Direct Category Purchasing Buyer

  • Job Reference: 1108657141-2
  • Date Posted: 8 September 2023
  • Recruiter: Hitachi Astemo
  • Location: Farmington Hills, Michigan
  • Salary: On Application

Job Description

Job Summary:

Responsible for managing all purchasing activities related to their assigned category that are in line with the respective purchasing strategy in their region.

Job Responsibilities:

  • Collect and analyze category specific information.
  • Propose strategic path to Global Category Manager based on the analysis of the information obtained.
  • Propose ideas for cost reduction/avoidance and ongoing opportunities for continuous improvement.
  • Negotiate annually or as needed with suppliers regarding pricing, terms, tooling, commercial clauses, capacity issues, EOL etc.
  • Negotiate and formalize supplier contracts.
  • Lead sourcing decisions in their area of responsibility based on the category strategy and Business Unit expectations and timing requirements.
  • Ensure implementation of category strategy.
  • Support Business Unit for VEC initiatives and corresponding negotiations with suppliers.
  • Develop regional supply base and manage relationships with local suppliers.
  • Drive supplier performance and compliance.
  • Update negotiation strategy based situational changes.
  • Support Business Unit in situations related to supplier issues.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

  • Automotive purchasing strongly preferred.
  • Proven negotiations skills.
  • Results orientation with proven implementation skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including the ability to influence and persuade.
  • Demonstrated collaboration, teamwork, relationship building and networking skills.
  • Experience coordinating and facilitating several small projects and/or one major project.
  • Possess the ability to work independently with minimal direction is required as are strong/effective verbal and written communication skills.
  • Fluent in English/Japanese helpful.


Education: Bachelor or Masters degree in Supply Chain, Business or equivalent.

Experience: Minimum of 3 years experience in purchasing or related field.

Job level determined by various factors such as organization size, responsibility, career stage, and capabilities.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

N/A

Working conditions:

  • Physical Demands: Required to sit or stand for long periods of time. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Have ability to work 40 - 60 hours per week.

  • Travel: The candidate will need to travel to suppliers and/or Hitachi locations as required. International travel may also be required.

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE)-Females/Minorities/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

If you need a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job at Hitachi, please send the nature of request and contact information to am-jobs@. Queries other than accommodation requests will not be responded to.