Buyer

Position Title: Buyer

Position Summary: This position is responsible for purchasing parts and supplies required throughout the manufacturing facility. This position interfaces with production, engineering, and supplier personnel to obtain quality products at the lowest cost, to be delivered in a specified quantity, at the proper time.

Buyer Essential Functions:

• Optimize the purchasing of materials, supplies, and services.
• Negotiate price and order quantities and use appropriate purchasing techniques to optimize lead times and cost.
• Enter purchase orders into Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tool and contact suppliers to place orders; amend purchase orders as needed.
• Maintain and manage supplier relationships including approval of new suppliers, site visits, identification of new products, and issue resolution.
• Collaborate with supply team(s) to reduce costs while maintaining quality.
• Mitigate supplier price increases by using market data.
• Resolve pricing discrepancies between quoted and invoiced prices.
• Enter and maintain purchased part information such as manufacturers part number, lead time, pricing, and price breaks.
• Return questionable or unsuitable items to supplier and follow through disposition.
• Monitor back orders through shortage reports and expedite, as necessary.
• Assist IC/receiving to resolve inventory issues such as incomplete paperwork or part number discrepancies as needed.
• Support continuous improvement activities; participate in rapid improvement events.
• Own responsibility for safety; practice only safe habits and follow safety rules; responsible for keeping the area clean and organized to ensure safe working conditions.

Buyer Competencies:

• Technologically competent; strong data literacy.
• Ability to incorporate AI tools and technologies to optimize procurement processes.
• Microsoft Office proficiency including Word, Excel, SharePoint, and Teams.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings.
• Basic math and attention to detail; ability to check work for accuracy.
• Sense of urgency.
• Capacity for dealing with data and people.
• Skilled at competitive negotiation.
• Open mind geared toward continuous improvement, cost reduction, and efficiency.
• Aptitude for initiative, flexibility, and stress tolerance.

Buyer Education and Experience:

• Bachelors degree in business, supply chain, or related field strongly preferred.
• Experience as a Buyer preferred and/or equivalent of experience and education in manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated progressive experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with ERP (Epicor) is desirable but not required.
• Experience with sales, parts, or supplier/vendor relationships a plus.