Site Materials Buyer Job Waterloo area,Iowa USA,Supply Chain/Logistics

Transco Rail Services As a part of the global industrial organization Marmon Holdings—which is backed by Berkshire Hathaway—you’ll be doing things that matter, leading at every level, and winning a better way. We’re committed to making a positive impact on the world, providing you with diverse learning and working opportunities, and fostering a culture where everyone’s empowered to be their best.

Build Your Career in Operations Leadership At Transco Rail Services, we don’t just repair railcars, we keep critical industries moving. As part of Marmon Rail (a Berkshire Hathaway company), we operate a growing network of facilities and field service teams across North America, supporting customers in transportation, energy, and manufacturing.

We are seeking a Materials Buyer to support site operations by ensuring the timely procurement and availability of materials needed to keep production moving. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented supply chain professional who enjoys working cross-functionally, managing supplier relationships, and driving operational efficiency.

What You’ll Do:

As a Materials Buyer, you will play a critical role in supporting production by planning, purchasing, and tracking materials while maintaining strong supplier relationships and inventory accuracy. On any given day, you will:

Create and issue purchase orders to approved suppliers based on system demand
Maintain accurate purchase order information, pricing, and delivery dates within ERP/MRP systems
Coordinate material availability with site Materials Management and production teams
Monitor supplier delivery performance and address shortages or delivery concerns
Work with the Expediting team to resolve supplier issues and improve on-time delivery
Support inventory optimization by utilizing existing stock and reducing excess inventory
Challenge supplier lead times, cost increases, and delivery commitments when appropriate
Escalate supplier quality, cost, and delivery concerns to Category Management
Participate in cost savings and continuous improvement initiatives
Generate daily, weekly, and monthly purchasing and inventory-related reports
Assist with procurement audits and annual physical inventory activities
Support resolution of supplier discrepancies, return authorizations, and data integrity issues

What Makes This Role Different:

Supply Chain Impact
- Directly influence production success by ensuring critical materials arrive on time and at the right cost.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with operations, inventory management, suppliers, expediting teams, and leadership to drive results.
Team Development – Opportunity to lead, coach, and grow a skilled workforce
Fast-Paced Environment
- Every day brings new challenges, from resolving supplier issues to supporting operational priorities and inventory needs.

What We’re Looking For:

We're seeking a motivated procurement professional with strong analytical skills and a commitment to operational excellence.

Requirements:

Associate’s degree or equivalent experience
2-4 years of purchasing, procurement, or supply chain experience in a manufacturing, industrial, or operations environment
Experience creating and managing purchase orders through ERP/MRP systems
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Ability to monitor inventory requirements and support demand planning activities
Experience communicating with suppliers and resolving delivery or quality issues
Strong Microsoft Excel and reporting skills
Excellent organizational and time-management abilities
Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining high accuracy and attention to detail

Preferred:

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or a related field
Experience in rail, manufacturing, heavy industrial, transportation, or maintenance environments
Understanding of inventory management and material planning concepts
Experience supporting cost reduction and supplier performance initiatives

Work Environment:

Combination of office and operational facility environments
Frequent interaction with production, warehouse, and materials teams
Fast-paced environment with changing priorities and production schedules
Extended…