Manufacturing Buyer

Role Summary

The Buyer II is a site-facing procurement professional who owns a defined portfolio of direct and indirect materials (with emphasis on steel chemicals and component hardware) to support highvolume manufacturing. Compared to Buyer I this role operates with greater autonomy drives supplier performance and cost improvements uses advanced analytics to anticipate demand and risk and partners crossfunctionally to ensure zerointerruptions to production. The Buyer II is expected to lead multisupplier negotiations execute sourcing events and manage PPV inventory turns and OTIF to site targets using JD Edwards/Oracle and plant-level Kanban. The role will demonstrate flexibility and adaptability during the Oracle transition.

What Youll Do (Key Responsibilities)

Sourcing & Supplier Management

• Own endtoend sourcing for assigned categories: market research competitive bidding/RFQ cost analysis award recommendations and contract execution (T&Cs service levels leadtime commitments).
• Lead supplier QBRs set measurable goals (price OTIF quality responsiveness) and drive corrective actions; escalate chronic underperformance and execute exit/transition plans when required.
• Develop and maintain multisource strategies to mitigate risk for critical commodities (e.g. steel gauges/grades chemical inputs) including safetystock logic dual sourcing and expediting playbooks.

Planning Ordering & Execution

• Convert MRP/kanban signals to ontime POs; manage open order books daily (acknowledgements reschedules expedites cancellations).
• Proactively manage backorders and shortages; coordinate with Production Scheduling and Receiving to protect the line and hit the weekly SIOP build plan.
• Maintain accurate item master and vendor files (lead time MOQ EOQ price breaks calendar shipfrom/shipto) and drive master data integrity to reduce system noise.

Cost Inventory & Analytics

• Deliver yearoveryear PPV and total cost improvements using price analysis shouldcost thinking and logistics optimization; prepare savings trackers aligned to Finance.
• Balance service level vs. inventory: set reorder points and Kanban card quantities reduce excess/obsolete and improve inventory turns while meeting OTIF targets.
• Build simple models/dashboards (Excel/Power Query or Power BI) for: demand trends supplier leadtime adherence expedites and hot list visibility for tier boards.

Compliance Quality & EHS

• Ensure procurement complies with company SOPs ethical standards and applicable regulations (e.g. conflict minerals SDS/chemical handling information EHS vendor requirements).
• Partner with Quality/EHS on supplier nonconformances corrective action requests (CARs) and safe handling/transport of materials.

Continuous Improvement & Leadership

• Lead or colead Kaizen events focused on material flow receiving efficiency and inventory accuracy (cycle counts root cause RCCM).
• Coach Buyer I / Coordinators on PO hygiene followup cadence and supplier communication standards; serve as backup for the Procurement Manager when needed.

What Youll Bring (Qualifications)

• Education: Bachelors in Supply Chain Business Engineering or related field; or 35 years progressive purchasing experience in manufacturing.
• Systems: Proficiency with JD Edwards (or Oracle) purchasing/MRP Kanban workflows; strong Excel (lookups pivots basic modeling) PowerPoint; Power BI a plus.
• Experience: Demonstrated success managing metals/chemicals or other longlead/highvolatility commodities; running RFQs negotiating awards and managing suppliers to KPIs.
• Skills:
  • Negotiation & analytics: price-break analysis TCO PPV tracking freight/leadtime tradeoffs.
  • Execution: rigorous openorder management expedite discipline and crossshift communication.
  • Problem solving: RCCM/PDCA datadriven decisions and fast escalation when the line is at risk.
  • Collaboration: clear written/verbal updates to Production Scheduling Quality and Finance.