QUALIFICATIONS:

Skills and knowledge required for this position would generally be acquired with a four-year college degree with an emphasis on Supply Chain or other business subjects followed by five or more years of successful experience in related positions such as but not limited to Buying, Demand, Merchandise, Inventory, Capacity, Production and Supply Planning. Certification in APICS, ASCM, CPM, CPSM, CPIM, CSCP or similar, a plus.

SOFT & TECHNICAL SKILLS:

• Negotiation Skills: The ability to negotiate effectively with suppliers to secure favorable terms and build strong partnerships.
• Communication Skills: Clear and concise communication, both written and verbal, to collaborate with teams, suppliers, and stakeholders.
• Problem-Solving: Analytical thinking to address challenges in supply chain or vendor management.
• Team Collaboration: Working well with cross-functional teams to achieve organizational goals.
• Attention to Detail: Ensuring accuracy in contracts, purchase orders, and inventory management.
• Advanced Excel Skills
• Planning & ERP Tools: Avercast, SAP, Oracle, NetSuite or other software.

LEAD DUTIES:

• Strategic Leadership:
• Lead the strategic buying process, continually improving processes and efficiencies.
• Collaborate with Buyers & Demand Planners to develop and execute integrated supply plans that align with demand forecasts, meeting company, customer, and sales expectations to achieve inventory and fill rate targets.
• Operational Oversight:
• Validate purchases and ensure weekly/monthly purchasing targets are met within budget.
• Optimize Safety Stock levels for raw materials, considering SKU volume, complexity, and lead time variations.
• Track and manage Purchase Order (PO) due dates, out-of-stock (OOS) situations, and overstocks through effective order management.
• Inventory Management:
• Regularly monitor inventory levels to ensure they remain within company targets.
• Investigate variances from planned targets, identify root causes, and provide guidance on risk mitigation actions for out-of-stocks and overstocks.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
• Collaborate with internal departments to manage the lifecycle of aging products, ensuring raw materials are depleted to minimize surplus inventories.
• Play a key role in monitoring market exits and minimizing inventory liabilities.
• Continuous Improvement:
• Drive continuous improvement projects focused on cost savings, supplier optimization, Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs), and material costing.
• Assist the Sourcing Specialist with new product launches to ensure proper MOQs and costing.

BUYER DUTIES:

• Order Management:
• Place, review, and revise Purchase Orders to suppliers based on Material Requirements Planning (MRP) demand and other relevant information.
• Maintain lead times and safety stocks, using judgment to determine appropriate safety stock levels.
• Expediting and Logistics:
• Expedite orders as needed based on daily report reviews, including initiating air freight requests and managing the approval process.
• Manage domestic and international shipments, ensuring vendors ship efficiently and consolidating Less-than-Container Load (LCL) shipments as necessary.
• Review and approve bookings from freight forwarders.
• Compliance and Training:
• Maintain knowledge of Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) regulations and requirements, keeping records for assigned vendors to support the CTPAT Administrative Officer.
• Develop and maintain a training system for buyers.