Manager, Regional Direct Category

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.