Senior Buyer

Job Grade: Supervisor/Analytical/Technical (I3/T2) 

Business Unit: Corporate 

Hiring Manager: Karelia Saravia 

About Woodbridge

We are innovators using advanced technology to manufacture next generation products. We are pioneers in foam technology science and provide our products to customers in multiple industries. We are a global team of over 7,000 teammates strong who are laser focused on quality, collaboration, and a commitment to sustainability. We are proud to give back to the communities in which we live and work through our Woodbridge Cares programs that serves communities around the world through volunteerism and philanthropy. We are a people centric organization that has been awarded numerous recognitions for our commitment to manufacturing excellence and innovation. Join us and be part of a team that is shaping the future of foam technology. 

Woodbridge Culture

Woodbridge takes immense pride in its robust corporate (think people first, innovation, lets get to it, manufacturing focused) culture, which serves our customers, Teammates, and the world. We're thrilled to share that in 2024, Woodbridge has been awarded Deloitte’s Best Managed designation for eight consecutive years. This accolade is not just an award; it’s a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation, inspiring you to be a part of our journey!

What's in it for you?

• Competitive Compensation & Benefits Plan
• Defined Contribution Plan with additional company match – Automatic company contribution to a top quartile retirement savings plan with more incentives to match
• Flexible Working Hours
• Employee Assistance Program with free access to health and wellness coaches
• Continuous Learning Culture – We believe in Upskilling & Internal Promotions!

Role Purpose:

The Senior Buyer is responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and managing production materials and component categories in North America region. This role combines strategic sourcing leadership with hands‑on operational execution, ensuring supply continuity, cost competitiveness, and supplier performance in a multi‑plant manufacturing environment.

In addition, the Senior Buyer will play a key role in procurement systems transformation, supporting the modernization of purchasing processes, digital tools, and data governance to elevate the organization’s procurement maturity.

Major Responsibilities and Activities:

• Execute commodity strategies for assigned component categories in North America region aligned with company's strategic plan and market dynamics.
• Lead sourcing activities for new programs, ensuring competitive supplier selection and project timeline deliverables.
• Oversee the RFQ process to suppliers, ensuring that the program, commercial and technical assumptions are aligned across the bidders.
• Lead market test, RFQ process, cost break down analysis and total cost of ownership analysis.
• Negotiate pricing, commercial terms, long‑term agreements, and cost‑reduction roadmaps.
• Align Purchasing strategy with Materials and Logistic department, to ensure freight, duties, tariffs and logistic assumptions are aligned and integrated into the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) quote analysis.
• Support PAA (Program Alignment and Assessment) component purchasing and approvals of multiple business unit cost structures for potential new business acquisitions
• Present sourcing recommendations to the Global Sourcing Board.
• Issue nomination letters and Purchase Orders to selected suppliers.
• Responsible for engineering-change quote activity and revision level PO updates through the life of the program.
• Execute the annual cost reduction roadmap, through commercial negotiations, VA/VE initiatives, resourcing, supplier productivity / LTA's / rebates, etc.
• Support cross-functional team analysis on vertical integration opportunities (Make vs. Buy)
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks including capacity constraints, geopolitical exposure, and single‑source dependencies.
• Reinforce supplier adherence to WFC Terms & Conditions while establishing clear and timely Purchasing response to suppliers' requests to prevent issues from escalating and jeopardizing supply continuity.
• Evaluate price adjustment requests from suppliers, ensuring purchasing due diligence and supplier transparency via cost breakdowns, invoices and/or financial statements that support the legitimacy of the request and establish a baseline for negotiations.
• Foster strategic partnerships with suppliers that support long‑term competitiveness and innovation roadmaps.
• Map purchasing processes and identify non-value-added activities that could be eliminated, replaced or automated to increase the department's efficiency.
• Act as a key contributor in the modernization of procurement systems, tools, and workflows.
• Partner with IT department to identify, evaluate and deploy global procurement systems and solutions in the market aligned with Woodbridge's requirements
• Partner with IT and procurement department leads, to deliver and roll-out a global Spend Analytics solution, with dynamic dashboards and outlining key department KPI's.
• Define standardized purchasing processes, approval workflows, and digital documentation practices.
• Focus and support continuous improvement initiatives for the department's day-to-day processes

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering , Business, or related field.
• 5+ years of procurement experience in automotive manufacturing (OE/T1/T2 preferred)
• Experience deploying procurement and/or supply chain systems is an asset.
• Strong knowledge of direct materials, cost structures, and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings and specifications.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen. Data‑driven decision‑making skills.
• Expertise in contract negotiation and risk management.

• Advanced Excel Skills is mandatory. Technologically savvy.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders across regional teams.

• Strong communication, leadership, and relationship‑building abilities.

• Strategic thinker with hands‑on execution capability.

• Curious personality and learning mindset, staying active with procurement trends in the industry.

• Systems thinking and process optimization.

Salary Range: 68,300 - 85,400

Woodbridge is committed to fostering a diverse workplace. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider applicants without regard to race, colour, ancestry, creed, place of origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other protected status. If you have any accommodation requirements, please let us know, and we will do our best to meet your needs in accordance with applicable local legislation.