The Senior Buyer manages sourcing strategies, supplier negotiations, and purchasing activities for materials and services while collaborating across teams. Responsibilities include budgeting, KPI reviews, and relationship management with suppliers.
Description
The Role
As a Sr. Buyer you will be responsible for purchase of all or a specific portion of productive and/or non-productive materials, supplies, machinery, tooling and/or services. You will be responsible for actively developing commodity strategy, leading complex global sourcing and negotiations with key supplier partners, developing and executing plans to meet direct material budget targets, and collaborating with many suppliers and internal partners.
Sr. Buyers are expected to contribute to the development of the purchasing team by using their experience and skills coach peers. The work is of a sophisticated nature involving a considerable amount of initiative, analytical work, and judgment.
This role requires the candidate to be comfortable operating and solving problems with a high degree of autonomy while working with stakeholders from a variety of different functional groups. Workload will require candidates to use their judgement to prioritize tasks that drive the maximum enterprise benefit for General Motors and the Global Purchasing and Supply Chain function.
What You'll Do
Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)
Education:
Competency Level:
What Can Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)
GM does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. Do not apply for this role if you will need GM immigration sponsorship now or in the future. This includes direct company sponsorship, entry of GM as the immigration employer of record on a government form, and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (e.g., H1-B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.)
This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location at least 3 times a week {or other frequency dictated by their manager}.
The selected candidate will be required to travel <25% for this role.
This job is not eligible for relocation benefits. Any relocation costs would be the responsibility of the selected candidate.
About GM
Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.
Why Join Us
We believe we all must make a choice every day - individually and collectively - to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.
Total Rewards | Benefits Overview
From day one, we're looking out for your well-being-at work and at home-so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.
Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)
General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.
All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.
We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.
Accommodations
General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us [email protected] or call us at 1-800-865-7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.
The Role
As a Sr. Buyer you will be responsible for purchase of all or a specific portion of productive and/or non-productive materials, supplies, machinery, tooling and/or services. You will be responsible for actively developing commodity strategy, leading complex global sourcing and negotiations with key supplier partners, developing and executing plans to meet direct material budget targets, and collaborating with many suppliers and internal partners.
Sr. Buyers are expected to contribute to the development of the purchasing team by using their experience and skills coach peers. The work is of a sophisticated nature involving a considerable amount of initiative, analytical work, and judgment.
This role requires the candidate to be comfortable operating and solving problems with a high degree of autonomy while working with stakeholders from a variety of different functional groups. Workload will require candidates to use their judgement to prioritize tasks that drive the maximum enterprise benefit for General Motors and the Global Purchasing and Supply Chain function.
What You'll Do
- Responsible for maintaining sourcing pipeline, benchmarking data, strategy presentations, global budget, and on-time metrics
- Adhere to corporate and departmental purchasing and accounting practices and procedures
- Sourcing and contracting activities that include, but are not limited to:
- Sourcing strategy, bid list development & management
- Quote analysis and review
- Coordination and alignment of RFQ package components, including Terms & Conditions, SOR compliance, technical documentation and quality alignment
- Leader's sourcing recommendation and alignment with cross-functional teams
- Management of sourcing documentation related to RFQ process in adherence to the GM Audit Services requirements
- Support direct material budget activities
- Lead supplier relationship management initiatives, including "Strategic Supplier Engagement" and nurture relationship with suppliers by acting as a focal point for commercial issue resolution
- Perform change management activities
- Lead or represent the purchasing function in supplier KPI reviews
- Represent purchasing and support mitigation of supply chain disruptions
Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Finance, related field, or equivalent work experience
- Preferred: Master's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or related advanced degree a plus
- 5+ years relevant post-graduate work experience in purchasing, supply chain, program/product management, logistics or product development
Competency Level:
- Proficient in completing tasks autonomously, without coaching the following competencies:
- Data Judgement - Ability to objectively analyze data and draw meaningful conclusions
- Informative Communication - Ability to communicate relevant information to the appropriate audience both effectively and timely
- Relationship Management - Develops and maintains constructive, cooperative working relationships
- At a minimum, demonstrates ability to execute with little support in the following competencies:
- Negotiation - engage in collaborative discussions to reach meaningful agreements
- Analytical Thinking - Consider various factors in decision making to determine solutions and their impacts
- Results Focus - Take charge without prompting, seize opportunities and deliver on time
- Workload Management - Manage multiple tasks with quality and prioritize by critical needs
- Ability to travel 10% domestically and internationally
What Can Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)
- Experience with commodities
- Cost analysis or manufacturing experience
- Automotive industry experience
- Knowledge of Capacity and Materials Management
- Capable of drawing conclusions from complex data, market trends and the regulatory environment
- Ability to understand basic engineering documents and technical drivers for the applicable commodities
- Knowledge of contract law as it applies to the purchasing processes
GM does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. Do not apply for this role if you will need GM immigration sponsorship now or in the future. This includes direct company sponsorship, entry of GM as the immigration employer of record on a government form, and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (e.g., H1-B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.)
This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location at least 3 times a week {or other frequency dictated by their manager}.
The selected candidate will be required to travel <25% for this role.
This job is not eligible for relocation benefits. Any relocation costs would be the responsibility of the selected candidate.
About GM
Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.
Why Join Us
We believe we all must make a choice every day - individually and collectively - to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.
Total Rewards | Benefits Overview
From day one, we're looking out for your well-being-at work and at home-so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.
Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)
General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.
All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.
We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.
Accommodations
General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us [email protected] or call us at 1-800-865-7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.
General Motors Mountain View, California, USA Office
General Motors Mountain View Tech Center Office




Opened in 2024, our Mountain View facility serves as a hub for research and innovation in Silicon Valley. Designers, engineers, and staff at this state-of-the-art campus support the advancement of General Motors’ product portfolio through software development, engineering and design.
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