Senior Buyer

Job Function: Ensure a continuous supply of goods and services in the most economical manner to the organization while meeting all specifications, quality, and delivery requirements, with the minimum of inventory investment (domestic and foreign) while always maintaining quality standards. Assists in recommending and implementing process and program improvements in support of overall goals.

Essential duties and Responsibilities: include the following. Other duties may be assigned as needed.

Maintain established line fill rates and target inventory levels for items as assigned while meeting annual cost savings targets.  Confirm prices and delivery on Purchased materials and update MRP with delivery dates
Reviews action messages for changes and communicates to suppliers any pricing, delivery, or engineering changes
Proactively seek out and establish suppliers and strategic alliances where appropriate
Lead sourcing initiatives to identify new sources of supply for finished goods, raw materials, and components
Prepare requests for quotations (RFQs/RFPs), analyze supplier responses, and negotiate pricing
Negotiations with potential sources and determines most competitive solutions using a wide degree of creativity and latitude and determines most competitive solutions
Negotiates with suppliers on cost reductions, lead time reductions, and overall improvements in quality
Collaborate with Quality Assurance and Engineering team to audit and approve suppliers
Participate on new product development teams and ensure that PDI (Product Development and Introduction) deliverables as defined in project charters are successfully implemented for purchasing and production planning related deliverables
Assists in acquiring necessary documents to receive in production parts and forwards non-conformance reports (NCRs) to suppliers and request returned material authorization (RMA) numbers
Manages on time delivery goals for suppliers; reviewing delivery dates and adjusting as needed
Coordinate ECN and NUR prints with vendors
Regular and reliable level of attendance.

Education and Experience:

AS in Business Administration, Operations/Production Management, Supply Chain Management or related field or equivalent experience/training.
Minimum of 5-10 years relevant work experience in supply chain commodity management and procurement.
Knowledge of MRP processes.
Certification (APICS and/or ISM) preferred.
Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

Excellent interpersonal, analytical, and organizational skills
Negotiating skills, project management, time management, written and verbal communication skills.
Must be able to read and understand basic drawings and specifications.
Advanced knowledge of Excel preferred.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit.  The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear.  The employee must occasionally lift and or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, 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 work environment is usually quiet.