Category Manager

Posted 8 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
Dearborn, MI, USA
Hybrid
116K-218K Annually
Senior level
Automotive
The Role
Lead global category strategy and end-to-end sourcing for critical components. Drive supplier selection, complex negotiations, and long-term cost and commodity strategies. Manage supplier performance, ensure supply continuity for production, mitigate risk, and influence senior leadership to align sourcing decisions with business, engineering, and financial objectives.
Summary Generated by Built In

Category Manager
We made history and now we work to transform the future – for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.

In this position...
Do you want to help shape the future of mobility? For 118 years, Ford Motor Company has reinvented itself through constant change. Today, we are transforming how we build the future by combining our legacy of iconic vehicles with world-class connected battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
Model e is leading Ford’s global EV and digital transformation—scaling electric vehicles, strengthening operations, and unlocking enterprise value. We combine startup speed with the scale and discipline of high-volume manufacturing.
Inspired by programs like the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning™, Model e is building software-defined, fully connected vehicle platforms that enable always-on, continuously improving customer experiences. Our goal is 50%+ BEV sales and 33 million connected vehicles by 2030.
We are building a world-class team across supply chain, software, electrical, and automotive disciplines to deliver the future of electric and connected vehicles.
 

What you'll do...

  • Own and lead global category strategy for critical components, aligning sourcing decisions with business, engineering, and financial objectives  

  • Drive end-to-end sourcing execution for new programs, including supplier selection, negotiations, and executive-level approvals  

  • Lead complex supplier negotiations to deliver optimal outcomes across cost, quality, technology, and supply continuity  

  • Manage strategic supplier relationships and performance, ensuring accountability while proactively mitigating risk  

  • Ensure supply continuity for serial production, resolving commercial issues and leading cross-functional escalations as needed  

  • Develop and execute multi-year cost and commodity strategies, including annual savings targets and long-term roadmaps  

  • Build forward-looking supply base strategies (3-, 5-, and 10-year outlooks) using market intelligence and capacity planning  

  • Influence senior leadership and cross-functional teams to align on sourcing strategies, key trade-offs, and business decisions  
    You'll have...

  • Bachelor’s degree 

  • 7+ years of experience in automotive procurement, strategic sourcing, or supply chain management, including production purchasing  

  • 7+ years of experience leading sourcing initiatives, including supplier selection, negotiations, and delivering measurable cost, quality, and supply improvements  

  • 7+ years of experience operating in global supply chains, with strong commercial acumen and understanding of market dynamics  

  • Proven ability to lead complex negotiations and influence senior/executive-level stakeholders  

  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate technical and business inputs into actionable sourcing decisions  

  • Demonstrated ability to operate independently and manage high-impact, ambiguous challenges with a high degree of ownership  

     

     

    Even better, you may have...

  • Experience in semiconductor sourcing or advanced electronic components within automotive or adjacent industries  

  • Experience developing and executing long-term category or commodity strategies (3–10 year horizon)  

  • Demonstrated leadership presence with experience mentoring or guiding less experienced team members  

  • Track record of driving cross-functional alignment across engineering, finance, and operations teams
    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.
     

This position is leadership level 6 and ranges from $115,500-$218,100.     
Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.
For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL6

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. #LI-Hybrid

   #LI-RR2 
 

Responsibilities

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Qualifications

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Skills Required

  • Bachelor's degree
  • 7+ years of experience in automotive procurement, strategic sourcing, or supply chain management, including production purchasing
  • 7+ years of experience leading sourcing initiatives, including supplier selection, negotiations, and delivering measurable cost, quality, and supply improvements
  • 7+ years of experience operating in global supply chains, with strong commercial acumen and understanding of market dynamics
  • Proven ability to lead complex negotiations and influence senior/executive-level stakeholders
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to translate technical and business inputs into actionable sourcing decisions
  • Demonstrated ability to operate independently and manage high-impact, ambiguous challenges with a high degree of ownership
  • Experience in semiconductor sourcing or advanced electronic components within automotive or adjacent industries
  • Experience developing and executing long-term category or commodity strategies (3-10 year horizon)
  • Demonstrated leadership presence with experience mentoring or guiding less experienced team members
  • Track record of driving cross-functional alignment across engineering, finance, and operations teams

Ford Motor Company Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Ford Motor Company and has not been reviewed or approved by Ford Motor Company.

  • Pay Growth & Progression The 2023 UAW–Ford agreement delivered immediate raises, restored cost-of-living adjustments, and accelerated progression to top rates for many hourly roles. These changes improved earnings trajectories compared with pre-2023 levels.
  • Healthcare Strength Hourly employees retained very low employee cost-sharing under the 2023–2028 UAW–Ford agreement, and salaried materials describe comprehensive day‑one medical, dental, and prescription coverage. Mental-health support and family‑building benefits add depth to the overall health package.
  • Retirement Support U.S. salaried roles feature a notable 401(k) contribution and match structure, and post‑2023 updates increased retirement contributions for many UAW‑represented employees. Together these elements strengthen long‑term financial security.

Ford Motor Company Insights

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The Company
HQ: Dearborn, MI
175,633 Employees
Year Founded: 1903

What We Do

Ford is a global company with shared ideals and a deep sense of family. From our earliest days as a pioneer of modern transportation, we have sought to make the world a better place – one that benefits lives, communities and the planet. We are here to provide the means for every person to move and pursue their dreams, serving as a bridge between personal freedom and the future of mobility. In that pursuit, our 186,000 employees around the world help to set the pace of innovation every day.

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