Buyer II

At Pelican, we engineer products that stand up to the world’s toughest conditions—because the people who rely on us do too. For nearly 50 years, we’ve been a trusted partner for military personnel, first responders, outdoor adventurers, and innovators who push the limits. With a global presence that includes 11 offices, 4 manufacturing facilities, and 4 custom case centers, we create high-performance protective solutions that ensure our customers can focus on what matters most.

About the role

You’ll manage your own buyer desk and supplier portfolio while partnering with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Planning, and other Procurement team members. Your focus will be ensuring we have the right materials, at the right cost and time, while improving supplier performance and reducing supply chain risk.

Responsibilities

• Purchase materials and supplies across multiple domestic and international suppliers, managing approximately $5M to $10M in annual spend.
• Own supplier relationships, negotiate pricing and contracts, and make recommendations on supplier selection.
• Manage purchase orders and proactively address shortages, delivery issues, inventory concerns, and changing production requirements.
• Develop and execute commodity and sourcing strategies, including supplier consolidation, alternate sourcing, make-versus-buy analysis, and cost reduction initiatives.
• Target year-over-year purchasing savings through supplier negotiations and strategic sourcing projects.
• Monitor supplier performance using KPIs focused on quality, service, cost, and delivery, and drive improvement when expectations are not met.
• Lead new supplier qualification activities and conduct supplier evaluations and site visits as needed.
• Partner with New Product Development teams to identify sourcing solutions and build supply strategies for new products.
• Manage safety stock levels to balance inventory investment with production and customer requirements.
• Perform root cause analysis on stockouts, missed deliveries, and nonconforming materials and work with suppliers to establish long-term corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate supplier, purchasing, import/export, and material master data within the ERP system.
• Identify excess and obsolete inventory and recommend appropriate actions.
• Support ISO requirements, purchasing compliance, and continuous improvement across Procurement.

Requirements

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, or a related field, or 3 to 5 years of equivalent purchasing experience.
• Hands-on experience managing suppliers, purchase orders, material requirements, and delivery performance.
• Experience negotiating supplier pricing, contracts, or commercial terms.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to make informed purchasing decisions.
• Experience working with an ERP system. SAP experience is a plus.
• Strong Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint skills.
• Ability to manage multiple suppliers, priorities, and purchasing projects at the same time.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build productive relationships with suppliers and internal teams.
• APICS, CPIM, or purchasing certification is a plus.
• Must be eligible to receive information controlled under International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) requirements.

Benefits

• Competitive paid time off plans, holiday pay, and extra vacation purchase opportunities.
• 401k plan with immediate match.
• Great benefits including several options for medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus pet insurance.
• Health Savings Account contribution.
• Wellness Discount Program.
• Global Mental Wellness Program.
• Quarterly Employee Celebration Days.
• Peer-to-Peer Recognition Program.
• Service Recognition Program.
• Employee referral program.
• Employee discount program on Pelican Products and gear.
• Onsite gym.

Pay

The annual U.S. pay range for this position varies by work location and may depend on your qualifications, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the job location during the hiring process.