Buyer II

About the role

Buyer II takes ownership of supplier performance, strategic sourcing initiatives, and cost reduction efforts. The role evaluates supplier capabilities, negotiates contracts, drives corrective actions, and develops supplier improvement programs. Buyer II exercises independent judgment and plays an active role in influencing sourcing decisions and procurement outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Analyzes and schedules material purchases utilizing Material Requirements Planning (MRP) systems.
• Analyzes material availability, reviews and sets planning parameters and issues purchase orders as necessary to meet production requirements at optimum inventory levels for assigned commodities.
• Actively manages purchase orders through ongoing communication with suppliers and internal production teams to ensure on-time delivery.
• Resolves invoice exceptions after receipt of product.
• Initiates and negotiates contracts with suppliers for material required by Company to meet customer requirements.
• Works cross-functionally to execute supply chain strategies for products and services.
• Requests and evaluates supplier quotations to determine best overall value beyond cost.
• Promotes company’s ISO quality requirements to suppliers and ensures compliance to standards for material purchases by leading corrective action efforts with underperforming suppliers.
• Assess and mitigate supplier performance metrics such as on time delivery, quality, responsiveness and PPV.
• Develops on-going continuous improvement programs with major suppliers; major emphasis being cost reduction, quality improvement and in time delivery.
• Effectively engages in problem resolution on such items as defective purchases, invoice problems, order changes and cancellations, etc.
• Develops and cultivates good business relations with current and potential suppliers, negotiating price, terms and conditions of purchase and delivery through organization.
• Organizes and leads supplier meetings to align goals and drive compliance to Company standards.
• Prepare and present information to groups both internal and external to Company.
• Tracking and follow up for all action items discussed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college, or equivalent experience; 3‑5 years’ experience in a Supply Chain role.

Qualifications

• Ability to read engineering drawings to decipher product specifications.
• Intermediate understanding of Procurement activities and negotiating.
• Basic understanding of production and inventory control and forecasting procedures.
• Intermediate understanding of cost standards and accounts for variance to standard.
• Intermediate level in MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook, MRP, ERP, Internet.
• Advanced verbal and written skills.
• Strong time management and multi‑tasking skills.

Skills

Ability to read engineering drawings, intermediate procurement knowledge, basic production/inventory control understanding, cost standard analysis, proficiency in MS Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook), MRP/ERP systems, advanced communication, time management, multi‑tasking.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health, Vision, and Dental Coverage.
• 15 days Paid Time Off + 11 Paid Holidays.
• Retirement savings: Badger Meter contributes 25 cents for every dollar you contribute (up to 7% of eligible compensation) plus an annual 5% company contribution to Defined Contribution account.
• Access to a certified financial planner at no cost.
• Employer‑paid benefits: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Basic Group Life Insurance, Short Term Disability.
• Educational Assistance – Tuition Reimbursement up to $5,250.
• Voluntary benefits: Additional Life Insurance, Long Term Disability, Accident and Critical Illness coverage.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) & Flexible Spending Account (FSA)