Senior Manufacturing Buyer

The Position

• Develop and maintain a program of policies, systems, methods and procedures for the effective management and control of the purchasing function to reduce costs and produce additional income within assigned commodities.
• Compile and analyze statistical data to determine feasibility of buying products and to establish price objectives for contract transactions.
• Obtain data for cost analysis studies by determining manufacturing costs within divisions of company.
• Prepare reports, charts, and graphs of findings.
• Evaluate findings and make recommendations regarding feasibility of manufacturing or buying needed products.
• Recommend use of alternative parts, materials, or manufacturing methods to reduce costs.
• Order stock and nonstock supplies.
• Process requisitions, research products, clarify specifications, type purchase orders, follow up back orders, select vendors, and maintain up-to-date product information files.

Responsibilities

• Processes requisitions for supplies, researches products, clarifies specifications, documents competitive bidding, types purchase orders.
• Follows up back orders, expedites delivery of orders, and makes special arrangements for delivery; communicates to the department the expected delivery date.
• Researches and selects vendors in given circumstances, evaluates vendor performance, utilizes different vendor sources to fill as directed.
• Maintains an up-to-date filing system on pricing and vendors to ensure immediate and accurate access to information.
• Searches out alternate vendors or supplies during periods of shortages or stockouts.
• Deals with vendors and manufacturers, which often involves persuading potential vendors to undertake the manufacture of custom-designed items according to complex and rigid specifications.
• Purchases high volume items and materials that cover extended contract periods.
• Negotiates requirements for pre-production samples, spare parts, customized technical literature, and patent and royalty protection.
• Keeps abreast of market and product developments and interviews representatives for potential new sources of supply.

Qualifications

• Minimum four (4) years' of experience in purchasing in a manufacturing environment.
• Requires 4+ years of work experience in purchasing, preferably in manufacturing or construction-related.
• Well-rounded, practical experience may be substituted for formal training.
• Ability to make decisions that are varied and in many cases the solutions must be developed and implemented.
• Ability to work as a team member and participant in projects that involve or impact the entire company.
• Customer service orientation and emphasis on results, diplomacy, multitasking and priority setting.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or purchasing related areas.
• CPM certification is a plus.