Purchasing Manager North America

We are seeking a highly skilled Purchasing Manager for our North America Business Unit at Safran Electrical Components (SEC).

In this leadership role, you will ensure the acquisition of product components, equipment, and services with optimal Quality/Cost/Delivery conditions. Your responsibilities will align with the division's budgetary and financial objectives, in accordance with our strategic goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

- Global Sourcing & Purchasing: Oversee the procurement of direct (product-related) and indirect (non-product related) materials and services, collaborating with SEC Europe and adhering to SEC Purchasing strategy.

- Setting & Strategy Implementation: Define and implement targets and roadmaps for the Purchasing team, ensuring alignment with SEC objectives.

- Cost Advantage & Efficiency: Drive competitive advantage considering total cost, quality, on-time delivery, price, lead times, inventory, and payment terms.

- Leadership in Negotiations: Lead major program/commodity/supplier purchasing negotiations with expertise and authority.

- Digitalization Support: Advocate and role model the use of digital tools to enhance purchasing functions' efficiency and competitiveness.

- Supplier Collaboration: Initiate and foster supplier value analysis/value engineering actions, and push for validation with internal and external stakeholders.

-Cost Tracking & Forecasting: Monitor key cost drivers and market factors to make informed decisions.

- Supplier Performance Management: Develop accountability for supplier quality and delivery performance, supporting recovery plans alongside Group Supplier Development managers.

- Long-term Partnerships: Create and maintain mutually beneficial partnerships with suppliers, promoting continuous improvement and QCD (Quality/Cost/Delivery) enhancements.

- Process Improvement: Continuously drive improvements in all aspects of the procurement process.

- Reporting & Documentation: Maintain and report on purchasing cost indicators and supplier performance for the NA Region.

- Safety & Attendance: Adhere to safe work practices and contribute to the evolution of our health, safety, and environmental program and culture. Regular, predictable attendance is essential.

Frequent travel to the sites within the responsibility scope and suppliers' locations: US, Mexico (Chihuahua), Canada (London).

To excel in this role, the ideal candidate must demonstrate the following:

Education and Experience:

- Background: Bachelor's Degree in Business, Engineering, Purchasing, or a related field.
- Experience: 8+ years of purchasing negotiation experience in fast-paced manufacturing sectors (Aerospace, Automotive, High-tech), or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 5 years of management/supervisory experience with a team of 5+ members.

Skills and Expertise:

- Leadership: Initiative-taking with expert-level skills in leading a purchasing team in demanding environments.

- Negotiation & Relationship Management: Demonstrated ability to drive successful supplier relationships and negotiations.

-Strategic Improvement: Expert in identifying, proposing, and implementing strategic improvements to organization, procedures, and workflows.

- Financial Acumen: Strong analytical skills and financial controlling capabilities.

- Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

- Technical Proficiency: Expert in using large Excel/Access databases for data mining.

-Lean Manufacturing: Experienced in lean manufacturing, productivity workshops, quality systems, and process audits.

- Contract Management: Proficient in legal contract management and negotiation.

-Cross-functional Collaboration: Skilled in working within a cross-functional and international business team environment.