Buyer I

The Buyer I researches, analyzes, and forecasts current and future buying trends, markets, styles, and products with attention to specified target market and demographics.

Responsibility Level

The Buyer I will implement strategies to achieve the goals for the organization and the Finance department. Implements, revises, and sustains policies, procedures and programs related to the procurement function and ERP procurement software. Manages indirect spend for Retail Services, Mission Support, and various other Business Units. Typically works on projects and initiatives that span 3 – 12 months.

Principal Duties

• Researches, analyzes, and forecasts current and future buying trends, markets, styles, and products with attention to specified target market and demographics.
• Ensure compliance to customer agreements and internal policy targets. Monitors contracts and orders and expedites delivery; reconciles discrepancies between invoices and purchase orders; arbitrates disputes between end users and vendors.
• Build and maintain vendor relationships to develop strong, mutually beneficial partnerships. Secure and analyze quotations, negotiate prices with suppliers, and recommend suppliers with respect to performance (cost, quality, delivery competitiveness) and support supplier diversity initiatives.
• Organizes, plans, and writes RFQs and RFPs, contract language, and amendments; reviews requirements for reasonableness, recommends and applies the appropriate procurement strategy, with the assistance of subject matter experts.
• Researches, secures, compares, and evaluates information regarding source of supply, price, quality, availability, terms and conditions, and related information for varied materials, supplies, services, and equipment to develop a Sourcing Strategy.
• Monitor and approve vendors based on Certifying Bodies and in partnership with Goodwill’s Community Relations department.
• Analyze suppliers for performance and cost savings opportunities through strong qualitative and quantitative insights.
• Professionally and tactfully explains policies and procedures to individuals seeking to procure materials, services, and/or supplies; helps ensure compliance with purchasing policies and procedures.
• Project and Change Management: Effectively plans and manages own work to reliably complete routine job responsibilities and special assignments. May serve as a team member or subject matter expert on formal projects or within the department. Effectively engages in change affecting her/him, communicating appropriately with supervisor. Follows through on learning, skill building, and practice necessary to adapt to change.
• Problem Solving: Light supervision; works independently. Periodic review of work by manager or senior coworker. Solves problems of moderate to advanced complexity; able to identify root cause, interpret data and resolve issues.
• Technical Skill: Understands and applies professional principles and skills within area of specialization to modify processes to resolve situations.
• Community Engagement: Champions Goodwill’s community engagement initiatives and serves as an ambassador for Goodwill in the wider community.
• Responsible for completing other duties/responsibilities as assigned.
  
  

Requirements

• Two years of college education or experience equivalency, and a minimum of 3 years’ experience.
• Proficient with MS Office suite, including Power BI
• Preferred experience with MS Dynamics ERP
• Negotiation experience with strong communication skills
  
  

Core Competencies

• Customer Focus: Independently anticipate and meet customer needs, while searching for ways to improve customer service. Internalize customer feedback and follow up with customer to ensure problems are solved by providing innovative ideas to meet their future needs.
• Values Differences: Seeks out the diverse perspectives and talents of others, striving to work effectively with others who have different perspectives, backgrounds, or styles. Behave with sensitivity towards differences in cultural norms, expectations, and ways of communicating. Challenge stereotyping or offensive comments.
• Communicates Effectively: Shares information and updates with others, while ensuring a clear, concise and professional communication through reports, documentation, written and other communications. Listens with interest to what others have to say.
• Situational Adaptability: Demonstrates flexibility of responses to different situations through adapting to the changing needs, conditions, priorities or opportunities. Monitors how well an approach is working to see if a change is needed, recognizing cues that suggest a change in approach or behavior is needed.
• Drives Results: Demonstrates a strong drive to achieve meaningful results, through driving tasks to successful completion and closure. Sets high standards for own performance, showing determination in the face of obstacles and setbacks.
• Ensures Accountability: Takes responsibility and ownership for successes and failures in own work. Monitors progress of performance and changes approach accordingly, following through on commitments.
  
  

Physical/Sensory Demands

Job requires the following: remain stationary for sustained periods of time; ability to move about to accomplish tasks; must be able to operate a computer or similar technology, which typically involves substantial motions of wrist, hands and/or fingers; visual acuity to perform activities such as preparing data, operating equipment or review thoroughness of work; ability to communicate with others and exchange information. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

When determining placement within the salary range for this position Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago considers education, experience, internal equity, market demands and other qualifying criteria. It is not typical for individuals to be hired at or near the top of the rage for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on facts and circumstances of each case.

Certain roles are eligible to participate in an incentive plan. Participation in this plan does not guarantee an incentive payment and is subject to the terms and conditions of the plan, which are subject to change.

In addition to compensation, we offer a competitive benefit program that may include medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, retirement plan, paid time off (PTO) and more. The specifics of each benefit package will vary depending on factors such as full or part time jobs, contracted, temporary, or other job categories.

Equal Opportunity Employer

(SEW)