Buyer 1, Critical Minerals

Location: Franklin, TN

A Day in the Life:

Work with experienced subject-matter experts, engineers, and others both internally and externally to support critical minerals sourcing - covering materials such as lithium, nickel, graphite, rare earths, and other battery and EV-relevant raw materials. Help gather data for strategic recommendations for sourcing activities. Perform analyses on supplier cost, commercial terms, market trends, and competitive landscapes. Interface with internal teams and suppliers to build strong, productive relationships

Job Functions

• Develop strategic sourcing plans and manages sourcing activities for commodities. Perform comparative analysis of competing suppliers to recommend the most competitive source for a specified commodity.   
• Engage with end users of assigned commodities (battery PURCH team, supplier, and/or engineers) to establish understanding of the requirements and specifications of commodities.
• Support planning, developing, implementing, and maintaining cost reduction plans for assigned commodities.
• Support establishing, executing, and managing contracts for assigned commodities; issues and maintains purchase orders, and related purchasing records. In collaboration with upper management, manages cost changes for assigned commodities.
• Update databases and other records related to Purchasing functions to accurately report statuses for assignment activities. Analyzes progress toward departmental goals and initiates mitigation action(s) as needed to ensure that goals and deadlines are met.

Job Knowledge and Skill:

• Demonstrated leadership potential, initiative, and ownership of work.
• Willingness to adapt quickly and work in areas where processes are not yet defined - helping create/improve them
• Strong skills in written and verbal communication, data accuracy, problem‑solving, and cross‑functional teamwork.
• Comfortable working with data, spreadsheets, and structured reporting.
• Background in critical minerals, battery technology, and the EV supply chain a plus
• Must have a curiosity and willingness to learn more about EV supply chain
• Ability to take feedback and work independently and as part of a team.

Experience:

Required: 

• 0-2 years of related experience in a professional business environment.  
• Prior leadership roles (student orgs, internships, co‑ops) preferred.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree. Chemical Engineering, Material Science, Geology or Supply Chain majors

Desired:

Computer Skills:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• Experience with data and analytics tools (Power BI, Tableau, Python) a plus but not required.

Travel

• Up to 10% travel.

What You’ll Look Forward to at Nissan: 

Career Growth and Continuous Learning Opportunities: Benefit from diverse career paths, cross-departmental moves, and innovative learning platforms. Enhance your skills through seminars, leadership training, and tuition reimbursement programs, all while playing a vital role in shaping the future of transportation. From day one, you'll have the support to tackle challenges and contribute to impactful solutions across our organization. 

                                                                                

Rewards: Be supported with a Comprehensive Benefits Package, including medical, mental health, parental leave, retirement savings & unique Nissan perks, including discounts on lease vehicles as part of our Employee Lease Program and a Vehicle Purchase Program (VPP). For more information, access our Nissan Benefits Overview Guide.  

Nissan is committed to a drug-free workplace. All employment is contingent upon the successful completion of drug and background screenings in accordance with Nissan policies and in compliance with federal, state, and local laws, including the California Fair Chance Act and the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance. Nissan will consider qualified candidates with arrest or conviction records for employment in a manner consistent with these laws.

It is Nissan’s policy to provide Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, gender, military status, disability, or any other status protected by law. Candidates for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire; Nissan uses E-Verify to validate employment eligibility.

NISSAN FOR EVERYONE

People are our most valuable assets, and diversity and inclusion are the key to maximizing the power of each individual member of our team.  When everyone belongs, the power of NISSAN is undeniable.  Our Corporate Diversity Initiative aims to improve business results by ensuring that our workplace and core businesses meet the unique needs of our employees and customer base.

Nissan is committed to creating a culture where everyone belongs and employees, customers, and partners feel respected, valued, and heard.  We have over 10 Business Synergy Teams (BSTs) across the U.S. and Canada that connect employees – with shared characteristics or interests – build allies, and foster a company culture where all employees feel supported and included.

Nissan also values inclusion in all areas of our business as we strive to mirror the diversity of our customer base and the communities where we do business. We are committed to procuring innovative goods and services, retailing our products and communicating from a diverse perspective which will help us continue to offer our customers competitively designed, market-driven products.

Join us as we carry our commitment to diversity and inclusion into the future.

Franklin Tennessee United States of America