Strategic Buyer

The Strategic Buyer at Honda is responsible for purchasing, cost negotiation, and subcontract administration of materials and services to support project delivery within budget. Key duties include partnering with internal stakeholders, leading RFQ processes, analysing supplier quotations, and ensuring compliance with procurement policies. The role requires a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, supply chain, or a technical field, and 0–3 years of relevant experience. Candidates must be able to work in a professional office environment, travel domestically and internationally as needed, and adhere to safety and regulatory requirements. Physical requirements include the ability to lift up to 10 lbs and work in varied environmental conditions. Proficiency in additional languages is beneficial.

The Strategic Buyer at Honda plays a pivotal role in supporting the company’s future-focused goals by managing purchasing, cost negotiation, and subcontract administration for assigned materials and services. This position partners with internal customers to ensure procurement policies are followed, reviews requisitions for accuracy, and leads RFQ processes. The role requires strong analytical skills to analyse supplier quotations and implement effective cost negotiation strategies. Honda offers a competitive base salary, paid overtime, regional bonuses, industry-leading benefits, paid time off, 401K with company match, relocation assistance, and various wellbeing and support programmes. The Strategic Buyer is integral to Honda’s commitment to innovation, continuous improvement, and delivering value to both the company and its customers.

What Makes a Honda, is Who makes a Honda
Honda has a clear vision for the future, and it’s a joyful one. We are looking for individuals with the skills, courage, persistence, and dreams that will help us reach our future-focused goals. At our core is innovation. Honda is constantly innovating and developing solutions to drive our business with record success. We strive to be a company that serves as a source of “power” that supports people around the world who are trying to do things based on their own initiative and that helps people expand their own potential. To this end, Honda strives to realize “the joy and freedom of mobility” by developing new technologies and an innovative approach to achieve a “zero environmental footprint.”

We are looking for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, continuous improvement values, and a strong work ethic to join our team.

If your goals and values align with Honda’s, we want you to join our team to Bring the Future!

Job Purpose

The Strategic Buyer is responsible for purchasing, cost negotiation, and subcontract administration of assigned materials and/or services from approved and qualified suppliers to support required delivery dates at budgeted or lower cost.

Key Accountabilities

• Partner with internal customers to understand business needs, ensure adherence to procurement policies, and review requisitions for accuracy and completeness.
• Lead RFQ processes, analyze supplier quotations, and implement cost negotiation strategies while ensuring compliance with bid requirements and delivering value/risk insights.
• Manage supplier communications regarding orders, changes, delivery, cost, and quality expectations; resolve commercial, quality, and performance issues, and interpret supplier agreements to ensure compliance.
• Execute and manage purchase orders, maintain compliant procurement documentation and audit trails, monitor and expedite deliveries, and support continuous procurement operations and cross-team initiatives.

Qualifications, Experience, and Skills

• Bachelors Degree or equivalent in Business, Finance, Supply Chain and/or Technical Field
• 0-3 years of experience
• Supply Chain Management

Working Conditions

This position operates primarily in a professional office environment supporting aerospace program activities. The role requires 10–25% travel, depending on program phase and workload surge, to domestic and potentially international supplier facilities for program reviews, performance assessments, risk mitigation, and coordination activities.
Overtime may be required during periods of program surge, supplier recovery efforts, development milestones, or production ramp activities. Typical work hours during surge periods range from 45–55 hours per week, depending on project demands and assigned scope.
While not required, proficiency in additional languages such as Japanese, Swedish, Spanish, and/or French is considered beneficial when supporting international suppliers and global program activities.

Physical Requirements

• Incumbents may be routinely exposed to equipment operational noise, heat, cold, dust, and/or aircraft equipment, parts, or fuel odors when visiting manufacturing or supplier facilities.
• Ability to stand, sit, walk, bend, squat, climb ladders, reach, or stretch for extended periods as required by job duties.
• Ability to lift, pull, push, carry, or move items up to 10 lbs. throughout the work shift without assistance.
• Ability to read, hear, speak, and see with no restrictions, as required by job duties.
• Ability to comprehend and adhere to management direction and safety instructions.
• Must work in a safe and professional manner while adhering to all applicable regulatory requirements (FAA, OSHA, DOT, EPA, State, and Federal regulations).
• Must effectively communicate in Business English.

What differentiates Honda and make us an employer of choice?Total Rewards:

• Competitive Base Salary (pay will be based on several variables that include, but not limited to geographic location, work experience, etc.)
• Paid Overtime
• Regional Bonus (when applicable)
• Industry-leading Benefit Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, Rx)
• Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, shutdown
• Company Paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• 401K Plan with company match + additional contribution
• Relocation assistance (if eligible)

Career Growth:

• Advancement Opportunities
• Career Mobility
• Education Reimbursement for Continued Learning
• Training and Development programs

Additional Offerings:

• Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Repayment
• Lifestyle Account
• Childcare Reimbursement Account
• Elder Care Support
• Wellbeing Program
• Community Service and Engagement Programs
• Product Programs

Honda is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with internal customers to understand business needs, ensure adherence to procurement policies, and review requisitions for accuracy and completeness.
• Lead RFQ processes, analyse supplier quotations, and implement cost negotiation strategies while ensuring compliance with bid requirements and delivering value/risk insights.
• Manage supplier communications regarding orders, changes, delivery, cost, and quality expectations, and resolve commercial, quality, and performance issues.
• Interpret supplier agreements to ensure compliance and maintain compliant procurement documentation and audit trails.
• Execute and manage purchase orders, monitor and expedite deliveries, and support continuous procurement operations and cross-team initiatives.

Skills:

• Experience in Supply Chain Management is required.
• Ability to analyse supplier quotations and implement cost negotiation strategies is essential.
• Strong communication skills in Business English are necessary.
• Proficiency in additional languages such as Japanese, Swedish, Spanish, or French is considered beneficial for international supplier coordination.

Education:

• A Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, or a Technical Field is required.