Buyer

Start Your Career with BICO Steel

At BICO Steel, we take pride in our reputation for quality, reliability, and craftsmanship. Alongside our divisions, Integrity Fab & Machine and Integrity Die Sets, we offer a full range of steel processing, machining, fabrication, and die solutions to customers across multiple industries. We’re looking for driven, team-oriented individuals who are ready to grow their careers in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

BICO Steel | Your Competitive Advantage Since 1896

Our BICO Steel location in Michigan is looking for a Buyer for Steel Products. This position supports purchasing, supplier coordination, inventory availability, and cost-effective sourcing for steel products used across customer orders and production needs.

Job Summary

BICO Steel is seeking a highly organized, detail-driven Buyer for Steel Products who can serve as an administrative and analytical resource for purchasing, inventory, supplier coordination, and customer support. This role is responsible for leading the inventory process, composing lists of material needs, maintaining RFQs, performing accurate data entry and reporting, reconciling invoices, gathering and recording external data, and working closely with sales, production, operations, vendors, mills, processors, customers, and transportation partners to ensure material availability, accurate records, and timely follow-up on urgent requests. This position will cover purchasing for a multi-location/subsidiary business with the potential for more expansion. This position will report directly to the site VP/General Manager and will monitor and require approval for all purchases.

Key Responsibilities

• Purchase approvals for steel products, raw materials, plate, bar, and related items needed to support customer orders, production schedules, and inventory requirements
• Review purchase requests, production needs, inventory levels, sales requirements, and lead times to determine appropriate buying decisions
• Monitor steel plate inventory across all locations and identify buying needs based on usage, demand, availability, and replenishment requirements
• Lead the inventory process by reviewing stock levels, identifying shortages or excess inventory, composing organized lists of material needs, and communicating replenishment priorities
• Perform transactional steel plate buying, including routine purchases, order placement, pricing review, vendor follow-up, and purchase order maintenance
• Perform administrative duties associated with steel plate purchasing, including certificate organization and filing, invoice processing, recordkeeping, and related documentation
• Process steel plate-related claims, discrepancies, documentation issues, pricing concerns, and supplier or delivery problems through resolution
• Conduct transactional negotiation with vendors and suppliers to support competitive pricing, favorable terms, reliable delivery, and overall purchasing value
• Support steel plate-related activities and purchasing needs for all BICO locations
• Source and evaluate suppliers based on price, quality, availability, delivery performance, reliability, and overall value
• Request quotes, compare bids, negotiate pricing, delivery schedules, freight terms, and other purchasing terms with mills, service centers, processors, and vendors
• Maintain RFQs, quote records, supplier responses, pricing details, availability updates, and related documentation in an accurate and timely manner
• Perform accurate data entry for purchase orders, inventory records, pricing updates, supplier information, invoices, claims, and material documentation
• Confirm purchase order acknowledgments and verify that material grade, size, quantity, price, and delivery information match BICO Steel requirements
• Monitor open orders, follow up on late or missing materials, and communicate delivery updates or issues to internal teams
• Coordinate with production, sales, shipping, receiving, and management to support material availability and customer commitments
• Maintain accurate purchasing records, supplier information, pricing history, purchase order files, and related documentation
• Assist with inventory control by monitoring stock levels, identifying replenishment needs, and helping avoid excess or insufficient inventory
• Support cost savings efforts by researching alternate sources, reviewing steel market trends, and identifying opportunities to improve purchasing efficiency
• Reconcile invoices by reviewing pricing, quantities, freight charges, purchase orders, receiving records, and supporting documentation to resolve discrepancies
• Prepare data reports, collect external market or supplier data, record findings, and use analytical skills to support purchasing, inventory, and material availability decisions
• Interface with customers and internal teams on urgent material availability requests, providing timely follow-up, status updates, and escalation when needed
• Work through logistics and transportation problems, including freight delays, carrier coordination, delivery issues, documentation gaps, and communication between suppliers and internal teams
• Support mill claims by gathering documentation, tracking claim details, maintaining records, following up with mills or suppliers, and assisting through resolution
• Resolve purchasing, delivery, invoice, quality, and documentation issues in a timely and professional manner
  
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Prior purchasing, procurement, inventory, supply chain, steel service center, or manufacturing experience
• Strong computer and data entry skills, including Microsoft Office, purchasing or inventory systems, and advanced Microsoft Excel skills for tracking, reporting, analysis, and recordkeeping
• Ability to read and understand purchase orders, quotes, order acknowledgments, invoices, bills of lading, and material-related documentation
• Exceptional organization, planning, follow-up, math, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage detailed administrative work accurately
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for working with vendors, mills, customers, transportation providers, and internal teams
• High attention to detail and accuracy when entering data, maintaining RFQs, reconciling invoices, reviewing specifications, preparing reports, and keeping purchasing and inventory records current
• Administrative “rockstar” mindset with the ability to stay organized, take ownership of details, anticipate needs, and keep purchasing, inventory, invoice, claim, and logistics information moving forward
  
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous buying experience in a steel service center, metal processing, fabrication, machining, or industrial manufacturing environment
• Experience purchasing carbon steel, alloy steel, plate, bar, burnouts, saw-cut material, or processed steel products
• Experience working directly with mills, steel suppliers, processors, freight providers, and outside vendors
• Experience with ERP, purchasing, inventory management, or material tracking systems
• Advanced Excel experience, including formulas, sorting/filtering, data cleanup, reporting, tracking logs, and spreadsheet-based analysis
  
  
  

Skills & Competencies

• Strong negotiation, vendor management, and relationship-building skills
• Highly organized with the ability to prioritize multiple urgent requests, RFQs, inventory needs, customer follow-ups, reports, invoices, claims, deliveries, and production requirements in a fast-paced environment
• Analytical mindset with the ability to gather external data, compare pricing, lead times, availability, quality, freight impact, and total cost of ownership, then record and report findings clearly
• Self-motivated, dependable, and able to work independently while supporting team goals
• Professional communication style with strong customer interfacing skills, urgent request follow-up, accuracy, follow-through, and service-oriented support for internal and external stakeholders
• Commitment to safety, reliability, continuous improvement, and supporting BICO Steel’s quality standards
  
  
  

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Office and manufacturing environment with regular interaction with shop, warehouse, shipping, receiving, and production areas
• May require occasional time on the shop floor with exposure to noise, machinery, steel materials, forklifts, trucks, and overhead cranes
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout office and production areas as needed
• Use of PPE such as safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, and other required safety equipment when entering production areas
• Work collaboratively with BICO divisions, supervisors, sales personnel, production teams, vendors, customers, and management to support purchasing and material needs
  
  
  

Compensation & Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and holidays
  
  
  

Additional Requirements

• Ability to pass pre-employment background check and drug screening
  
  
  

Equal Opportunity Statement

BICO Steel is an equal opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or veteran status.