Buyer 2

About the role

Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of the Company to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and manage commodity strategies for assigned categories; evaluate and select suppliers, assess global sourcing opportunities, negotiate supply agreements, and support supply base rationalization.
• Lead cost reduction and productivity initiatives aligned with commodity strategy, including negotiations, value analysis/value engineering opportunities, and supplier transition activities.
• Drive supplier performance improvements in quality, delivery, cost, and responsiveness, and develop corrective actions in partnership with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Develop and implement actions to achieve supply chain objectives for assigned commodities, including delivery performance, productivity, risk mitigation, and continuity of supply.
• Support and at times lead supplier quality and development initiatives related to managed commodities, including issue escalation, recovery actions, and improvement plans.
• Build and manage strategic supplier relationships while aligning with Bendix and KB supply chain strategies and leveraging regional and global synergies.
• Partner cross-functionally with engineering, quality, operations, planning, and finance to support sourcing decisions, new launches, engineering changes, and supplier performance issues.
• Provide guidance and day-to-day support on purchasing processes, supplier issues, and project execution within assigned areas of responsibility.

Requirements

• Strong working knowledge of supply base methodologies, procurement principles, practices, and procedures.
• Understands production control, material planning, inventory concepts, and MRP/ERP processes and their impact on supply continuity.
• Knowledge of commercial terms, sourcing processes, acquisition requirements, and supplier contract fundamentals.
• Working knowledge of domestic and international purchasing requirements and the ability to apply them in day-to-day procurement decisions.
• Possesses solid category knowledge for assigned commodities and understands key market, supplier, and cost drivers.
• Minimum 3–5 years of strategic and tactical experience as a Buyer or purchasing representative, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in a global purchasing organization preferred, including use of ERP systems such as SAP.
• Demonstrated experience achieving cost reduction through negotiations, supplier development, design changes, and cross-functional project support.
• Experience managing supplier performance issues, supporting sourcing projects, and coordinating actions across multiple internal stakeholders.

Skills

• Ability to work effectively in a global matrix organization while driving results across assigned commodities and suppliers.
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams and suppliers to achieve business, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
• Strong problem-solving skills, including identifying issues, analyzing root causes, and driving practical solutions.
• Strong ability to manage multiple priorities, respond to changing business conditions, and maintain attention to detail.
• Results-driven with a track record of supporting supplier improvement and implementing cost reduction initiatives.
• Self-starter with sound judgment, a proactive mindset, and the ability to work independently within defined goals and priorities.
• Demonstrated project management skills, including planning, prioritization, risk identification, milestone tracking, and coordination of resources in a matrix environment.
• Hightly organized with strong follow-through and the ability to manage complex supplier and project issues.
• Effective communication skills, interpersonal effectiveness, and intercultural awareness with the ability to work across Knorr-Bremse regions and functions.
• Flexible and adaptable in a fast-paced environment with the ability to adjust priorities as business needs evolve.
• Proven negotiation skills with the ability to prepare, lead, and support commercial discussions with suppliers.