Maple Buyer Transformation

Job Title: Maple Buyer- Transformation

Location: Argentina or Brazil DRiV offices

Work Arrangement: ON-SITE

Tenneco is one of the world’s leading designer, manufacturers, and marketers of automotive products for original equipment and aftermarket customers, with approximately 65,000 team members working at more than 200 sites worldwide. Through our four business groups, DRiV, Performance Solutions, Clean Air and Powertrain, Tenneco is driving advancements in global mobility by delivering technology solutions for diversified global markets, including light vehicle, commercial truck, off-highway, industrial, motorsport and the aftermarket.

Based in one of our LATAM central offices, the Buyer, Transformation will directly report to the Purchasing Director, Shocks and Struts.  The Buyer will define, direct and control a key strategic transformation initiative within the DRiV organization.

The transformation team is identifying and implementing, together with the Purchasing organization & the other support functions, a set of business changing initiatives that will allow DRiV to become a better than best in class Aftermarket organization

At DRiV & within the transformation teams, we know that it takes bold moves to unlock the true potential of the automotive aftermarket. Through uncompromised integrity, exceptional engineering, and elite manufacturing, we’re moving our brands into the future to better serve our customers.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work with the regional and global DRiV teams to challenge status quo by identifying, proposing, launching a new initiative that will provide significant impact to DRiV P&L (top & bottom line).
• Self motivated with a strong desire for success & an ability to identify the elements that will allow an on time & in full implementation of projects.
• Strong understanding of the Automotive Aftermarket dynamics globally (supply base, customers etc…)
• Project management skills required. Ability to identify business opportunities through different sourcing options & bring it forward to the business for implementation.
• As aftermarket expert, understand and effectively communicate global business trends & drivers (technological & business footprints) as well as sourcing options. 
• Segment and define supply base to support material trends and drivers.

• Execute Purchasing strategies to achieve corporate & DRiV goals/objectives.  Should include supply base identification, development & spend management/segmentation for geographic considerations, Best Cost Country (BCC), BU/plant-specific needs, new technologies, marketing/product strategies and cost management goals.
• As the Supplier Relationship Manager, develop supplier partnerships and strategic alliances as necessary to support/enhance company strategies.
• Capitalize on all purchasing opportunities, future & current, to create the highest leverage across commodities. Provide recover mechanisms for cost drives, when necessary.
• Ensure supplier & product approval process is followed.
• Coordinate with VA/VE manager on opportunities with suppliers.
• Develop “should cost” model for all main product groups.
• Identify supplier developmental needs.
• Serve as single-point-of-contact for Plan development, forecasts and reconciliation.
• Drive cross-functional team (incl. DRiV and Purchasing functions) to support project implementations.

• As Contract Sponsor, negotiate, create, maintain & enforce all supplier contracts. Coordinate with legal team to ensure contractual obligations minimize risk to the Company.
• Support any other standard purchasing role requirements & activity (performance review, business plans, forecasting etc..).
• Ability to travel to suppliers and other DRiV locations as required for this position

Education:

•  Bachelors Degree in Business / Purchasing required with a preference for an MBA.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years experience in Purchasing/Procurement and / or a Materials Management related field with a preference towards high volume manufacturing related industries.
• Evidence of upward mobility from previous jobs

Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Relates well to all kinds of people—up, down, and sideways, inside and outside the organization; builds appropriate rapport; builds constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact; can defuse even high-tension situations comfortably.
• Provides challenging and stretching tasks and assignments; holds frequent development discussions; is aware of each person's career goals; constructs compelling development plans and executes them; pushes people to accept developmental moves; will take on those who need help and further development; cooperates with the developmental system in the organization; is a people builder.
•   Good at figuring out the processes necessary to get things done; knows how to organize people and activities; understands how to separate and combine tasks into efficient work flow; knows what to measure and how to measure it; can see opportunities for synergy and integration where others can't; can simplify complex processes; gets more out of fewer resources.
• Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions; probes all fruitful sources for answers; can see hidden problems; is excellent at honest analysis; looks beyond the obvious and doesn't stop at the first answers