Role Summary
The Buyer is responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and purchasing materials and services required to support production, assembly, and operations. This role manages assigned suppliers, executes MRP demand, monitors delivery performance, and works cross-functionally to maintain material availability and cost effectiveness. Success in this role means reliable supply, reduced risk, accurate POs, cost control, and strong supplier partnerships.
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Key Responsibilities
Purchasing & Sourcing
· Convert MRP requirements into purchase orders for assigned commodities.
· Source new suppliers for cost, quality, and lead time improvements.
· Prepare and manage RFQs, quote comparisons, and negotiation summaries.
· Negotiate pricing, terms, volume agreements, and cost-reduction initiatives.
· Review and maintain supplier contracts, LTAs, and pricing agreements.
Supplier Management
· Manage day-to-day supplier performance for delivery, cost, and responsiveness.
· Conduct regular supplier business reviews as required.
· Resolve chronic supply issues, expedite needs, and capacity constraints.
· Work with Supplier Quality on NCRs, PPAPs, corrective actions, and quality escalations.
· Evaluate supply risk (financial, capacity, geographical) and implement mitigation plans.
Operational Execution
· Issue, update, and release purchase orders ensuring accuracy and compliance.
· Drive PO acknowledgments, lead-time validation, and on-time delivery (OTD).
· Manage aging, past-due orders, and materials shortage lists.
· Support logistics with ASN accuracy, freight planning, and carrier instructions.
· Maintain accurate ERP/MRP master data: lead times, MOQ, prices, sourcing rules.
Cost & Inventory Control
· Track and manage PPV (Purchase Price Variance) for assigned commodities.
· Support annual/quarterly cost-down programs.
· Evaluate safety stock and inventory strategies with planning.
· Reduce premium freight, excess inventory, and slow-moving/obsolete material.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
· Partner with Planning to resolve schedule impacts and material constraints.
· Work with Engineering on new parts, design changes, and ECR/ECN implementation.
· Align with Finance/AP on invoice holds, tax issues, and reconciliation.
· Communicate supply risk, recovery plans, and ETAs to Operations and Customer Service.
Compliance & Continuous Improvement
· Follow SOX/ISO/IATF or internal purchasing controls and approval workflows.
· Maintain accurate and organized documentation for audit readiness.
· Participate in Kaizen events or Lean initiatives to reduce process waste.
· Help improve purchasing workflows, tools, templates, and reporting.
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Required Qualifications
· Experience: 3–5 years in purchasing/procurement within manufacturing or assembly.
· Systems: ERP/MRP proficiency (SAP, Oracle, Dynamics, Epicor, Infor); advanced Excel (pivots, XLOOKUP, analytics).
· Knowledge:
o MRP logic, BOM structures, and basic cost breakdowns
o Incoterms, commercial terms, and negotiation fundamentals
o Supplier management and quality processes
o Three-way match (PO/receipt/invoice) and AP alignment
· Skills:
o Strong negotiation and communication skills
o Ability to prioritize in a fast-paced environment
o Data-driven decision making
o High attention to detail and follow-through
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Preferred Qualifications
· Commodity experience (metals, plastics, electronics, machining, EMS, packaging, etc.).
· Experience with supplier portals, EDI, and ASN workflows.
· Lean/CI exposure (Kanban, VSM, root cause analysis).
· Certifications: CPSM, CPM, CPIM, CSCP.
Education:
Bachelor’s in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
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Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
· On-Time Delivery (OTD) for assigned suppliers
· PO acknowledgment cycle time
· PPV reduction and cost-avoidance achievements
· Past-due PO aging
· Inventory health (excess/obsolete reduction, safety stock adherence)
· Supplier responsiveness and issue resolution time
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· Reports to: Purchasing Manager
· Works with: Material Planners, SQE, Production Planning, Engineering, AP, Logistics, Customer Service
· External: Daily interaction with key suppliers, contract manufacturers, and carriers
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Competencies
· Ownership & accountability
· Problem solving & analytical thinking
· Negotiation & relationship building
· Communication & cross-functional collaboration
· Continuous improvement mindset
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Tools & Systems
· ERP/MRP: SAP/Oracle/Dynamics/Epicor/Infor (list your platform).
· Productivity: Excel (pivots, XLOOKUP), Teams/Outlook, SharePoint.
· Supplier Tools: Supplier portals, EDI/ASN tracking, carrier portals.
· Analytics: Basic dashboards or Power BI (nice to have).
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Physical & Schedule Requirements
· Office/production floor hybrid as needed
· Periodic warehouse visits for inventory or receiving investigations
· Standard business schedule with occasional flexibility during escalation
Pay: From $45,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- Purchasing: 2 years (Preferred)
- Sourcing: 2 years (Preferred)
- Supply chain: 1 year (Preferred)
Location:
- North Tazewell, VA 24630 (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- North Tazewell, VA 24630 (Required)
Work Location: In person
