Buyer

About the Role

The Senior Buyer is responsible for the timely and cost‑effective procurement of goods and services that support production plans across a designated procurement region and multiple commodity/categories. This includes negotiating, maintaining, and executing national, regional, and local supplier agreements, facilitating team‑based supplier selection, and overall contract management. The incumbent will work with central commodity teams to develop procurement strategies that minimize total acquisition costs and will act as a commodity/category lead, leading projects and coaching Buyers and related staff.

Gerdau emphasizes sustainability throughout its value chain; therefore, the Senior Buyer must incorporate social responsibility and inclusion by adhering to Gerdau’s principles of safety, ethics, culture, diversity, and community in all procurement activities.

Dimensions
Annual purchases: $20 – $110 million per year
Locations supported: All Mill, Downstream, and Metallics/Raw Materials locations within the region
Commodity/Category assignments: Multiple commodities/categories for the assigned region

The role requires extensive knowledge of the steel‑making industry, manufacturing, industrial relations, logistics, procurement procedures, and the ability to analyze technical drawings. The position also demands a strong understanding of quality‑management methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Maintain current knowledge of local markets, competitive practices, procurement systems, and business applications.
• Conduct scheduling analysis to determine supply/demand conditions for mill needs and adjust quantities and delivery schedules according to monthly buying plans.
• Act as liaison with the supplier community to establish and maintain market relationships.
• Monitor and maintain continuity of supply, on‑time delivery, and compliance with physical, safety, and environmental requirements.
• Resolve procurement discrepancies within management guidelines to sustain standards and supply‑chain activities.
• Collaborate with the procurement team to develop purchasing processes that optimize cost, quality, reliability, continuity, and total cost of ownership.
• Execute purchase contracts in line with company policy, verify purchase order details, and assure vendor performance.
• Review and assess vendor capabilities and past performance.
• Gather data and report activities and regional results to central, regional, and plant management, helping control costs and identify savings opportunities; present findings to management teams as needed.
• Contribute to inventory reduction by working with suppliers to monitor, regulate, and liquidate materials; take corrective actions to support changing mill demand and supply‑chain dynamics.
• Periodically evaluate inventory minimum/maximum levels.
• Assist in developing and achieving process goals, annual action plans, and administering established policies, procedures, and processes.
• Serve as project lead on assignments across mills within the designated commodity/category.
• Coordinate with the Central Procurement Team to manage supply of production and non‑production materials and working capital, optimizing inventories and researching alternative sources.
• Monitor actual versus planned usage of all assigned materials to meet inventory targets and maintain consistent supply.
• Manage supply agreements between Central and Region, keeping pricing, demand, and balance updated; monitor Gerdau and supplier performance to ensure continuity of supply and commercial relationships.
• Train and communicate specifications, commercial terms, safety, and environmental compliance requirements to shippers and plant personnel.
• Facilitate sessions to communicate procurement improvement methodologies, tools, policies, practices, and processes to regional procurement teams.
• Support the Regional Procurement Manager with daily procurement activities, including guiding and coaching team members on purchase order execution, expediting, supplier development, and non‑conformance treatment.
• Implement standardization and continual improvement of the procurement process and achieve key performance indicators within Gerdau Business Systems guidelines.
• Manage acquisition of CapEx equipment, ensuring services meet technical specifications and internal customer needs; oversee milestone payments, supplier and Gerdau obligations, and monitor manufacturing and construction timelines.
• Maintain working knowledge of foreign trade, Incoterms, and contractual terms related to equipment and construction services purchases.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Economics, or a related field or at least 10 years of direct procurement experience generating and implementing contracts, managing purchase orders, and handling negotiations, communications, accounting, taxes, and legal implications.
• Professional certification in procurement or supply‑chain management preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of the steel‑making industry, manufacturing processes, industrial relations, logistics, and procurement procedures.
• Ability to analyze technical drawings and understand quality‑management methodologies.
• Strong negotiation, communication, mathematical, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Self‑starter capable of working independently and as part of cross‑functional teams.

Qualifications

• High ethical standards, leadership ability, and a strong work ethic.
• Proven consistent high performance in previous positions.
• Demonstrates Gerdau’s Principals, motivation by new challenges, and effective collaboration up and down the organization.
• Values diversity and inclusion, exhibits emotional intelligence, and possesses an ownership mindset.
• Key competencies: strategic sourcing, supplier development, contract management, inventory optimization, and continuous improvement.

Travel

Travel is required to maintain effective relationships with vendors, mill personnel, and industry organizations, estimated at approximately 10 %–20 % of total work time.