What are the responsibilities and job description for the Manager, Regional Direct Category position at Astemo?
The Category Manager is responsible for contributing to the development and execution of global category strategies and managing a small team of regional buyers. This role leads supplier relationships, oversees procurement activities, and drives performance improvement initiatives across assigned commodities. The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker with deep sourcing expertise, capable of working across global teams and leading issue escalation when needed.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide input into the global category strategy and ensure alignment with business objectives
- Lead and develop regional buyers, supporting their professional growth and performance
- Collaborate with the Global Category Team to identify and escalate issues related to cost, quality, and supply
- Build and manage strategic relationships with key local suppliers
- Collect, analyze, and report category-specific data to support sourcing strategy and budgeting
- Propose strategic direction to the Global Category Manager based on market and supplier insights
- Identify and implement opportunities for cost reduction, value engineering, and continuous improvement
- Lead supplier negotiations on pricing, terms, tooling, capacity, and commercial clauses including end-of-life considerations
- Negotiate and formalize supplier contracts in line with corporate policies
- Drive supplier compliance and performance through regular reviews and corrective actions
- Adjust sourcing and negotiation strategies as market conditions evolve
- Act as a primary point of contact for supplier-related issues impacting Business Units
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or a related field
- Minimum 3 years of experience in purchasing or a related function
- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed, including visits to suppliers and Astemo facilities
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in automotive procurement strongly preferred
- Proven leadership in regional and/or global sourcing teams
- Strong background in sourcing electromechanical functional parts, such as PCBs, sensors, connectors, wire harnesses, motors, magnets, and inverter components
- Bilingual fluency in English and Japanese is an asset
Skills and Competencies
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Proven negotiation and contract management expertise
- Results-oriented with demonstrated ability to deliver on strategic goals
- Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with a collaborative mindset
- Ability to build and manage effective cross-functional relationships and supplier networks
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Supervisory Responsibilities
- This position will have direct supervisory responsibilities over regional purchasing staff
Working Conditions
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to sit for extended periods and work at a computer
- Visual ability to analyze detailed information and data on-screen
Work Environment:
- Office and factory environments; occasional exposure to noise in manufacturing settings
- Domestic and international travel required for supplier engagement and business meetings
If you’re a proactive sourcing professional with a strategic mindset and a passion for innovation in automotive supply chains, we encourage you to apply and Own the Future with Astemo.