Purchasing Manager

at  Gates Corporation

Driven by Possibility
Gates Corporation is a leading manufacturer of application-specific fluid power and power transmission solutions. At Gates, we are driven to push the boundaries of materials science to engineer products that continually exceed expectations.
We don’t rest on our rich heritage of innovation. We leverage it to inspire solutions that will power the next hundred years. We invest continually in R&D and technology, so our products not only outperform industry standards; they exceed our customers’ demanding expectations. We invest in our people, bringing real-world experience that enables us to solve our customers’ diverse challenges of today and anticipate those of tomorrow. And we are constantly expanding our product catalog and value-added service offerings to support every facet of our customers’ operations. In the most extreme environments and those more familiar, Gates is there with the right product, in the right place at the right time. Whether building original equipment or maintaining products in the aftermarket, we enable companies in every industry to be more efficient, productive, and profitable. We are Gates.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Manage all aspects of purchasing to efficiently and cost-effectively support Gates Windsor organizational operations. Responsible for the overseeing the day-to-day sourcing goods and services, equipment and managing vendors. Collaborate with other members of the leadership team to align all improvement activities with corporate and plant directives. Participate in product development teams representing the needs of procurement/plant operations in development initiatives and through issue resolution. Responsible to align strategic procurement activities across all commodities to the Global Procurement team objectives. Establishes buyer goals based on the Windsor Facility goals and career objectives, monitoring and revising as required. Independently makes decisions with regard to assigned areas of responsibility.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Able to work with limited oversight.
• Requires good oral and written communication skills in English as well as computer skills.
• Must think logical with sound problem-solving abilities.
• Requires product documentation development and execution skills.
• Knowledge of project management, including the use of standard project management tools and techniques.
• Capable of planning, organizing, directing, and prioritizing tasks and projects.
• Requires knowledge of technology development as it relates to new products and/or product enhancements.
• Good technical knowledge of components and related processes. Ability to organize and facilitate cross-functional meetings.
• Experience in partnering with business leaders on developing and driving global initiatives.
• High Level interpersonal and leadership skills; must be able to influence and coach across multiple levels within the company and locations; including establishing global partnerships.
• Ability to staff and develop an effective and capable team.
• Demonstrated understanding of regulatory environments
• Demonstrated business acumen
• Change management leadership capability
• Experience with acquisition integration preferred.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Suite and other ERP systems, such as Oracle/Solarsoft.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Minimum college degree with four years related experience or equivalent.
• Requires working knowledge of product line.
• Solid knowledge of Gates and supplier manufacturing processes and commodities.
• Several years working experience in automotive industry advantageous.
• 20+ years of progressive procurement experienc

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Establish and implement Windsor purchasing policies, procedures and best practices. Ensure alignment to IATF 16949. Performance manage, development and motivate purchasing staff. Oversee the operations and daily activities of the purchasing department.
Develop and manage purchasing budgets and forecasts. Ensure the purchasing and repair & maintenance budgets remain within the established limits. When these limits are not met, display the variation utilizing standardized reporting formats, and recovery plans.
Solicit pricing, selection and manage the cost tracking of programs from initial customer requests through to end of life requirements. Manage the supplier selection process based on price, quality, support, capacity and reliability. Responsible for managing component supply in support of product launch and changes, ensuring plant expectations are met.
Creation and tracking of incoming component plans in support of new program launches and engineering changes to the plant, whether driven by cost, technical or process. Manage, negotiate and administer purchasing contracts with ensuring legal and organizational requirements are met. Troubleshoot cost, quality and delivery concerns. Direct continuous improvement of purchasing processes in line with changing organizational needs and market conditions.
Monitor supplier and vendor performance to the Supplier Requirements Manual in the electronic portal as it relates to cost, quality and delivery, publishing the results on a quarterly basis. Scheduling management reviews as required. Identify the need for new or deficient suppliers and ensure the Global Group is aware of these needs and will address them in a timely manner to meet plant needs. Other duties may be assigned beyond the core functions listed below.
1
25%
eCT Management and Cost Tracking
2
25%
Program Management/Product Development Team Management
3
25%
Budget and cost management. Cost downs and PPV reports
4
10%
ECR Management, Purchase Order Issuance and Tool Management
5
5%
Gates Windsor Purchasing Policies and Procedures Maintenance and compliance to global procedures
6
5%
Plant concentric, professional development activities (Internal Auditor, LPA’s, Leadership activities)
7
5%
Other activities such as: Personnel management; Special projects assigned by plant management, Global Procurement, Sales and Marketing; Training, etc.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Will manage the department purchasing staff, ensuring their ongoing performance and ability to meet the needs of the plant.
• Will manage career objectives, talent management and succession planning for all direct reports.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Minimum college degree with four years related experience or equivalent.
• Requires working knowledge of product line.
• Solid knowledge of Gates and supplier manufacturing processes and commodities.
• Several years working experience in automotive industry advantageous.
• 20+ years of progressive procurement experience