Buyer II

About the role

The Buyer II manages a defined portfolio of suppliers or commodities and is responsible for balancing cost, delivery and service performance. This role expands beyond transactional execution to include quote analysis, tactical decision making, parameter management, and cross-functional coordination.

Responsibilities

• Manages assigned supplier and commodity portfolios, including ongoing purchasing, order maintenance, and performance monitoring
• Secures and analyzes supplier quotations, evaluating cost, lead time, delivery and commercial terms
• Recommends purchasing decisions and sourcing approaches within established supplier strategies and approval limits
• Executes and manages purchase orders end to end, including changes, cancellations, and expedites
• Maintains and reviews item data and purchasing parameters that drive system recommendations (stock status, sourcing, cost, lead times)
• Analyzes purchasing and delivery performance reports to identify service gaps, risks, and improvement opportunities
• Coordinates with Sales, Customer Service, and Operations on customer driven demand, supply constraints, and order changes
• Supports resolution of more complex receiving, invoicing and supplier discrepancies
• Participates in cost avoidance, inventory optimization, and process improvement initiatives
• Exercises tactical negotiation authority with suppliers within established guidelines
• Approves purchase orders within assigned authority levels per the approval matrix

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, or related field preferred
• 3 – 5 years of Purchasing or Supply Chain experience

Skills

• Strong proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft office applications, including intermediate to advanced Excel skills for analysis reporting
• Ability to analyze supplier quotations and evaluate total cost considerations, including price, lead time, freight, and service levels
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify trends, risks and improvement opportunities
• Ability to manage a defined supplier or commodity portfolio with accountability for performance outcomes
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to coordinate across Sales, Customer Service, Operations, and suppliers
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Ability to maintain and adjust purchasing parameters (lead time, sourcing, cost) within established guidelines
• Customer focused mindset with the ability to balance service, cost, and operational needs
• Ability to follow established processes while exercising sound judgment in day-to-day decision making

Work Environment

The work is sedentary, requiring extending periods of sitting or standing to perform the work. There may be some infrequent movement from area-to-area to transport items weighing no more than 15 pounds. Regular overnight travel may be required; work outside normal business hours is required from time to time.