Position Overview:
Join our team and help us build in 2026! In this role, you'll work as part of a team to manage materials to support the company's purchasing programs. The Buyer is responsible for source selection and procurement functions directly associated with the company's needs for production materials and services, fixed assets and tooling. These products are designed to delight the customer and are secured at competitive levels for cost, quality, and delivery.
We value teamwork and a positive work environment, and you'll have opportunities to learn new skills and grow your career with us.
What you bring to the table (basic requirements):
- Supplier Management: Identify, evaluate, and select suppliers to build long-term partnerships, negotiate contracts, and monitor supplier performance
- Procurement Execution: Lead RFx events (RFP, RFQ, RFI), manage purchase orders, and ensure timely delivery of goods and services
- Cost and Risk Optimization: Analyze spending patterns, implement cost-saving initiatives, and mitigate supply chain risks
- Coordinate supplier selection and lead supplier transitions.
- Ensure and monitor the results and contribution of the assigned commodity to departmental and corporate objectives.
- Work closely with engineering group on prototype & new program launches
- Coordinate with production to ensure materials are on hand, customer required dates are met and minimize line downtime and line change over times.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
Required:
- Bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, or a related field, with at least 5 years of experience in strategic sourcing or category management
- Strong analytical skills to interpret complex data and market trends
- Negotiation and communication skills to manage a global supplier network and internal stakeholder expectations
- Experience with procurement technologies, including e-sourcing platforms, spend analytics tools, and contract management systems
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 10%
Preferred:
- MBA from an accredited institution
- Knowledge of AI and advanced analytics for predictive sourcing, supplier risk modeling, and scenario analysis
- Axle, gear box or transmission manufacturing and/or procurement experience
- CPP, CPSM or CPSD certification
What Schafer offers:
- Competitive Pay
- 401(k) matching
- Health, Vision, Dental, Disability & Life insurance
- Paid vacation
- Paid holidays
- Matching charitable donations and paid time off for community service
- And more!
Why Schafer?
We are a growth-oriented company with a diversified customer base that is committed to a culture of safety and continuous improvement. You will enjoy a collaborative work environment where your talents and opinions matter, and we provide various opportunities in support of your career development. We live our values of Safety, Integrity, Responsibility to Others, Customer Focus, Continuous Improvement and Accountability in all that we do. Compensation and benefits are competitive, reflecting experience and qualifications.
About The Company
Schafer Industries is a rapidly growing premier supplier of off-highway axles and differentiated precision gearing solutions. Established in 1934, Schafer Industries has locations in South Bend, IN, Roscoe, IL, Fredericktown, OH and Blacklick, OH. Schafer Industries is one of the few manufacturers of integrated axle solutions in the off-highway electric vehicle market. Schafer also serves customers in a variety of end markets including recreational vehicles, aerospace, defense, oil & gas, material handling, powertrain, electric mobility, heavy duty trucking, agriculture, and construction. Our mission is to leverage world class capabilities to deliver superior products and services to maximize the value for our customers, employees, shareholders, and communities.
Schafer Industries is an EEO/AAP Employer:
Our company is committed to providing equal employment opportunity. This means that we make employment decisions on the basis of job-related qualifications, skills and abilities and not on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national original, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. As a federal subcontractor, we are also required to take affirmative action, or proactive measures, to prevent discrimination.
