Supplier Management teams.
• Communicate sourcing recommendations, supplier updates, and procurement insights.
• Build effective relationships with internal stakeholders and suppliers.
• Support cross-functional business initiatives and procurement transformation projects.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience in procurement, purchasing, sourcing, supply chain, or supplier management.
• Knowledge of procurement processes, sourcing methodologies, and supplier management principles.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and negotiation skills.
• Experience working with ERP or procurement systems (SAP, Ariba, Coupa, Oracle, or equivalent).
• Strong Microsoft Excel and data analysis skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively with cross-functional teams.

  Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in indirect procurement categories.
• Experience in automotive or manufacturing environments.
• Exposure to strategic sourcing and commercial negotiations.
• Knowledge of contract management processes.
• Experience supporting cost optimisation and supplier performance initiatives.
• Familiarity with procurement analytics and reporting tools such as Power BI.
• Professional procurement certification (CIPS, CPSM, ISM, or equivalent).