Supply Chain Project Manager (REE/Magnets)

Ford • Dearborn, MI

8d

About The Position

Lead end-to-end project execution for rare earth and magnet supply chain initiatives, from initiation through completion, ensuring projects are delivered on schedule, within scope, and aligned with organizational objectives. Develop comprehensive project estimates, plans, and approaches, tracking milestones and evaluating project issues to facilitate timely resolution. Guide all supply chain initiatives, including new product introductions, product changes, logistical enhancements, and vendor changes. Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of project execution processes, standardizing workflows for scheduling, cost control, procurement, and risk management. Supply Chain Strategy & Sourcing: Develop and implement global sourcing strategies for critical rare earth materials, components, and magnets, identifying and qualifying new sources worldwide. Analyze and manage critical lead times for materials, logistics, quality assurance processes, and customs clearance across diverse international jurisdictions. Research supplier markets and pricing trends for key commodities and services, providing subject matter expertise on the rare earth and recycling markets. Collaborate closely with engineering, program, legal, finance, and sustainability teams to align supply chain activities with business and technical requirements. Supplier Relationship Management & Negotiation: Identify, evaluate, qualify, and manage relationships with global suppliers (e.g., miners, refiners, manufacturers, traders, recyclers), supporting onboarding processes and ensuring operational integration. Negotiate complex commercial agreements, ensuring favorable terms that mitigate a broad range of risks, including geopolitical instability, price volatility, and logistical disruptions. Monitor supplier performance against key metrics (cost, quality, delivery) and recommend improvements. Actively manage and optimize supplier relationships to reduce lead times, lower costs, and enhance overall efficiency. Education: Bachelor's Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Material Science, Economics, or a related field. An MBA or Master's degree in Supply Chain Management is preferred. Minimum of 7+ years of progressive experience in an operational capacity within strategic sourcing, commodity management, or supply chain roles, preferably within complex global industries. Hands-on experience with rare earths, magnets, or advanced materials supply chains is essential. Proven track record in program management and scaling new manufacturing facilities or supply chains. Experience with new product introduction, supply planning, demand management, and forecasting. Experience leading the implementation of new organizational processes aligned with ERP configuration. Project Management: Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage end-to-end execution, generate and track milestones, and resolve issues. Analytical & Problem-Solving: Outstanding analytical, detail-oriented, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate supplier proposals, cost drivers, and market trends. Communication & Negotiation: Excellent communication, influencing, and negotiation skills with internal and external stakeholders, including senior levels. Cross-functional Leadership: Strong cross-functional leadership and collaboration abilities, capable of working with diverse teams (engineering, legal, finance, sustainability). Technical Acumen: Ability to interpret technical drawings and standards, and clearly communicate these requirements to suppliers. Risk Management: Proven ability to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate complex supply chain risks, including geopolitical and logistical challenges. Software Proficiency: Knowledge of business systems and technology for managing supply chains, including ERP/MRP experience. As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including: Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases Tuition assistance Established and active employee resource groups Paid time off for individual and team community service A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year's Day Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time. For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL6SP1 Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate supply chain risks, including geopolitical instability, price volatility, logistical disruptions, policy/tariff changes, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns. Implement due diligence and traceability processes to ensure responsible sourcing. Ensure adherence to company processes, quality expectations, and compliance requirements. Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement: Support the rollout of supply chain technology platforms (e.g., project management software, ERP/MRP systems) and contribute to related training and onboarding materials. Identify inefficiencies and drive the adoption of best practices, templates, and tools to improve project delivery performance. Analyze supplier data to identify risks, trends, issues, and opportunities, enacting change for performance improvement or risk avoidance.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Material Science, Economics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7+ years of progressive experience in an operational capacity within strategic sourcing, commodity management, or supply chain roles, preferably within complex global industries.
• Hands-on experience with rare earths, magnets, or advanced materials supply chains is essential.
• Proven track record in program management and scaling new manufacturing facilities or supply chains.
• Experience with new product introduction, supply planning, demand management, and forecasting.
• Experience leading the implementation of new organizational processes aligned with ERP configuration.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage end-to-end execution, generate and track milestones, and resolve issues.
• Outstanding analytical, detail-oriented, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate supplier proposals, cost drivers, and market trends.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and negotiation skills with internal and external stakeholders, including senior levels.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and collaboration abilities, capable of working with diverse teams (engineering, legal, finance, sustainability).
• Ability to interpret technical drawings and standards, and clearly communicate these requirements to suppliers.
• Proven ability to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate complex supply chain risks, including geopolitical and logistical challenges.
• Knowledge of business systems and technology for managing supply chains, including ERP/MRP experience.

Nice To Haves

• An MBA or Master's degree in Supply Chain Management is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end project execution for rare earth and magnet supply chain initiatives, from initiation through completion, ensuring projects are delivered on schedule, within scope, and aligned with organizational objectives.
• Develop comprehensive project estimates, plans, and approaches, tracking milestones and evaluating project issues to facilitate timely resolution.
• Guide all supply chain initiatives, including new product introductions, product changes, logistical enhancements, and vendor changes.
• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of project execution processes, standardizing workflows for scheduling, cost control, procurement, and risk management.
• Develop and implement global sourcing strategies for critical rare earth materials, components, and magnets, identifying and qualifying new sources worldwide.
• Analyze and manage critical lead times for materials, logistics, quality assurance processes, and customs clearance across diverse international jurisdictions.
• Research supplier markets and pricing trends for key commodities and services, providing subject matter expertise on the rare earth and recycling markets.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, program, legal, finance, and sustainability teams to align supply chain activities with business and technical requirements.
• Identify, evaluate, qualify, and manage relationships with global suppliers (e.g., miners, refiners, manufacturers, traders, recyclers), supporting onboarding processes and ensuring operational integration.
• Negotiate complex commercial agreements, ensuring favorable terms that mitigate a broad range of risks, including geopolitical instability, price volatility, and logistical disruptions.
• Monitor supplier performance against key metrics (cost, quality, delivery) and recommend improvements.
• Actively manage and optimize supplier relationships to reduce lead times, lower costs, and enhance overall efficiency.
• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate supply chain risks, including geopolitical instability, price volatility, logistical disruptions, policy/tariff changes, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns.
• Implement due diligence and traceability processes to ensure responsible sourcing.
• Ensure adherence to company processes, quality expectations, and compliance requirements.
• Support the rollout of supply chain technology platforms (e.g., project management software, ERP/MRP systems) and contribute to related training and onboarding materials.
• Identify inefficiencies and drive the adoption of best practices, templates, and tools to improve project delivery performance.
• Analyze supplier data to identify risks, trends, issues, and opportunities, enacting change for performance improvement or risk avoidance.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year's Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees