Cooper Standard is seeking a strategic, commercially minded Senior Director of Purchasing to lead the worldwide purchasing strategy for our Fluid Division. In this highly influential leadership role, you will shape global sourcing strategies, strengthen supplier partnerships, improve cost competitiveness, and protect continuity of supply. You will also lead a globally dispersed purchasing organization and collaborate with senior leaders across Engineering, Operations, Sales, Finance, Quality, and Program Management. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in metal commodities and component manufacturing, a strong understanding of global supply markets, and a proven ability to translate market intelligence into business results.
What You’ll Do:
Lead global purchasing strategyDevelop and execute purchasing strategies aligned with the Fluid Division’s growth, profitability, and operational priorities.
Establish long-term commodity roadmapsaddressing cost, capacity, technology, supplier capability, and risk.
Lead global sourcing strategies for direct materials and purchased components.
Drive metal commodity strategyProvide strategic leadership for steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, brass, tubing, machined components, stampings, extrusions, and fabricated metal assemblies. Monitor commodity trends, tariffs, geopolitical developments, index movements, and supply disruptions. Lead cost forecasting, market intelligence, indexing strategies, and commercial negotiations. Inform budgeting, business planning, customer recovery, and risk-management decisions.
Strengthen the global supply baseDevelop supplier strategies and segmentation approaches across regions. Build executive-level relationships with key global suppliers. Ensure suppliers meet expectations for cost, quality, delivery, innovation, sustainability, and financial stability. Advance supply-base optimization through strategic sourcing, localization, dual sourcing, resourcing, and supplier development. Deliver cost competitiveness and value. Lead material cost-reduction strategies supporting budgets, strategic plans, and customer competitiveness. Advance value engineering, VA/VE, should-cost modeling, and total-cost-of-ownership practices. Build and manage productivity pipelines covering savings, inflation recovery, rebates, and other commercial improvements. Partner with Engineering and Product Development to influence cost-effective design decisions.
Support growth and program executionProvide sourcing strategies and material-cost guidance for new-business opportunities and quotations. Guide purchasing activities throughout product development and launch. Support supplier nomination, APQP, launch-readiness reviews, and long-term supply stability.
Build supply-chain resilienceDevelop global processes for identifying and managing supply-chain risk. Lead mitigation strategies related to commodity availability, geopolitical events, capacity constraints, natural disasters, and supplier financial distress. Establish continuity plans for critical commodities, suppliers, and manufacturing processes.
Develop a high-performing global organizationLead and develop commodity managers, purchasing managers, and sourcing professionals across multiple regions. Establish clear performance expectations, metrics, development plans, and succession strategies. Foster collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, commercial excellence, and data-driven decision-making.
What You’ll BringBachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Finance, or a related field; MBA preferred.
15 or more years of progressive purchasing and supply-chain leadership experience in automotive or industrial manufacturing.
Demonstrated success leading multi-region or global purchasing organizations.
Deep knowledge of metal commodities, metal component manufacturing, indexing, tariffs, and global supply markets.
Proven success in strategic sourcing, complex supplier negotiations, cost reduction, and supply-chain risk management.
Experience supporting automotive OEM and Tier1 customer requirements.
Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and profitability improvement.
Executive-level communication, negotiation, leadership, and relationship-management skills.
Why This Role MattersThis is an opportunity to influence the performance and competitiveness of a global business. You will help shape supplier strategy, improve profitability, strengthen supply continuity, support new-business growth, and build the organizational capability required for long-term success.
Position Type: Regular
Remote Status:
Hybrid
Cooper Standard, headquartered in Northville, Mich. USA, is a leading global supplier of systems and components for the automotive industry. Products include sealing, fuel and brake delivery, and fluid transfer systems. Cooper Standard employs approximately 24,000 people globally and operates in 21 countries around the world. For more information, please visit www.cooperstandard.com.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse workforce. Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
Cooper Standard is proud of its diverse workforce and committed to providing equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental disability, age, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are dedicated to creating an environment at work that not only values diversity but also encourages inclusion and a sense of belonging. We firmly believe that a diverse workplace fosters an environment where our employees can flourish and provide superior service to our customers. Because we recognize and value the range of ways in which people acquire experiences, whether personal, professional, or via education or volunteerism, we invite interested applicants to evaluate the key duties and requirements and apply for any opportunities that fit your experience and qualifications.
If you believe you require such assistance to complete our online application or to participate in an interview, you (or someone on your behalf) may request assistance by emailing recruitment@cooperstandard.com with a description of the accommodation you seek.
