Buyer 1-3, Electronics

About the role

Purchasing and supply chain professional responsible for assigned electronic commodities, including printed circuit boards, electronic assemblies, wiring harnesses, semiconductors, connectors, sensors, and related components. The role manages sourcing activities, supplier relationships, commercial agreements, cost‑reduction initiatives, supplier performance, and commodity results in support of Quality, Cost, Delivery, and business objectives. Scope and complexity increase from Buyer 1 through Buyer 3.

Essential Functions

• Develop, implement, and manage sourcing and commodity strategies for assigned electronic components based on the level and complexity of the role.
• Evaluate and select suppliers, including global sourcing opportunities, supplier capability and risk assessments, negotiation of supply agreements, and rationalization of the supply base.
• Develop and execute cost‑reduction and productivity initiatives aligned with sourcing strategies, including negotiations, value engineering, design changes, supplier development, and supplier transitions.
• Support and/or lead purchasing activities for new product introductions, engineering changes, and product transfers to ensure sourcing, cost, quality, capacity, and timing requirements are met.
• Drive continuous improvement throughout the electronics supply chain through long‑term agreements, value engineering, supplier development, and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Develop and implement actions to achieve supply‑chain management objectives, including quality, delivery, productivity, inventory, and cost targets.
• Support and/or lead supplier quality and delivery improvement initiatives, including escalation and recovery planning for underperforming or high‑risk suppliers.
• Develop and manage supplier relationships while supporting Bendix and Knorr‑Bremse supply‑chain strategies and leveraging global synergies.
• Partner with Engineering, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing, Materials, Finance, and other stakeholders to resolve commercial and supply issues and support business requirements.
• Provide support to manufacturing locations regarding sourcing initiatives, supplier performance issues, capacity constraints, and Electronics CoC programs.
• Monitor electronics market conditions, technology trends, component availability, obsolescence, and supply‑continuity risks; develop and execute mitigation plans as appropriate.
• Maintain accurate purchasing data, sourcing documentation, contracts, and supplier records in applicable systems and in accordance with established processes.

Knowledge

• Electronics sourcing and procurement practices, including market dynamics, lead times, lifecycle and obsolescence considerations, and supply continuity risks.
• Printed circuit boards, electronic assemblies, wiring harnesses, semiconductors, connectors, sensors, and related electronic components.
• Strategic sourcing, commodity management, supplier relationship management, contract development, and negotiation.
• Production control, material planning, inventory management, and ERP/MRP systems.
• Supplier quality, manufacturing processes, cost drivers, and value‑engineering principles.
• Legal, regulatory, and commercial requirements associated with purchasing goods domestically and internationally.

Experience

• Buyer 1: Minimum 2–3 years of tactical purchasing, procurement, supply‑chain, or related experience; manufacturing experience and exposure to electronics sourcing preferred.
• Buyer 2: Minimum 3–5 years of tactical and strategic purchasing or procurement experience, including experience with electronic components or a comparable technical commodity; manufacturing experience preferred.
• Buyer 3: Minimum 5–7 years of progressive strategic and tactical purchasing or procurement experience, including significant experience sourcing electronic components and managing complex supplier relationships; manufacturing experience preferred.
• Experience working within a global purchasing organization and using ERP/MRP systems; SAP experience preferred.
• Experience using multiple approaches to achieve cost reduction and supplier improvement, including negotiation, value engineering, design changes, and joint supplier programs.
• Experience supporting new product introductions, supplier transitions, and cross‑functional projects preferred.
• For Buyer 2 and Buyer 3, experience independently leading negotiations, sourcing projects, supplier escalations, and risk‑mitigation activities is expected; Buyer 3 experience should include leading complex initiatives and providing guidance to others.

Skills

• Ability to work effectively in a global matrix organization and collaborate across functions, regions, and cultures.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills; ability to evaluate cost, quality, delivery, capacity, and supply‑risk information and drive practical solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, quickly adjust to changing business needs, and maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Results‑oriented with the ability to drive supplier improvement, cost reduction, productivity, and supply continuity actions.
• Self‑starter with initiative, sound judgment, and the ability to work independently within the authority and expectations of the assigned level.
• Project‑management skills, including setting priorities, identifying risks and opportunities, coordinating resources, and managing milestones and costs in a cross‑functional environment.
• Strong organization, planning, written communication, and verbal communication skills.
• Interpersonal and intercultural effectiveness with the ability to build productive supplier and internal stakeholder relationships.
• Negotiation and commercial skills appropriate to the assigned level: developing at Buyer 1, demonstrated at Buyer 2, and advanced at Buyer 3.
• Ability to influence cross‑functional stakeholders; Buyer 2 may lead defined sourcing or supplier‑improvement projects, Buyer 3 is expected to lead complex initiatives, mentor less‑experienced team members, and influence decisions across functions and regions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and purchasing or ERP systems; ability to analyze data and clearly communicate recommendations.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related field; equivalent combination of relevant education and directly related experience may be considered where permitted by company policy.
• Buyer 1: Co‑op, internship, or other relevant purchasing, supply‑chain, manufacturing, or technical experience is a plus.
• Buyer 2: CPM, CPSM, CPIM, or Green Belt certification preferred.
• Buyer 3: CPM, CPSM, CPIM, Green Belt, or comparable professional certification preferred; a master’s degree is a plus.

Position Requirements

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• At this time, the company is not able to offer immigration sponsorship for new hires; all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis without the need for current or future employment‑based visa sponsorship.

Pay

The anticipated salary range for candidates who will work in Avon is $89,900 to $134,900 per year. Final pay will depend on factors such as experience, industry background, and education.

Benefits

• Group healthcare plans offering medical, dental, vision, basic life, and disability insurance.
• Company 401(k) plan.
• 120 hours of vacation leave per year.
• 40 hours of Personal Paid Absence per year.
• 12 paid holidays plus 1 floating holiday annually.
• 6 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Eligibility to purchase company stock under the applicable plan documents.
• Annual bonuses based on achievement of certain metrics, up to 4 % of annual salary.
• Compliance with Federal Paid Sick Leave requirements for employees working on federal contracts.