What are the responsibilities and job description for the Purchasing Supervisor position at Open Systems Inc.?
Title: Purchasing Supervisor
Location: Atlanta, GA 30308
Type: Contract to Hire. 4 Months C2H.
Industry: Rail Transportation.
Job Overview:
This position assists or leads purchases of assigned material items and/or services for the organization. Responsible for managing both short-term and tactical requirements and arranging long-term supply agreements at the lowest overall total cost of ownership consistent with quality, delivery, and service requirements. Also plays a critical role in sustaining a long-term, productive supply-chain strategy that is well aligned with internal customer department(s) to ensure that the client remains operationally competitive and delivers significant value to its shareholders. Areas of responsibility vary according to assignment, including rolling stock (locomotive and freight car parts); wayside and locomotive communications and signal (C&S) systems and components, including Positive Train Control (PTC); shop and track equipment and tools; technology services and components; locomotive fuel services; a wide variety of track, train operations, marketing facility, and G&A services. Other positions oversee system-wide disposition of unneeded assets, including rolling stock, track materials, and all other assets excluding real estate.
Key Responsibilities:
Mitigate supply risk, to ensure timely delivery of materials and services while continuously focusing on reducing TCO and maintaining product/service quality and specifications required by using groups. Certain core activities:
Places orders for assigned items using current price records, purchase agreements, and using inquiry and/or price and T&C negotiations with the most favorable suppliers
Negotiates materials or services over approval limits established by management and sends Manager for approval
Manage supply contracts
Execute procurement functions consistent with established internal corporate policies and procedures and following established Federal and state laws, including but not limited to the various antitrust statutes and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Help minimize corporate investment in inventories to the lowest possible levels while maintaining high levels of service to the user departments.
Once fully trained, employees are expected to provide sound advice and recommendations to the Manager/Group Manager and think independently and creatively
Possess the necessary judgment and communication skills to work directly with more senior positions within Sourcing as well as with various levels within internal customer groups and suppliers.
Effectively leverage data when making major or complex purchasing decisions; respects accuracy is good with details and has solid analytical capabilities.
Maintain highly engaged working relationships with the assigned customer department(s) to ensure Sourcing provides continuous improvement in material procurement, cost control, and reduction, a strong, competitive supply base for key materials and services, including the development of alternate materials and suppliers, total cost analysis of materials.
Achieve and maintain a high degree of knowledge and familiarity with strategic suppliers and their representatives for assigned materials and/or service areas; maintain comprehensive knowledge of continually changing market conditions and sources of supply, including development and availability of new products, changes in existing products and suppliers, and all other pertinent data necessary to provide assistance and direction in Sourcing decision making; understand major related technological advances and challenges.
Ensure efficient utilization of SAP procurement platform tools and related (currently SRM and ECC, with planned conversion to ARIBA and S4); continuously identify areas of improvement to reduce administrative burden and increase resources available to control and reduce TCO; maintain 80% or greater standard material catalog item count on long-term supply contracts to minimize buyer RFx queue and invoice OV workload.
The candidate must maintain high standards of ethical conduct to ensure that all negotiations are performed free of interference, that all bids have received adequate consideration, and that objectivity is maintained.
Required Qualifications:
Minimum 3 year’s experience in sourcing, purchasing, or related roles.
Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, meet deadlines, and convey complex information in an accessible manner.
Must possess solid analytical and Microsoft Excel spreadsheet skillsets, with an interest in routinely leveraging data, financial, and/or TCO elements in the evaluation of major or long-term purchasing decisions; experience working on data-intensive projects (school or work) a plus
Solid purchasing and negotiation experience
Strong interpersonal skills
Excellent written and oral communication skills; comfortable working in an inclusive and non-hierarchical team atmosphere; shows respect
Demonstrated leadership traits; maintains composure in tense situations; comfortable taking appropriate risk; candid forthright and decisive when faced with opportunity or challenge; unafraid to challenge longstanding practices
Ability to initiate and lead change to drive improvements in areas of responsibility; thought leader open to new ideas and techniques
Able to function at a high level while under pressure
Is positive, energetic, forward-looking, and never satisfied with the current state
Education:
Bachelor's Degree (BBA, BS)
Preferred Majors: Business or industrial engineering plus supply chain management coursework from a highly accredited university is strongly preferred
Master’s degree a plus
Key Attributes:
Capable of managing multiple priorities, balancing project deadlines and daily tasks.
A curious and proactive problem solver with a strong ability to handle ambiguity.
Exceptional attention to detail with a focus on continuous improvement.
A proactive communicator who collaborates effectively across teams.
