Buyer, Business

Buyer

The Buyer will support a service parts purchasing organization by managing both strategic and transactional procurement activities for service parts commodities. This role combines hands-on purchase order management, supplier negotiations, and data-driven analysis to ensure goods and services meet cost, quality, and delivery targets. The Buyer will work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, acting as a key liaison between suppliers and internal teams while proactively resolving issues, driving cost savings, and supporting continuous improvement across the supply chain.

Responsibilities

• Purchase goods, materials, components, and services in line with specified cost, quality, and delivery targets.
• Handle day-to-day strategic and transactional purchasing activities, including managing purchase orders, supplier negotiations, back orders, and complex supplier portfolios.
• Support the purchasing function and other relevant departments by communicating supply issues that may impact business operations.
• Act as an interface between suppliers and internal departments on purchasing processes, new projects, and ongoing activities.
• Monitor and advise on issues that present risk or opportunity to the organization, escalating and resolving them as appropriate.
• Monitor market trends, competitor strategies, and market suppliers to inform sourcing decisions.
• Provide cost analysis for new and existing parts and support cost reduction initiatives.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues in procurement to identify and implement continuous improvement and business improvement opportunities.
• Negotiate contracts, prices, and terms of business with suppliers, using negotiation and procurement best practices to achieve savings.
• Build, maintain, and manage strong supplier relationships and ensure consistent, professional communication.
• Conduct research to identify new components and potential suppliers to support sourcing strategies.
• Compile and maintain data related to supplier performance to support evaluation and decision-making.
• Contact suppliers to resolve issues related to price, quality, delivery, or invoices.
• Resolve supplier shortages and past-due situations to protect service levels and customer satisfaction.
• Update and maintain commodity strategies in alignment with organizational goals.
• Work with cost estimating teams to develop cost estimates for savings negotiations and to mitigate supplier price increase requests.
• Produce weekly reports, charts, and status updates on open assignments and projects for leadership and stakeholders.
• Perform market tests, analyze supplier responses, and award sourcing of parts based on defined criteria.
• Review open vehicles off road (VOR) and backorders on a weekly basis and expedite parts delivery as needed.
• Gather data, analyze issues, and develop practical solutions to purchasing and supply chain challenges.
• Operate as a strong communicator who is comfortable addressing conflict and driving resolution with suppliers and internal partners.

Essential Skills

• 3–10 years of experience in purchasing, with a focus on purchasing or procurement responsibilities.
• Automotive or original equipment (OE) purchasing experience.
• Proven experience as a buyer or purchasing professional handling purchase orders, supplier negotiations, and supplier portfolios.
• Strong negotiation skills with the ability to secure favorable terms, pricing, and conditions.
• Experience in purchasing/procurement and supplier relationship management.
• Hands-on experience with Ariba and I-ERP systems for purchase order processing.
• Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills, including the ability to perform data analysis (testing required).
• Demonstrated ability to perform data analysis to support purchasing decisions and cost reduction activities.
• Strong organization skills and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate with suppliers and cross-functional teams.
• Comfort working through conflict and addressing issues directly with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Motivated, self-starter, and solution-oriented mindset.
• Ability to work…