What are the responsibilities and job description for the Buyer - North Region position at ORR Protection?
BUYER
About Orr
ORR Protection is a national leader in fire and life safety, delivering intelligent, lifecycle-driven solutions that protect people, property, and business continuity. For more than 75 years, we’ve built our reputation by serving organizations in mission-critical environments—where performance matters and reliability is essential. As a third-generation, family-owned company, we remain grounded in strong relationships, a commitment to doing the right thing, and a deep sense of responsibility to our customers and our people. Today, ORR supports associates and customers across all 50 states, combining national expertise with a culture rooted in safety, respect, and care. When you join ORR, you’re part of a team dedicated to protecting what matters most, while building a career you can be proud of.
Summary
Learn more about our company culture here.
The Buyer supports ORR Protection’s operations and customer commitments by ensuring the timely and cost-effective procurement of materials, components, and services. This role helps maintain and strengthen vendor partnerships, while also supporting ORR’s quality, service and financial objective. This role regularly collaborates with Operations, Project Management, Warehouse Operations, Finance and other internal stakeholders, as well as external suppliers and vendors. This position will be hybrid and based in Louisville, KY.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
Sourcing and Purchasing
Minimum And Preferred Qualifications
About Orr
ORR Protection is a national leader in fire and life safety, delivering intelligent, lifecycle-driven solutions that protect people, property, and business continuity. For more than 75 years, we’ve built our reputation by serving organizations in mission-critical environments—where performance matters and reliability is essential. As a third-generation, family-owned company, we remain grounded in strong relationships, a commitment to doing the right thing, and a deep sense of responsibility to our customers and our people. Today, ORR supports associates and customers across all 50 states, combining national expertise with a culture rooted in safety, respect, and care. When you join ORR, you’re part of a team dedicated to protecting what matters most, while building a career you can be proud of.
Summary
Learn more about our company culture here.
The Buyer supports ORR Protection’s operations and customer commitments by ensuring the timely and cost-effective procurement of materials, components, and services. This role helps maintain and strengthen vendor partnerships, while also supporting ORR’s quality, service and financial objective. This role regularly collaborates with Operations, Project Management, Warehouse Operations, Finance and other internal stakeholders, as well as external suppliers and vendors. This position will be hybrid and based in Louisville, KY.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
Sourcing and Purchasing
- Review and analyze purchase requisitions and generate accurate purchase orders.
- Source, evaluate, and select vendors that meet the company’s quality, price, service, and delivery requirements.
- Monitor inventory levels and purchasing needs to help prevent material shortages and excess inventory.
- Ensure the timely delivery of materials, components, and services, and follow up with vendors regarding late or incomplete orders.
- Coordinate with Operations, Project Management, Warehouse, and other internal stakeholders to understand purchasing requirements, priorities, and timelines.
- Maintain accurate records of purchases, pricing, lead times, purchase orders, and other relevant purchasing data.
- Ensure purchasing activities follow established company policies, approval requirements, and documentation standards.
- Develop and maintain effective relationships with vendors and suppliers.
- Negotiate pricing, discounts, payment terms, delivery schedules, and other commercial terms with vendors.
- Monitor supplier performance related to quality, cost, responsiveness, and on-time delivery.
- Communicate expectations to suppliers and address performance concerns when established requirements are not met.
- Resolve purchase invoice discrepancies, shipping errors, damaged materials, product-quality concerns, and other order-related issues with vendors.
- Analyze market trends, supplier pricing, material availability, and lead times to inform purchasing decisions.
- Compare supplier quotes and evaluate total cost, quality, availability, and delivery considerations when making purchasing recommendations.
- Identify opportunities for cost savings, supplier consolidation, improved purchasing terms, and greater efficiency.
- Prepare reports on purchasing activity, spending trends, cost savings, and supplier performance.
- Support purchasing-related budgeting, forecasting, and cost-management activities.
- Identify opportunities to automate purchasing activities, strengthen internal controls, and improve procurement processes.
- Monitor price changes and communicate potential cost or supply impacts to appropriate internal stakeholders.
Minimum And Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration, supply chain management, procurement, finance, or a related field preferred. An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
- Five or more years of experience in purchasing, procurement, buying, supply planning, or a related field preferred.
- Experience sourcing suppliers, evaluating quotes, negotiating commercial terms, and managing purchase orders, required.
- Experience working with enterprise resource planning, purchasing, or inventory management systems required.
- Strong knowledge of purchasing principles, procurement practices, supplier management, and purchase order processes.
- Strong negotiation and analytical skills, with the ability to evaluate pricing, supplier terms, lead times, quality, and total cost.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Effective written and verbal communication skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel
- Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and collaborate effectively across departments.
- This position operates as a hybrid work arrangement and routinely uses standard office equipment, including computers, phones, and related technology.
- Work is generally performed during regular business hours, however, occasional flexibility may be required to address urgent purchasing needs, supplier issues, or operational deadlines.
- Occasional travel to company locations or other business-related sites may be required.
- Working for a company where the associates are viewed as the company’s greatest asset.
- Being part of something you can be proud of – making a difference in the health and wellness of people and our planet.
- A growing company with a first-class reputation in our respective industries.
- A culture that is fun, family oriented and entrepreneurial.
- A company that offers a focus on work life balance and encouragement to make a big impact.
- A caring group of associates with a commitment to make the communities we work in better for all.
- Excellent benefits including 401(K), health, life, dental, tuition reimbursement and numerous perks such as training and development.