Senior Buyer

The Senior Buyer is responsible for developing sourcing strategies, managing key supplier relationships, leading cost reduction initiatives, supporting new product development activities, and mentoring other purchasing team members. The Senior Buyer exercises a high degree of independent judgment and serves as a subject matter expert in supplier management, strategic sourcing, inventory planning, and cross-functional project leadership.

Key Responsibilities

RESULTS | 50%

Critical 

• Owns strategic supplier relationships and serves as the primary escalation point for supplier performance issues involving cost, quality, delivery, capacity, and continuity of supply.
• Prepares and issues purchase orders, quote requests and change notices with knowledge of the part and how it’s used; the financial impact of a PO’s administrative costs; and the financial impact of inventory carrying costs.
• Analyzes market and delivery conditions to determine present and future material availability. Develops buying strategies and prepares market analysis reports. Establishes stocking levels, maintains MRP parameters, and evaluates forecast validity.
• Develops and executes annual cost reduction initiatives through supplier negotiations, sourcing optimization, value analysis/value engineering activities, and process improvements.

Productivity / Job Knowledge 

• Leads purchasing activities for major cross-functional projects involving Engineering, Operations, Quality, Service, Sales, and Finance to ensure project objectives are achieved.
• Strategically identifies and benchmarks alternative suppliers to address any identified cost, quality, delivery or warranty constraints and to drive overall improvements.
• Assesses supplier risk related to financial stability, capacity, geographic exposure, and business continuity; develops and executes mitigation plans when risks are identified.
• Leads in creating, updating, implementing, and abiding by Purchasing Standard Operating Procedures.
• Assists in Capital Expenditure bid proposals and negotiates contracts within budgetary limitations and scope of authority.
• Assists in creating and measuring purchasing metrics to develop suppliers and maintain proper inventory levels while also analyzing and maintaining optimal MRP settings for purchased parts.
• Provides mentorship, technical guidance, and training to Buyers regarding sourcing strategies, supplier negotiations, inventory management, MRP optimization, and supplier issue resolution. Serves as a departmental subject matter expert and resource for the purchasing team.

Dependability 

• Demonstrates a good attendance record; is aware of the impact that missing work will have on the customer as well as co-workers.
• Completes goals/projects on time or ahead of schedule.
• Responds to work assignments and requests by being cooperative and available.
• Follows through and meets commitments.
• Available as a resource to subordinates and/or peers.

Safety 

• Follows safety procedures, protocols, policies, and adheres to all SAFESTART concepts, and acts when others are not holding themselves accountable.

CORE VALUES | 50%

Act Like an Owner. 

• Leads by example and takes ownership in everything you do and or say.
• If you see something, say something and follow through until it's right.
• Treats others with respect and kindness.

Be Interested. Stay Interested. 

• Isn’t complacent. Seizes opportunities to learn by participating in activities to increase understanding.

Create Change. Start With Yourself. 

• Asks "why", is open-minded, and challenges the status quo.
• Leads and supports changes for the sake of improvement.

Seek New Perspectives. 

• Seeks new perspectives from all available sources to challenge your own, and brings them into your decision making process.
• Involves all stakeholders in making decisions. Is open to input from all sources.

Fail Fast. Learn Fast. 

• Considers long and short-term outcomes when making decisions.
• Is fearless.
• Readily admits mistakes.

Requirements

Qualifications and Essential Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in a business-related field and a minimum of four (4) years of relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proficient understanding of ERP systems.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite with advanced Excel.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Verbal and written communication skills.
• Negotiation skills.
• Willing to travel to vendor locations.

Physical Requirements:

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.

Regularly required to sit and interface with computer systems while maintaining a high level of concentration.  The employee is also regularly required to stand and walk while performing the duties of the job. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, or crouch.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.  The employee is occasionally required to use hands/fingers to handle or feel.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

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.

The noise level in the office work environment is usually quiet.  Employee may be exposed to shop environment while distributing documents to shop area.  When on shop floor, employee will be required to wear safety glasses at all times, steel-toed footwear and ear protection when job demands presence in areas outside safety zones and gloves when handling material.