Job Details
**Buyer**
**Location:** US-MO-Saint Louis, Missouri, US **JOB TITLE**
Buyer
**BUSINESS TITLE**
Buyer - Procurement
1. Identify and implement cost improvement projects (CIPs), through design changes, resourcing, and supplier negotiations. Monitor and address PO pricing to reduce negative purchased price variance (PPV).
2. Manage relationships of key suppliers and develop partnerships that improve overall efficiency, quality, and performance.
3. Plan component requirements using MRP. Communicate potential shortages to appropriate personnel (commercial, planning and manufacturing). Work with suppliers to proactively mitigate shortages or recover when necessary.
4. Place purchase orders with suppliers and monitor adherence to delivery schedules. Reschedule orders based on forecast and requirement changes.
5. Represent purchasing on project teams for new products. Follow Sourcing and Procurement and Supplier Quality Management process to implement new purchased parts, from concept design to manufacturing launch.
6. Comply with all contract terms associated with assigned suppliers. Provide forecasts to suppliers as agreed.
7. Manage inventory levels. Adjust orders as necessary to reduce excess inventory. Negotiate with suppliers to reduce lead time and lot sizes. Implement pull systems or other inventory management systems with suppliers to reduce inventory levels.
8. Manage maintenance of business (MOB) changes and Supplier Requested Changes on purchased components that require a new source or new supplier to ensure smooth transitions and limited scrap costs. Utilize Supplier Quality Management processes as required.
9. Participate in the material review board (MRB) and lead team consensus on disposition of rejected purchased material. Act as primary contact with supplier for some concerns. Follow return to vendor process to return defective product to suppliers.
10. Address match exceptions and hold outs with suppliers and Accounts Payable to be sure all invoices are paid on time. Address receipt errors, invoice errors, and system errors.
11. Maintain supplier information, part MRP data, quote data and other information in ERPLx (MRP System).
12. Participate in value streams and provide purchasing perspective on operational improvements.
13. Address quality issues on production parts in a timely manner. Work toward timely resolution, assessment of root cause, and prevention of future issues.
Each production buyer is responsible for ~$25M in spend.
Entire department manages ~ 450 suppliers.
Entire department manages ~ 3000 purchased part SKUs.
Required Education:
B.S. or B.A, or equivalent experience.
Required Skills/Qualifications:
Excellent understanding of MRP, verbal and written communication skills. Able to use and understand Microsoft Office suite products. Ability to work well within diverse teams.
Required Experience:
2-5 years procurement experience in a Production environment; experience utilizing MRP systems; experience negotiating with suppliers for on-time delivery, resolution of quality issues, and lowest price.
Preferred Experience:
Knowledge of manufacturing concepts is highly desirable as well as prior experience in a manufacturing environment. Knowledge of contracts supply agreements and technical services agreements.
In addition, the candidate must have the ability to actively participate in regional multi-functional teams, a proven capability in workload management, exceptional interpersonal skills, excellent written and verbal skills, problem solving skills and significant experience with Microsoft Office applications.