Direct Material Buyer – Automotive Purchasing

About the role

Join the Purchasing team at our Tondela plant and take responsibility for managing direct material suppliers in the automotive sector. You will work closely with Global Commodity Management and cross‑functional teams to drive sourcing, negotiations and supplier performance.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and maintain relationships with direct material suppliers, acting as the primary contact for purchasing topics.
• Lead commercial negotiations for engineering changes, volume adjustments, program extensions and other business changes.
• Support sourcing activities: issue RFQs, analyse quotations, select suppliers, negotiate prices and allocate business.
• Coordinate local purchasing actions, supplier changes, manufacturing transfers and new project launches.
• Evaluate Engineering Change Requests (ECRs) with suppliers to meet timing, cost and EBIT targets.
• Collaborate with Program Management, Engineering, Quality, Logistics, Finance and other stakeholders to ensure successful launches and supplier performance.
• Handle supplier‑related quality, logistics, delivery and commercial issues, escalating critical matters when needed.
• Maintain accurate purchasing and pricing data in SAP and keep purchasing tools and documentation up‑to‑date.
• Contribute to continuous‑improvement initiatives and share best practices across the Purchasing network.

Required profile

• University degree in Business Administration, Economics, Purchasing, Supply Chain, Engineering or related field.
• 3–6 years of experience in purchasing, procurement or supply‑chain roles, preferably in automotive or industrial environments.
• Proven track record in supplier management, sourcing and commercial negotiations.
• Good understanding of purchasing processes and industrial standards; knowledge of APQP and PPAP is a plus.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, communication and problem‑solving abilities.
• Proactive, structured, results‑oriented and comfortable working in a dynamic, international setting.
• Fluent English (minimum C1 level).

Required skills

• SAP
• Microsoft Excel