Buyer

Description

Job Summary:

The Buyer is responsible for managing the procurement of assigned materials and services necessary for the company's operations. This involves ensuring the efficient flow of materials within the supply chain, maintaining inventory levels, managing supplier performance, and building strong relationships with suppliers. Effective communication with various departments such as production, receiving, quality, accounting, logistics, and engineering is crucial to fulfill customer orders and meet production needs.

Essential Functions:

• Plan and organize assigned purchased materials and services according to product build requirements and MRP recommendations. Experience with Syspro a plus.
• Source assigned materials, components, and services for production and operations, and identify alternate suppliers when current sources cannot meet cost, quality, or delivery requirements.
• Prepare and issue requests for quotation (RFQs), and evaluate supplier quotes based on price, quality, lead time, and delivery performance for assigned materials and or services.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, and delivery terms with suppliers to secure costs favorable to the Organization.
• Identify and onboard new suppliers and maintain the approved supplier list in accordance with company procedures.
• Use the ERP/MRP system to place, change, and track purchase orders accurately and on time.
• Obtain supplier order confirmations and expedite past-due or at-risk orders to prevent production shortages.
• Coordinate inbound freight with logistics department and communicate delivery delays to affected departments and internal customers.
• Communicate with Engineering on assigned material specifications, and new product introductions to manage material transitions and avoid obsolete stock.
• Provide demand forecasting for assigned commodities by analyzing historical data and market trends to forecast future demand.
• Maintain inventory levels to assigned commodities to prevent stockouts and avoid excessive holding costs, and identify excess or obsolete material.
• Support inventory team and accuracy through cycle counts and variance reviews with inventory team.
• Track supplier performance, including on-time delivery, quality, and lead time, and communication issues to the Purchasing Manager.
• Partner with receiving and accounting to resolve nonconforming material, shortages, over-shipments, and supplier returns via credits (RMA/RTV).
• Investigate and resolve invoice discrepancies in collaboration with accounting.
• Maintain accurate supplier, pricing, lead-time, and item data in the ERP system.
• Collect and maintain purchasing documentation, including purchase orders, supplier agreements, and material certifications, where required.
• Track cost savings and purchase price variance (PPV) and recommend cost-reduction opportunities.

Requirements

General Functions:

• Take responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work assigned, works independently within established and assigned purchasing policies.
• Collaborate with other members of the team to ensure that department goals and deadlines are met on time.
• Uses technical and experiential knowledge to help support the department’s mission.
• Stays current on supplier markets, material pricing, and lead-time trends.
• Attends and actively participates in department meetings to stay informed and follow through on shared responsibilities.
• Works effectively with co-workers and supervisors, sharing knowledge, resources, and experience to achieve goals in a timely fashion, while promoting respect, communication, and teamwork.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Purchasing Manager.

Skills and Abilities:

• Attention to detail: The ability to perform tasks with precision, accuracy, and thoroughness, paying close attention to all aspects of the work and identifying errors or inconsistencies as needed.
• Communication skills: The ability to convey and receive information effectively, clearly, and professionally with co-workers and supervisors. Build strong relationships with assigned vendors.
• Negotiation skills: The ability to reach agreements with suppliers on price, terms, and delivery that meet company needs while maintaining positive supplier relationships.
• Dependability: Reliability and consistency of attendance, punctuality, and completion of assigned tasks according to established standards and expectations with little supervision.
• Initiative: Recognizes situations that warrant initiative and move forward without hesitation; reasonably resolves issues, problems, and situations.
• Time management skills: The ability to prioritize tasks, plan and organize work efficiently, and meet deadlines while maintaining quality standards.
• Technical aptitude: The ability to understand, operate MRP software tools, as well as to learn and adapt to new technologies and processes.
• Critical thinking: The ability to analyze complex situations, evaluate information, identify potential problems, and make informed decisions that support the department's goals and objectives.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• A bachelor’s degree, or equivalent work experience.
• 4 to 7 years of purchasing or buyer experience in a manufacturing or assembly environment.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Excel skills, Syspro experience a plus.
• ASCM (APICS) CPIM or ISM CPSM certification is a plus.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical dexterity: The employee must be able to sit, stand, walk, use hands to handle and feel, and reach with hands and arms.
• Vision: The vision requirements for this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Endurance: The employee must be able to perform tasks in a fast-paced office and manufacturing environment.
• Exposure to elements: The employee will primarily work in an office environment and may occasionally visit the production floor and warehouse, where moderate noise levels are present and personal protective equipment (PPE) is required.

Note: The company is committed to providing a safe work environment and will provide necessary equipment and training to meet the physical demands of the job.

EEO Statement:

The Company provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.