Qualifications:

Education Required

University Degree (BA degree) preferred

Education requirements can be obtained through an educational institution or gained through equivalent work experience.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• University Degree (BA degree) or 10+ years of buyer experience required. BS in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or Advanced degree desired
• APICS certificate desired
• Proficient in utilization and understanding of ERP systems. Preferable Oracle, SAP, or JD Edwards
• Strong analytical skills and proficient in Excel using vlooks, and pivots tables
• Knowledge of GMP, ISO, FDA requirements and their application in the operations site environment

Abilities

• Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to perform under tight deadlines and stressful situations.
• Ability to work independently with minimal direction.
• Available for business travel for up to 25% of the time

Impact and Scope

• This experienced position is ready to take a very strategic approach to purchasing execution and management to drive significant business results.
• Impacts bottom line profitability if management of supplier agreements are not achieved, i.e. pricing, lead-times.
• Impacts customer service if inventories are not maintained at appropriate levels and supplier quality and delivery are not managed.

Key Internal and External Relationships

• Extensive relationship with external suppliers
• Extensive relationships with internal employees, cross-functional and multi-site.

Planning and Decision Making

• High level of responsibility for planning, organizing and implementing the addition of new suppliers as well as the maintenance and monitoring of current suppliers
• Direction is provided by Materials Manager; however position requires ability to make decisions that support the business strategy and objectives.

Responsibilities:

Adheres to Company Core Beliefs and all Safety and Quality requirements.

Buys goods and services utilizing Purchase Orders through Oracle based ERP system and manages and monitors open orders ensuring product is delivered on-time to support uninterrupted production.Measure and monitor supplier performance, inventory levels, and key metrics. Develops plans to drive improvements, tracks efforts, and reports out on performance and communicate gaps to the business and the supplier.

Identify and lead projects and activities to develop, and improve our purchasing best practices as well as being an example and leader in adhering to the best practices, both within the plant and working with the global teams.

Leads effective Supplier Relationship Management for strategic and problematic suppliers. Hold regular meetings, defines action plans, and leads efforts for improved supplier performance and overall value to the organization.

Drive lean principles to right size inventory by implementing supplier stocking agreements and systems such as Kanban, and Min/Max planning. Reduce supplier lead-times while improving responsiveness, and flexibility.

Interpret, define, and communicates material/service requirements to suppliers. Escalates issues in a timely manner internally and externally.

Negotiates pricing/terms with suppliers in conjunction with the Senior Commodity Manager where applicable ensuring that the organization needs are met.

Effective management, and regular maintenance of key item attributes, purchase order modifiers and related procurement system settings. MoQ, lead-times, safety stocks, FLM, planner codes, ASL, etc.

Ensures that suppliers deliver goods/service with necessary quality, competitive pricing, and timely delivery.

Assists in resolving receiving and/or accounts payable issues.

Performs other functions as required.

This position is required to assure compliance of Company operations to all applicable laws, regulations and standards, good business practices and company documented procedures (including knowledge of all standards, government occupational health and environmental regulations and statutes related to the site).

Engage others, promote, and participate in Environmental, Health, and Safety initiatives, focusing on continuous improvement.

Other duties as assigned by supervisor.