Buyer

Scope of Position

Responsible for buying goods and services. Controls raw material stocks, components, purchased items, operating supplies pertinent to meeting Manufacturing/Customer Service requirements. Expedites purchases. Ensures that proper quantities of materials are on order. Contacts vendors and shippers to ensure that merchandise, supplies, and equipment are forwarded on specified shipping dates.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Plan purchase orders for a variety of commodities, materials, and supplies, working from requisitions, drawings, specifications and memos.
• Review upcoming orders to ensure proper quantities are on order and update quantities prior to vendor run dates.
• Locate sources of supply, interview vendors, check reliability, obtain quotations and compare them; maintain direct follow‑up of purchase orders and develop reliable sources of supply.
• Expedite advanced shipments or partial orders as needed to satisfy plant production requirements.
• Review upcoming orders to ensure deliveries are on schedule; contact vendors by mail, phone, or visit to verify shipment dates.
• Follow up on overdue materials and maintain vendor performance reports.
• Review open allocations to ensure allocations for completed jobs are deleted from the system.
• Work with the Shipping Manager to ensure deliveries, negotiate rates and service schedules, and research and authorize special shipping as required.
• Communicate daily between Customer Service/Sales departments and transportation companies; inform supervisor of problems such as vendor failures, short deliveries, or transit issues to initiate alternate procedures.
• Receive and review requisitions for goods or services, ascertain required delivery dates, and determine materials and quantities to be purchased.
• Maintain records of purchase orders, follow‑up and expediting activities; establish and vary inventory levels, order points and procurement lead times.
• Maintain stock levels in economical quantities to minimize investment, control storage costs, handling and obsolescence.
• Provide and maintain basis for recording inventories, movement and storage of materials and goods, and appropriate controls.
• Compile data from contracts, purchase orders, invoices, requisitions, and accounting reports; enter information into computer systems to maintain inventory, purchasing, shipping, or other records.
• Compile stock control records such as consumption rates, item characteristics, and market conditions to determine supply needs.
• Prepare requisitions, orders, or other documents for purchasing or requisitioning new or additional stock items.
• Assist in determining obsolete materials and parts; review files to identify unused items and recommend disposal of excess stock.
• Assign and build new part numbers as required.
• Report to the Supply Chain Manager any changes that would save production time and money; develop reports to track such changes.
• Work with the IT group to develop or revise programs related to production or manufacturing.
• Provide technical support to committees or teams as needed; coordinate with Research and Development on new product introductions.
• Perform special projects as requested.
• Ensure conformance to ISO 14001 standard and Construction Specialties’ Environmental Management System (EMS) and environmental policy while performing job functions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain management, logistics, industrial engineering or equivalent.
• 3–5 years of related experience.
• Ability to self‑direct and take initiative.
• Project leadership and critical thinking skills.
• Team player with strong communication abilities.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret contracts, purchase orders, invoices, requisitions, accounting reports, catalogs, manuals, parts lists, schedules, forecasts, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to present information effectively and respond to questions from other departments, managers, vendors, shippers, and others.
• Ability to organize, prioritize work and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency with computers, including spreadsheets and databases.

About Construction Specialties, Inc.

Founded in 1948, Construction Specialties (CS) is a specialty building products manufacturer that provides solutions to building challenges faced by architects, designers, building owners, facility managers, and contractors. Since inventing the first extruded louver, CS has become a global leader in its product categories, with products featured in iconic buildings such as the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the Oculus at the World Trade Center Transit Hub in Manhattan. CS offers an inspiring atmosphere where employees collaborate with customers and colleagues to solve challenges.