Ford Pro · 1 day ago
Supply Chain Manager - Rare Earth Metals
21500 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn, MI, 48124, US
Full-time
Hybrid
Senior Level
7+ years expFord Pro is a global leader in automotive innovation, and they are seeking a Supply Chain Manager specializing in Rare Earth Metals. The role involves developing sourcing strategies, managing supplier relationships, and ensuring compliance with sustainability standards.
AutomotiveFleet ManagementSoftware
No H1B
Responsibilities
Develop and execute a global sourcing strategy for Rare Earth Elements (REE) and permanent magnets (NdFeB)
Identify, vet, and onboard upstream miners, midstream refiners, and downstream magnet manufacturers
Negotiate multi-year Long-Term Agreements (LTAs) to secure volume guarantees and price stability
Collaborate with Engineering to understand technical specifications and potential substitutions for heavy rare earths
Monitor global geopolitical trends, trade policies, and export controls that impact REE availability
Develop "China Plus One" strategies to diversify the supply chain and reduce dependency on single-region sourcing
Create contingency plans and buffer stock strategies to protect against sudden market disruptions
Ensure all suppliers adhere to strict Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards
Implement traceability protocols (e.g., blockchain or audited chain of custody) to ensure metals are mined and processed ethically
Partner with recycling firms to develop "circular economy" initiatives for recovering rare earths from end-of-life components
Conduct deep-dive market analysis on REE pricing indices and supply-demand balances
Manage total cost of ownership (TCO) models, including raw material indexing (RMI) and currency fluctuations
Provide regular briefings to executive leadership on supply chain health and cost projections
Work closely with Manufacturing and Logistics to ensure timely delivery of materials to production sites
Interface with Government Affairs to stay informed on domestic mining subsidies and critical mineral grants (e.g., Inflation Reduction Act requirements)
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's Degree: Required in Supply Chain Management, Mining Engineering, Geology, Chemical Engineering, or International Business
Experience: 7+ years in global procurement or supply chain management, with at least 3 years specifically focused on metals, minerals, or complex chemical commodities
Industry Knowledge: Deep understanding of the 'Mine-to-Magnet' value chain and the specific processing challenges of lanthanides
Contract Negotiation: Proven track record of handling high-stakes, multi-million dollar negotiations
Technical Literacy: Ability to discuss material science properties (e.g., coercivity, remanence) with engineering teams
Strategic Thinking: Ability to look 5–10 years into the future to anticipate supply bottlenecks
Resilience: Comfort working in a high-pressure, 'frontier' market environment
Cultural Intelligence: Experience working with international suppliers across different time zones and business cultures
Preferred
Existing relationships with major REE producers and processors globally
Familiarity with the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) standards
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.
Company
Ford Pro
Ford Pro is a productivity accelerator designed to drive the business forward, delivering solutions to commercial customers of all sizes.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Andrew Frick
Interim Head
Recent News
2025-10-04
2025-10-01
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