Senior Operational Buyer

Job Title

Senior Operational Buyer

As a subsidiary of Toyota Industries (TICO), Vanderlande North America is enjoying rapid growth and extraordinary market demand. Vanderlande is a global market leader in material handling system manufacture, design, installation, and service. Vanderlande systems employ the latest in robotic, mechanical, and software technology. Vanderlande’s customers are household names in e‑commerce, package delivery, and air transportation.

• Overseeing purchase orders created through engineer to order (ETO) specifications.
• Consult sourcing to redirect orders when there is an issue with the default supplier.
• Managing factory shortage messages and translating these into purchase orders.
• Coordinating and monitoring the internal order approval process.
• Monitoring and entering order acknowledgements.
• Integrate (new) suppliers to the Vanderlande process.
• Place RFQs.
• Monitor exceptions (date, quality SCAR, logistics SCAR, RMA, and Item Master Data).
• Item Master Data evaluation in ERP system.
• Ensure that orders meet the deadlines outlined in the Equipment Delivery Program (EDP).
• Report status of the Open Orders to Supply Chain Coordinators and communicate possible solutions to mitigate risks.
• Coordinating resolutions to questions from suppliers or lead time delivery or quality issues.
• Coordinating resolutions to receiving and payment issues.
• Manage and maintain open order report to keep all orders up to date in JDE and ensure on time delivery.
• Drive Escalations.
• Prepare Business Review Meetings.
• Monitor supplier Delivery Performance.
• Manage supplier continuous improvements.
• Support Operational Buyers in escalations and risks.
• Further develop suppliers to mitigate delivery delays, risks.
• Supplier Knowledge, understanding Supplier Capacity.
• If required, create feedback stream to internal stakeholders (Sourcing/control tower).
• Compare and negotiate price deals to produce cost savings for standard products and/or with established and approved suppliers.
• Submits claims in case suppliers deviate from agreed terms and conditions.
• Identifies recurring problems.
• Improves own way of working and identifies aspects that need improvement.

• Ability to work in a team, team player.
• Must have the ability to communicate verbally and in writing.
• Knowledge and Ability to work well with Excel.
• Ability to adapt to different situations/Flexible.
• Must have great customer service.
• Must have negotiating and procurement skills.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks in a high energy office environment.
• Must be hands on and have a “take charge mentality.”
• Must be confident.
• Continuous Improvement mindset.
• Self‑reliant and ability to work independently.
• Ability to coach, guide, and train lower level buyers.

• BS, BA degree.
• 4+ years of experience as an Operational Buyer or equivalent.
• High level of organization and detail oriented.
• Experience with entering and expediting purchase orders.
• Experience with ERP systems (JD Edwards E1 preferred).
• Good computer skills; MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Technical / Mechanical training or experience.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to read engineering drawings.

This position requires up to 5% travel.

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Vanderlande is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regards to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.