Buyer

Position Summary:

• The Buyer is responsible for commodities or assignments requiring application of basic purchasing principles, theories and concepts.  The Buyer ensures timely acquisitions of product or service from known sources of supply.  Additionally, the Buyer may resolve issues in the areas of requisition accuracy and completeness, on-time delivery or supplier payment functioning in a closely supervised environment

Scope/Supervision and Interaction:

• At the discretion of local management this position may have direct reports.

Essential Functions:

• Identifies and recommends suppliers by investigating potential suppliers, researching parts, equipment, machinery, services, and materials availability.
• Conducts supplier site visits and evaluates them as to production capability, performance, delivery, and other key business criteria.  May complete supplier certification as part of a technical and/or quality team.
• Purchases parts, equipment, and materials by preparing request for quotations and submitting purchase orders with approved suppliers.  Issues purchase orders and agreements that accurately reflect price, schedule, terms, and conditions as negotiated with suppliers.  Maintains accurate lead times for assigned commodities.
• Evaluates bids for standard and non-standard items. Selects suppliers for lower cost items or items of limited scope and complexity and negotiates price, delivery, quality and service.  Develops alternate sources of supply by identifying and researching prospective suppliers.
• Monitors and evaluates supplier performance.  Advises appropriate personnel of impending supplier failure to fulfill contractual agreements that may delay production or delivery.
• Resolves shipment quality discrepancies by mediating supplier/manufacturing issues. Facilitates the resolution of issues by arranging and participating in conferences between suppliers and company personnel.
• Negotiates and settles damage claims, rejections, losses, return of materials, over-shipments, cancellations and engineering changes with suppliers.7. Provides parts, equipment, and materials information by answering questions and requests.  Prepares reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends.
• Participates in continuous improvement activities and provides suggestions for cost reduction and improved efficiency.
• Complies with federal, state, and aerospace industry regulations; ensures adherence to requirements and advises management on needed actions.  Complies with Government/Commercial Practices Manual (GPM/CPM) policies and procedures.

Qualifications:

• 4 year college degree Supply Chain management or relevant discipline.
• Experience and/or exposure to supply chain concepts and methodologies, and manufacturing through internships or training programs.
• Possess analytical and technical skills required to understand business practices and recommend proper automation opportunities.
• Must have intermediate computer skills and be able to understand of electronic processing.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills for effective interface with all internal and external contacts.

Additional Comments:

• The essential functions have been provided as examples of the type of work performed by employees assigned to this job classification. The Company reserves the right to modify the work assignments and/or to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions. The job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities. It is intended to describe the general nature of the position.

Other Skills :

• The candidate will be responsible for scheduling and replenishment systems, inventory control and customer service performance. Planning responsibilities include: forecasting of product lines, schedule and expedite of purchase product for customer demand, establish replenishment logic and set parameters, audit scheduling system, review and adjust plan as required. Inventory responsibilities include: using Lean replenishment tools for improved inventory management and reorder points, inventory reduction: monitor and manage inventory turns to meet plan, convert excess inventory to saleable product. Customer service responsibilities include: monitor customer request dates, review for exceptions or delivery problems, level loading, communicate to customers. Supplier relations responsibilities include: releasing replenishment signal to supplier via purchase order, participate in decision making for inspection/quality reports, quoting, pricing and negotiation with key suppliers, monitor supplier report cards and facilitate action plans as needed. Miscellaneous responsibilities include: remedial action (expedites, resource shortages, problems), engineering change system, support and participate in all Lean activities, perform other duties as responsibilities necessitate. Qualifications include: 4-year degree or commensurate experience, PC literate (MS Office, Lotus Notes and operating systems preferred), ability to handle multiple priorities and work under pressure and adapt to changing roles and changing priorities, demonstrated ability to work effectively with others and be a participative team player, excellent organizational skills, excellent knowledge in Excel, MRP/ERP system, bilingual in Spanish, French or both a plus.