Buyer, Supply Chain​/Logistics

Job Title:

Buyer

Job Description

The Buyer supports the service parts and indirect/packaging purchasing organization within an automotive customer service division. This role focuses on project-based purchasing, market testing, and strategic sourcing to secure goods, materials, components, and services that meet defined cost, quality, and delivery targets. The Buyer works closely with new and existing suppliers, analyzes cost data, and provides data-driven sourcing recommendations in a fast-paced environment that requires strong multitasking and communication skills.

Responsibilities

+ Manage a purchasing deck within service parts, supporting the indirect and packaging organization for the customer service division.

+ Lead and support project-based purchasing activities, including heavy market testing to identify best value solutions.

+ Source, negotiate, and manage services and program-related purchasing activities.

+ Purchase goods, materials, components, or services in line with specified cost, quality, and delivery targets.

+ Support the purchasing function and other relevant departments, communicating any 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 report on issues that present risk or opportunity to the organization from a supply or cost perspective.

+ Track market trends, competitor strategies, and supplier developments to inform purchasing decisions.

+ Analyze costs for new and existing parts or services and support cost reduction initiatives.

+ Collaborate with colleagues in procurement to identify opportunities for continuous improvement and business process enhancements.

+ Negotiate contracts, pricing, and terms of business with suppliers, applying procurement best practices to achieve savings.

+ Build, maintain, and manage strong supplier relationships and ensure effective 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 price, quality, delivery, or invoice issues in a timely manner.

+ Resolve supplier shortages and past-due situations to protect service levels.

+ Update and maintain commodity strategies in alignment with organizational objectives.

+ Work with cost estimating teams to develop cost estimates for savings negotiations and to mitigate supplier uplift requests.

+ Produce weekly reports, charts, and status updates on open assignments and projects.

+ Perform market tests, analyze supplier responses, and award sourcing of parts based on data-driven evaluation.

+ Review open vehicles off road (VOR) and backorders on a weekly basis and expedite parts delivery as needed.

+ Handle urgent supplier issues, ensuring timely resolution and minimal impact on operations.

+ Analyze quote data and cost breakdowns to support strategic sourcing recommendations.

+ Compare multiple vendor data sets to provide clear, analytical recommendations for vendor selection and sourcing decisions.

Essential Skills

+ Minimum 3+ years of commodity purchasing experience within the automotive industry, preferably with original equipment manufacturers (OEM) or Tier 1 suppliers.

+ At least 3+ years of experience analyzing cost breakdowns and conducting market testing with a strong analytical skill set.

+ Demonstrated experience providing data-driven recommendations for vendor selection and sourcing decisions.

+ Proven experience with purchasing, RFQs, pricing, negotiating, and quote analysis.

+ Experience in commodity strategy and commodity buying within an automotive environment.

+ Strong analytical approach to purchasing, including comparing multiple vendor data sets and conducting cost analysis.

+ Strategic sourcing experience, particularly in packaging materials and market testing.

+ Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, to interact effectively with suppliers and internal stakeholders.

+ Completed bachelor's degree.

+ Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.

+ Proficiency with Excel sufficient to pass an Excel Normal User Test with a score of 80% or higher.

Additional

Skills & Qualifications

+

Experience with packaging material market tests, including analyzing quote data and making sourcing recommendations.

+ Experience handling urgent supplier issues and resolving shortages or past-due situations.

+ Strong negotiation skills for contracts, pricing, and terms of business.

+ Familiarity with Ariba procurement tools.

+

Experience with S4 or SAP systems.

+ Background in the automotive industry, particularly in service parts or customer service divisions.

+ Experience producing regular reports, charts, and status updates on purchasing assignments and projects.

+ Ability to collaborate effectively in cross-functional teams focused on continuous…