Sr. Manager - Sourcing, Accessories

Responsibilities & Key Deliverables

As the Senior Manager - Sourcing for Automotive Accessories, you will be responsible for defining and executing sourcing strategies across a diverse portfolio of vehicle accessories and engineering commodities, including plastic parts, hard and soft trims, sheet metal and fabricated components, alloy and decorative parts, electrical and electronic systems, connected accessories, and bought-out components. The role will drive supplier competitiveness, cost optimization, localization, innovation, and program delivery while supporting vehicle launches and aftermarket accessory requirements.
Key Responsibilities
Develop and execute category sourcing strategies for automotive accessories and engineering commodities including plastics, hard/soft trims, sheet metal, fabricated parts, alloy products, electrical/electronic accessories, and bought-out components.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing activities including supplier scouting, RFQ/RFP management, techno-commercial evaluation, supplier selection, contract finalization, and sourcing governance.
• Drive supplier identification, qualification, development, and performance management based on capability, quality, capacity, innovation, cost competitiveness, and delivery performance.
• Lead commercial negotiations covering pricing, tooling investments, contracts, payment terms, and long-term sourcing agreements to achieve cost and supply advantages.
• Drive should-costing, cost breakdown analysis, Zero-Based Costing (ZBC), benchmarking, and value engineering initiatives to improve cost transparency, strengthen negotiations, and optimize total cost of ownership.
• Deliver annual productivity, cost reduction, localization, alternate sourcing, material optimization, and supplier productivity improvement targets through VA/VE and design-to-cost initiatives.
• Monitor commodity, material, and technology trends across polymers, metals, trims, electronics, and accessory technologies to identify cost, innovation, and risk mitigation opportunities.
• Drive localization and import substitution programs through domestic supplier development and capability enhancement.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Product Development, Quality, Manufacturing, SCM, Finance, Marketing, Service, and Program teams to support new product introduction, engineering changes, and portfolio expansion.
• Ensure timely supplier nomination, tooling development, APQP, PPAP, production readiness, and launch execution for vehicle and accessory programs.
• Manage prototype, development, and production part availability to support testing, certification, vehicle builds, launches, and aftermarket requirements.
• Monitor supplier performance across Quality, Cost, Delivery, Development, and Innovation (QCDDI) parameters and drive corrective actions for sustained improvement.
• Identify and mitigate sourcing risks related to commodity volatility, supplier dependency, capacity constraints, technology changes, component shortages, logistics disruptions, and business continuity.
• Evaluate emerging accessory technologies and work with suppliers to introduce innovative, connected, premium, and customer-focused solutions.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, quality standards, technical specifications, contracts, ERP processes, audit requirements, and governance guidelines.

Education Qualification

- Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automobile Engineering, Production Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Mechatronics, Industrial Engineering, or related disciplines .

- MBA/PGDM in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Procurement, Materials Management, or Logistics will be preferred.

- Certifications in Strategic Sourcing, Supply Chain Management, CPSM, CIPS, Cost Engineering, Supplier Quality Management, APQP, PPAP, Six Sigma, or Value Engineering (VA/VE) will be an added advantage.

General Experience

- 12-18 years of experience in Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, Supplier Development, Category Management, or Supply Chain Management within the automotive industry.

- Proven experience in sourcing, costing and commercial management of:

- Automotive Accessories

- Plastic Components & Injection-Molded Parts

- Interior & Exterior Hard Trims

- Soft Trim Systems (Seat Fabrics, Leatherette, Carpets, Headliners, NVH Components)

- Sheet Metal & Fabricated Components

- Alloy-Based Accessories & Decorative Components

- Electrical & Electronic Accessories

- Connected Vehicle Accessories and Aftermarket Products

Preferred Industries

- Automotive OEMs

- Automotive Accessories Manufacturers

- Automotive Electronics & Electrical Systems

- Interior & Exterior Trim Manufacturers

- Plastic Injection Molding & Polymer Processing

- Sheet Metal & Fabrication Companies

- Auto Component Manufacturers

- Connected Vehicle & Mobility Solution Providers

- Consumer Electronics with Automotive Product Exposure

- Industrial Engineering & Vehicle Systems Manufacturers

Critical Experience

- Strong experience in supplier identification, vendor development, localization, import substitution, cost optimization, and strategic negotiations.

- Demonstrated success in supporting new product development, supplier nomination, APQP/PPAP, tooling development, and vehicle program launches.

- Experience managing supplier performance across Quality, Cost, Delivery, Development, and Innovation (QCDDI) metrics.

- Strong understanding of commodity cost drivers across plastics, polymers, metals, trims, textiles, electronics, and accessory systems