Company DescriptionWe are an independent placement and recruitment company.Job DescriptionWe are seeking a Buyer for a direct hire position.The Strategic Buyer/Materials Coordinator is a new position that will bring all the purchasing and material control activities into one functional area to prepare the company for growth. This position is responsible for performing the company's strategic sourcing activities and coordinating materials operations. Over all responsibility includes coordinating early supplier involvement (ESI) with the design engineering process, supplier selection/relationship management, inventory control of raw materials/purchased parts, maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) supplies and/or services and providing coordinating production buyer, MRO buyer and shipping/receiving/warehouse associate activities. Specific Responsibilities•Coordinate the involvement of supplier with the company's engineering during the design phase to ensure lowest cost and highest quality manufacturing by the supplier. This could involve Value Analysis and Value Engineering (VA/VE) activity•Closely coordinate activities with production buyer, MRO buyer and shipping/receiving/warehouse associate to ensure individual actions increase efficiencies and/or value of the supply chain. •Lead the supplier selection process•Lead negotiations with suppliers using robust negotiation techniques that yield the lowest Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)•Coordinate with internal stakeholders (i.e. internal customers and end users) to guarantee agreement on terms and conditions of purchases.•Research and anticipate shifts in the negotiating power of suppliers as a basis for commodity sourcing strategies•Establish sourcing contracts, as appropriate, with key suppliers•Ongoing relationship managementoScorecardsoScheduled supplier reviewsoAnnual supplier conferenceoSupplier recognition program (e.g. Supplier Of The Year) •Perform spend analysis and segment spend into logical material groupings•Create and implement strategies for major commodities. Developing cost reduction strategies requires a thorough understanding of industry cost drivers and individual company cost structures.•Optimize sourcing procedures/systems to attain maximum procurement process efficienciesQualifications• Bachelor’s degree and/or substantial relevant experience/knowledge in a technical field and various aspects of supply chain activities is strongly preferred. ISM certification is a plus.• Experience in a sourcing/procurement Associate role of technical goods/services• Experience in managing others in supply chain functions• Very good communications and human relations skills • Possess management and leadership skills• Skilled in industry/supplier evaluations and use data to implement effective sourcing strategies • Proven record of sustaining positive, mutually beneficial, supplier working relationships over time• Familiarity supplier relationship management methods • Ability to negotiate to achieve lowest Total Cost of Ownership (TCO); not just unit priceAdditional InformationAll your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.