Sr. Commodity Buyer

Position Summary

The Sr. Commodity Buyer role at Real Truck, Inc. will plan, direct, and coordinate all corporate procurement functions related to specific commodity groups. This role will engage cross‑functionally to develop category strategies, plan and lead the sourcing process, negotiate price, quality, availability, and delivery, and ensure overall material conformance. It is a key contributor to the Purchasing Continuous Improvement (PCI) initiative, driving annual P&L cost savings and supporting the VP & SVP of Procurement on functional transformation and streamlining of procurement activities.

• Evaluate and analyze category market trends; manage supply risk and minimize total costs, including optimizing commodity strategies, forward buying, tariffs, currencies, and landed cost.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally to understand and determine supply needs and product development/engineering requirements, and select the best suppliers.
• Drive the RFQ process and effectively manage supplier performance for quality, price, delivery, and service.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, including new product concepts and optimized services; participate in supplier business reviews.
• Use data gathering and analysis to develop short‑ and long‑term action plans for continuous improvement, initiatives, and cost savings.
• Process Optimization & Improvement:
  • Analyze current procurement processes, workflows, and systems to identify improvement opportunities.
  • Develop and implement new strategies and workflows to enhance efficiency and cost‑effectiveness.
• Stakeholder
  
  Collaboration:
  • Collaborate with Procurement, IT, Finance, and Legal to gather requirements and design solutions aligned with business needs.
  • Maintain close relationships with external suppliers to ensure process integration and performance improvements.
  • Act as liaison between procurement and other business units to drive initiatives forward.
• Technology & Systems Management:
  • Manage and maintain procurement‑related software and systems (e.g., spend management, risk analysis).
  • Lead technology adoption and automation initiatives to improve procurement processes.
  • Work with IT to ensure systems function effectively and are up to date.
• Data & Performance Analysis:
  • Monitor KPIs for procurement processes, including cost savings, efficiency, and supplier performance.
  • Leverage data analytics to generate insights and make data‑driven decisions for continuous improvement.
  • Develop dashboards and reporting tools to provide visibility into procurement operations.

• Education and Experience
  • Bachelor’s degree required.
  • 6+ years of related automotive experience and/or training required.
• Required Licenses
  • Purchasing Certification (CPM / SPSM) is a plus.
• Skills and Abilities
  • Strong interest in procurement technology and productivity tools (e.g., AI, Power BI).
  • ERP system experience required.
  • Strong proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint for competitive analysis, commodity market indexes, and sourcing requirements.
  • Ability to respond to inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or external parties.
  • Ability to understand contracts and negotiation strategies.
  • Ability to present information to top management and public groups; strong written and spoken English.
  • Problem‑solving skills for complex, variable situations with limited standardization.
• Travel
  • Occasional travel may be required, roughly 25%.
• Competencies
  • Cost consciousness: works within budget and implements cost‑saving measures.
  • Dependability: follows instructions, responds to management, meets commitments, and works long hours when necessary.
  • Judgment: makes timely decisions and includes appropriate stakeholders.
  • Communication: speaks clearly, listens, and presents persuasively.
  • Problem solving: identifies and resolves problems efficiently.
  • Professionalism: behaves tactfully, handles pressure, treats others with respect.
  • Teamwork: balances team and individual responsibilities, gives and welcomes feedback.
  • Technical proficiency: familiar with procurement software and ERP integration.
• Supervisor Responsibilities
  • Individual contributor; no oversight of others.
• Physical Requirements
  • Primarily sedentary; occasional lifting of up to 10 pounds and occasional walking/standing.
• About Real Truck

  Real Truck is the premier manufacturer and digital destination of accessories for truck, Jeep®, Bronco®, and off‑road enthusiasts. With headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan and 5,000+ associates across 78 facilities worldwide, Real Truck offers a seamless omni‑channel retail experience through  and its 12,000+ dealer network.

Referrals increase interviewing chances by 2x. This role is full‑time, mid‑senior level, and falls under Purchasing and Supply Chain functions in the Motor Vehicle Manufacturing industry.