Senior Technical Buyer

Summary: Provides Parts, Equipment, and Materials and uses advanced technical background to provide engineering solutions for purchased part problems by responding to engineering and manufacturing needs, identifying suppliers, arranging delivery and planning material requirements. The Senior Technical Buyer is responsible for the procurement of complex materials, components, and services required for manufacturing and engineering projects. This role involves collaborating closely with engineering, production, and supply chain teams to ensure that technical specifications and project timelines are met while optimizing costs and maintaining supplier relationships.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities:

• Provides engineering solutions for purchased part issues
• Assumes the lead role with respect to all technical purchasing decisions.
• Leads, plans and manages purchased parts in on-site Vendor Stores.
• Creates solutions to submit to engineering for issues or improvements relating to purchased part applications driven by supplier or manufacturer issues, cost reduction requirements, part availability or other purchasing issues.
• Source and procure complex materials, components, and services that meet technical specifications and quality standards.
• Interfaces with supplier, purchasing, and engineering as a team to create solutions to engineering issues.
• Drives engineering on standardization of purchased parts supplier sourcing and brand selection across company divisions.
• Reveal additional costs related to new part selections such as freight, import duties, fees, etc.
• Analyze and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and project requirements to ensure accurate procurement.
• Interfaces with Columbia's external customers through Columbia's Parts and Service departments to resolve purchased part issues with input from Engineering.
• Maintains item master for purchasing parts, equipment, and materials
• Directs engineering on standards to be maintained for item master in the Infor M3, Movex, Vault environment across all divisions in the company.
• Monitors data entry and follows up on standards violations regarding item master issues.
• Builds supplier relationships
• Maintains regular contact with suppliers and prepares and submits purchase orders.
• Follows procedures to verify cost, delivery, quality, and inventory balance.
• Address defective equipment or materials with vendors and resolve disputes.
• Conduct cost analysis and develop strategies to reduce procurement costs while maintaining product quality and reliability.
• Maintains on time delivery of purchasing operations
• Manages inventory turnover by determining maximum and minimum inventory levels and reorder quantities.
• Coordinate with suppliers to ensure on-time delivery of materials and components, proactively addressing any potential delays.
• Supports internal and external customer service
• Understands and documents internal and external customer needs and expectations
• Communicates to appropriate team(s) when an expectation will not be met
• Contributes to the continuous improvement effort
• Documents processes and procedures, eliminates non-value-added activities, and participates in weekly CI team meetings.
• Collaborate with engineering and production teams to identify opportunities for cost savings through alternative sourcing or design modifications.
• Monitor market trends and price fluctuations to make informed purchasing decisions.
• Stay current with industry trends, new technologies, and best practices in technical procurement.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge
• Establishes personal networks, participates in professional societies, attends professional workshops and reviews publications
• Contributes to team effort
• Willing to attempt new assignments or fill in for others as needed; accomplishes other duties as assigned
  
  

Constant (over 66%)

None

Frequent (33% - 66%)

Independence of Action – (Decisions have significant, broad implications for the management and operations of a division. Job contributes to decisions on the overall strategy and direction of the company.)

Decision Making – (Decisions have significant, broad implications for the management and operations of a division. Job contributes to decisions on the overall strategy and direction of the company.)

Problem Solving-(Problems are highly varied, complex and often non-recurring; require novel and creative approaches to resolution. New concepts and approaches may have to be developed.

Occasional (10%-33%)

None

Seldom (1-10%)

Supervisory Responsibilities – (Supervises work of others, including planning, assigning, scheduling work, and reviewing and ensuring quality standards, training staff and overseeing their productivity. May offer recommendations for hiring, termination and pay adjustments, but does not have responsibility for making these decisions.)

Non-Essential Duties And Responsibilities:

• Other duties as assigned
  
  

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills And/or Abilities:

Knowledge

Software

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PPT, Outlook)
• Infor M3 (ERP)
  
  

Other

• (Engineering focused) with an in-depth knowledge of Columbia parts and equipment.
  
  

Skills:

• Project/Process Management
• Active Listening
• Decision-Making Sills
• Written and Oral Communication
• Attention to detail
• Interpersonal communication and Trust-Building
• Proficiency in procurement software
• Analytical and Problem-Solving (Creative Problem Solver)
• Mechanical/Technical skills
• Negotiation skills
  
  

Abilities:

• Ability to provide a respectful work environment for others
• Ability to work well with others in a team atmosphere.
• Strong technical aptitude
• Has the ability to deal with abstract and concrete variables with a high attention to detail.
• Ability to think through issues and ideas to create the simplest solution.
  
  

Other:

• High motivated self-starter.
• Creative problem solver
  
  

Education And/or Experience:

• High School Diploma or GED required
• Vocational or technical training preferred
• Associate’s degree or vocational or technical school degree preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related preferred
• 5 years of professional experience
• Current APICS or ISM Certifications preferred.
  
  

Physical Demands (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):

Constant (over 66%)

Hearing, Listening

Frequent (33%-66%)

Sitting, Talking,, Standing, Climbing stairs

Occasional (10%-33%)

Walking,

• Lifting up to 10 to 30 pounds
• Carrying up to 10 to 30 pounds
  
  

Seldom (1-10%)

Bending, Stooping, Kneeling, Squatting, Crouching, Reaching Overhead

Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

• Never exceeding our company manual lifting policy and corresponding SOPs.
  
  

Work Environment (The Work Environment Characteristics Described Here Are Representative Of Those An Employee Encounters While Performing The Essential Functions Of This Job. Reasonable Accommodations May Be Made To Enable Individuals With Disabilities To Perform The Essential Functions):

Office environment: Employees are protected from weather conditions or contaminants, but not necessarily occasional temperature changes.

Required Personal Protection Equipment (PPE’s): Safety glasses, hearing protection as required. Other PPE as required by specific operation performed.

Qualifications

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education And/or Experience:

• High School Diploma or GED required
• Vocational or technical training preferred
• Associate’s degree or vocational or technical school degree preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related preferred
• 5 years of professional experience
• Current APICS or ISM Certifications preferred.