Buyer

The Position 

Under minimal supervision, the Buyer plans and coordinates the daily operations of purchasing merchandise, materials, components, equipment, and/or services—both domestic and international—as assigned by the Director of Operations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Purchases materials, parts, supplies, and equipment in accordance with established purchasing policies and procedures. Sourcing includes both domestic and international suppliers to ensure optimal pricing, lead time, and quality.
• Identifies and evaluates global supply opportunities through interviews, site visits (as applicable), international trade shows, web research, supplier audits, and technical publications.
• Solicits bids and quotations for assigned commodities; negotiates procurement terms with both domestic and international vendors; coordinates product trials and evaluations as needed; recommends the most cost-effective and reliable sourcing alternatives.
• Conducts supplier negotiations to secure goods and services at the best possible value while ensuring timely delivery and compliance with quality standards. Negotiates international shipping terms (Incoterms), payment terms, and other trade compliance requirements.
• Manages and tracks open purchase orders to ensure delivery commitments, quantities, and pricing are met; proactively expedites orders as needed, including coordination of international logistics and customs requirements.
• Maintains and updates an approved supplier database with global vendor information; monitors supplier performance including on-time delivery, quality metrics, and compliance with insurance and liability requirements. Recommend additions or removals from supplier lists based on performance.
• Oversees cost accountability and cost-saving initiatives related to assigned commodity items, with an emphasis on leveraging global sourcing strategies.
• Participates in companywide cost improvement programs and collaborates with other departments on cross-functional initiatives.
• Works closely with the Maintenance department to ensure availability of parts and services needed for minimal equipment downtime.
• Maintains a working knowledge of equipment, manufacturing processes, machining, and fabricating practices relevant to purchased materials.
• Trains associates new Purchasing and Receiving procedures, including protocols for handling international shipments and documentation (e.g., customs paperwork, import duties, tariffs, HTS codes).
• Coordinates with Accounts Payable to resolve credit holds and pricing discrepancies, and with Receiving departments to address any issues related to international shipments or customs clearance. Partners with the Quality department to address and resolve supplier performance or quality concerns.
• Other duties may be assigned as needed in support of departmental or organizational objectives.