Senior Buyer

POSITION DESCRIPTION

To ensure products are sourced from suppliers who provide the best combination of quality, delivery, cost, and service to meet organizational objectives.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Leads the purchasing effort for assigned commodities to ensure that source of supply meets Vollrath needs in the areas of Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and Service. 

Owns the commercial supplier relationship and acts, as needed, to support the manufacturing facilities in supplier issue resolution or in support of new initiatives that bring value to the organization.

Will be responsible to assure that proper requisition approval, accounting and processing controls are maintained.

Will be accountable for sound and ethical business relationships with suppliers.

Purchasing Requirements:  Develop and execute purchasing strategies for assigned commodities to align with organizational objectives. This includes achieving annual cost reduction targets through strategic supplier negotiations, alternative sourcing, and process improvements. The role requires identifying, evaluating, and selecting suppliers based on quality, cost, and reliability through thorough supplier interviews, site visits, and performance assessments. Additionally, manages supplier relationships by obtaining competitive quotations, leading negotiations, and ensuring strong partnerships to support the company’s operational and financial goals.

Quality Requirements:  Responsible to assure that quality standards are maintained for purchased items and, when necessary, working with QC to develop those standards. 

Data Integrity:  Responsible for analysis of purchasing variances and maintaining the integrity of supplier files, purchase department systems and programs, lead times and standard cost records.  

Supplier Requirements:  Responsible for sound and ethical business relationships with suppliers while seeking to develop optimum supply base.  Travel required to visit and research potential new suppliers and to visit and evaluate present suppliers.

Organization:  Develop cost models of key products within the category group(s) assigned (labels, cartons, pallets and formed wire).  Responsible to submit timely reports concerning costs, price trends, supplier and quality accountability, material availability and recommendations for substitute materials, items, processes, etc.  Serve as product specialist for engineering, sales, marketing, and operations.  Supply information and index and market intelligence, arrange contacts and onsite visits to and from suppliers and perform other liaison activities.

Professional Development:  Keep current in state of the art purchasing practices by attending seminars and/or participation in related professional organizations such as ISM.

Other duties as assigned 

TRAVEL

5-10%, majority domestic

QUALIFICATIONS

• 2 years’ experience in strategic material sourcing and supplier management, Bachelor’s Degree with emphasis on supply chain and materials management, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Knowledge of purchasing and production planning principles within a manufacturing plant.  
• Demonstrated ability to communicate (written and oral) with suppliers, peers and all levels of management.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, make objective decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to run analytics within excel, not limited to vlookups, pivot tables and ROI calculations.