Blerta Gjelaj

• Manage a $310M supplier portfolio, developing sourcing strategies that enhance cost efficiency and mitigate supply chain risks.
• Lead customer & supplier engagement, ensuring alignment between business objectives and supplier capabilities to optimize operational performance.
• Drive contract negotiations and cost-reduction initiatives using NPV, APV analysis, and cost-benefit assessments to maximize financial performance.
• Collaborate with engineering, finance, and operations to align supplier capabilities with business objectives, ensuring production continuity and operational stability.

Strategic Sourcing & Program Delivery | Exhaust Systems

• Spearhead an 8-year, $155M annual APV sourcing strategy, leveraging financial modeling and multi-supplier competition to achieve a $30M cost reduction below target.
• Optimize manufacturing strategies through supplier footprint assessments, cost benchmarking, and process efficiency improvements to drive sustainable savings.
• Lead cross-functional stakeholder meetings to monitor project milestones, track financial targets, and ensure seamless program execution.

Global Purchasing & Supply Chain Rotational Program

(01/2022 – 01/2024, 2 Year Rotation)

Developed expertise in supplier management, sourcing strategies, supply chain optimization, and cost reduction through a structured rotational program across four roles.

• Buyer, Chassis Electronics & Controls: Led a $28.8M supplier deck, negotiated software contracts, and secured $5M in cost savings during the semiconductor shortage.
• Customer Care & After-Sales Analyst: Optimized dealership logistics and quality control, enhancing efficiency and service consistency.
• Demand & Supply Planning: Developed lean capacity rates for new and existing programs and aligned production strategies with evolving demand forecasts.
• Value Chain Engineer: Led supplier footprint analysis for 15+ suppliers, achieving $38M in savings through cost modeling and relocation strategies.

• Conducted heat studies, facilitated moisture tests, and analyzed behavior of Door Checks before, during, and after lab procedures
• Collaborated with evaluation engineers, assisting with the benchmarking of products, Door Checks, and Kick Sensors, Power Tailgates.