Senior Group Manager, Direct Procurement

Ford Motor Company

. Build, lead, and develop a high-performing direct procurement department .

Posted 10/2/2026full-timeDearborn • Michigan • United StatesSenior💰 $141,700 - $268,300 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in direct procurement, strategic sourcing, and category management, with a strong focus on financial performance, supplier risk management, and cross-functional collaboration. Proven ability to lead high-performing teams and drive operational excellence in complex manufacturing environments.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Direct Procurement ExperienceStrategic SourcingSupplier Risk ManagementNegotiation of Supply AgreementsShould-Cost Modeling

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Direct ProcurementStrategic SourcingCategory ManagementShould-Cost ModelingTotal Cost of OwnershipCapital BudgetingRisk AssessmentFinancial Performance ManagementCommodity RoadmapsCost-Reduction Strategies

Soft Skills

Exceptional CommunicationTeam LeadershipMentoringCollaborationInfluencing

Certifications & Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain ManagementMaster’s Degree in Supply Chain Management (Preferred)

Industry Keywords

AutomotiveBattery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)Power ElectronicsHigh-Volume ManufacturingComplex Commodities

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Build, lead, and develop a high-performing direct procurement department
Establish departmental operating rhythms, performance standards, KPIs, workload balancing, and professional development roadmaps
Define departmental budgets, resource allocation, and operational priorities
Define and drive mid- to long-term direct procurement strategy, commodity roadmaps, and sourcing policies across BESS subsystems
Translate business goals into category plans, localization strategies, and multi-year cost-reduction roadmaps
Establish and improve procurement processes, governance frameworks, and supplier risk-management protocols
Own commercial accountability and financial performance for direct procurement spend
Lead negotiations for supply contracts, master service agreements, tooling commitments, capacity reservations, and intellectual property terms
Develop should-cost modeling standards and financial business cases
Evaluate commercial trade-offs and recommend actions protecting profitability and schedule integrity
Conduct stakeholder, market, and supply chain risk analyses
Oversee supplier industrialization, launch readiness, and ramp execution with Manufacturing and Supplier Technical Assistance
Serve as senior escalation point for supplier disputes, commercial claims, and supply continuity disruptions
Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Program Management, Finance, Legal, and Logistics on design-to-value, make-vs.-buy evaluations, and technology roadmaps
Prepare executive briefings and recommendations from commercial, market, and supplier performance data
Represent Ford Energy in senior-level external engagements with supplier leadership

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Purchasing, Business Administration, or Engineering
10+ years of direct procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, or supplier commercial experience
3+ years of formal people leadership experience managing, mentoring, and developing procurement teams
3+ years of experience in automotive, battery energy storage systems (BESS), power electronics, industrial equipment, or high-volume manufacturing environments
3+ years of commercial experience across complex commodities, including power electronics, inverters, thermal management, lithium-ion battery cells/modules, fabricated structural enclosures, or high-voltage electrical distribution
Willingness to travel 25% domestically and internationally
Demonstrated ability to direct a functional department, set strategic direction, manage performance, and foster a collaborative, high-accountability team culture
Proven track record negotiating multi-million-dollar complex supply agreements covering commercial terms, warranties, tooling, capacity, and risk allocation
Deep command of should-cost modeling, total cost of ownership drivers, design-to-cost principles, capital budgeting, and manufacturing cost structures
Ability to diagnose supply chain challenges, conduct risk assessments, and implement mitigation strategies
Exceptional communication skills with experience influencing peer managers, cross-functional partners, executive leadership, and senior external counterparts
Visa sponsorship is not available
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States
Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Purchasing, Business Administration, or Engineering is preferred

Benefits

Comp & perks

Performance-based bonuses
Ford vehicle discounts
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
Adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement
Fertility treatments
Vehicle discount program for employees and family members
Management leases
Tuition assistance
Established and active employee resource groups
Paid time off for individual and team community service
Generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
Paid time off
Option to purchase additional vacation time
Global career opportunities
Flexible work-life options