What are the responsibilities and job description for the Buyer II position at Sub-Zero Group, Inc.?
Overview
Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove the leading manufacturer of luxury kitchen appliances is a longstanding, family-owned company in the Madison area. Icons of design and paragons of performance and quality, Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove are the refrigeration, cooking, and dishwashing specialists found in world’s most luxurious homes. We look for team members who are driven by innovation and excellence, striving to serve our customers by doing what is right—with integrity, teamwork, and accountability.
The OEM NPD Buyer II will support work related to the Product Development Process (PDP) and participate on cross functional project teams while reporting through the OEM Business Unit. Primary duties include supporting new projects, assisting with project budget tracking, executing sourcing activities, participating in RFQs and supplier selection, supporting supplier negotiations, and contributing to total cost management to help ensure successful launch readiness for NPD projects.
Growth and development are important aspects of this position. Whether you aspire to be a leader or a technical expert, this position will set you up for success in the future.
Primary Responsibilities
Be valued as an individual! Sub-Zero Group, Inc. is a family-owned company where talent and hard work are recognized and rewarded, people work as a team, and everyone is guided by a clear vision: to create the world’s most innovative refrigeration and cooking appliances. We are proud of what we do, and who we are.
Our NPD Buyers are essential to the success of bringing our innovative products to market through cross functional teams. As an OEM NPD Buyer II, you will partner with project teams, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to support best-in-class luxury appliances that provide value to the customer and profitability to the organization. Key responsibilities will include:
- Support Supply Chain activities as part of an OEM NPD cross functional team.
- Communicate business requirements, project needs, and timing expectations to suppliers and internal stakeholders to support alignment and project success.
- Assist with assessing the OEM NPD supply base against business objectives and support supplier development activities as needed.
- Support the preparation, review, and execution of OEM NPD agreements while helping ensure company interests are protected throughout the contract lifecycle.
- Provide clear updates, assessments, and recommendations to project teams and Supply Chain leadership.
- Work cohesively with Sub-Zero Group’s Supply Chain team, including Demand Planning, Import-Export, Operations, Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Quality, and Transportation, to support the PDP.
- Execute assigned sourcing activities for OEM NPD in support of strategic business alliances and operational requirements.
- Assist with supplier selection, qualification, and development of a reliable supply base.
- Research and identify sources for new technologies that may provide a competitive advantage.
- Identify potential supply chain risks and support contingency planning with internal and external partners.
- Support material cost forecasting by gathering supplier pricing, market, industry, and economic information.
- Assist with cost improvement projects in partnership with relevant stakeholders.
- Support supplier improvement initiatives and supplier quality assessments or audits.
- Maintain and update cost models within the OEM supply base to support accurate material cost visibility.
- Evaluate suppliers using Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) considerations, customer needs, organizational goals, and market conditions.
- Work with technical personnel internally and externally during early design stages to support cost, quality, and specification requirements aligned with the company’s strategic vision.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Some travel (10% ) will be required including international travel
- 3-5 years of purchasing experience in manufacturing
- Excellent customer service and computer skills
- Ability to read blueprints
- High level of interpersonal and organizational savvy
- Demonstrates creativity, technical skills, and problem-solving attributes
- Intermediate knowledge of materials and manufacturing methods/processes
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management or related field
- 5 years of negotiating experience
- 3 years of OEM supply chain experience
- CPSM/CPM
- SAP experience
- Prior experience working with New Product Development
- Exudes leadership qualities
We value our employees by providing:
- Competitive compensation based on skills
- Industry leading health, dental, and vision plans
- Generous 401 (K) savings and profit sharing
- On-site UW Health clinic, fitness center, and walking paths
- Education assistance and internal training programs
- Electric vehicle charging
- Maternity & paternity leave · Interested in learning more on our robust benefits package we offer? Click here!
This position requires a pre-employment drug/alcohol test and background check, which will be administered after a conditional job offer is extended. A negative drug/alcohol test result is required for employment. Refusal to take the test or a positive result may disqualify a candidate from further consideration. All drug testing will be conducted in accordance with federal and state laws.