Buyer IV

About the Role

As a member of the Supply Chain group at Austal, you will play a key role in the performance and success of the function and the group. You will ensure plant needs and requirements are met while maintaining a high level of customer service. You will have day-to-day responsibility for a buying desk in a specific commodity group within the Purchasing Department, handling variable but complex transactions involving significant high-dollar negotiations and high levels of risk with moderate volume.

Responsibilities

• Quote, negotiate (when applicable), and issue purchase orders up to authorized limits for raw materials, parts, subassemblies, finished goods, MRO materials, equipment, tooling, supplies, and/or services from suppliers via purchase requisitions or MRP messages.
• Follow up with requestors and end users regarding purchase order due dates and status when inquiries are made.
• Follow traffic and logistics guidelines and minimize the use of expedited shipping services where/when possible.
• Skillfully balance price, delivery, quality, service, and value tradeoffs and rationalize the supply base on the assigned buying desk.
• Adhere to all supply chain policies, procedures, guidelines, and instructions, including maintaining confidentiality of purchasing or commodity strategies.
• Run and maintain the buying desk’s purchase requisition or MRP open order, expedite, de-expedite, and past due reports.
• Work in cooperation with material planning, production planning, and logistics to reduce part inventory, obsolete and slow-moving materials, and handle schedule changes.
• Increase understanding of the services, material, and manufacturing processes associated with the assigned buying desk.
• Provide assistance to related departments (e.g., Accounting for supplier invoice discrepancies, Quality for non-conforming material and supplier root cause/corrective actions).
• Represent the supplier inside Austal and maintain close communication with supplier account and customer service personnel to minimize risk due to supplier capacity issues or disruptions.
• Negotiate or assist in negotiating short- and long-term agreements for materials and services on the assigned buying desk.
• Assist with or conduct supplier site audits and investigations.
• Assist with supplier metrics and advise suppliers of their performance.
• Maintain professional relationships with suppliers, even in difficult times.
• Escalate issues to or seek help from the next level of management in the Supply Chain function when necessary.
• Gather information to evaluate the financial stability, technical capability, process control, capacity, and continuous improvement techniques of suppliers.
• Conduct business in accordance with Austal policies, procedures, and business ethics guidelines.
• Provide input to and report on commodity strategies and related projects.
• Review statements of work when required.
• Maintain the Buyer scorecard for the assigned buying desk to assist with cost savings/cost avoidance reporting.
• Perform purchasing in both MRP and project/purchase requisition-oriented environments under Contractor Purchasing System Review guidelines.
• Assist lower or higher-level Buyers as required.
• Work under pressure and tight deadlines with varying degrees of supervision.
• Participate in plant continuous improvement, Lean Manufacturing, 5S, and other initiatives involving the Supply Chain function or assigned buying desk.
• Serve as the main contact point for outside departments (e.g., Engineering, Accounting) and suppliers.
• Participate in price book activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or a closely related field required, or at least 10 years of purchasing experience, preferably in the defense industry.
• Master’s degree in Business or a closely related field preferred.
• Certifications preferred: A.P.P., C.P.M., CPSM, CSCP, CPIM.
• 6+ years of purchasing experience in the commodity area required, preferably in a Contractor Purchasing System Review-U.S. defense environment.
• Preferred work experience includes:
  • Material and service sourcing activities (quoting, analyzing, negotiating, reporting, and purchase order placement).
  • Supplier rationalization activities (adding/removing suppliers, familiarity with Approved Supplier Lists, Bid Lists, and small business requirements).
  • Order follow-up activities (expediting, de-expediting, and statusing).
  • ERP system familiarity.
  • Discrepancy resolution activities (invoice discrepancies, non-conforming material cases, and repair/rework material authorizations).
  • Data mining and market analysis.
  • Dealing with traffic, routing instructions, and interaction with laws governing direct and indirect purchasing.
  • Writing service contracts.
• Experience working in materials management, material planning, and/or production planning positions is desired.
• Experience leading projects.

Skills

• Ability to utilize structured thought processes, anticipate consequences, rationalize information, and articulate purchasing strategy and vision.
• Ability to manage high-risk purchasing activity with confidence.
• Intermediate skill level in Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet Explorer, Outlook; Access is a plus.
• ERP/MRP experience: IFS preferred; others like BAAN, SAP, JD Edwards, and Oracle are acceptable.
• General understanding of how to read blueprints/drawings, interpret specifications, and review statements of work.
• General understanding of the Uniform Commercial Code, U.S. Government FAR, DFARS, and ITAR requirements.
• General understanding of enterprise quality system functionality (e.g., ISO 9000, AS9100, TS16949).
• General understanding of ERP systems and MRP logic.
• Significant understanding of the material, services, and manufacturing processes associated with the assigned buying desk.

Direction and Discretion

• Provide training and guidance for Buyers I, II, and III.
• May lead or direct the work of individuals and teams under the guidance of department management.
• Demonstrate creativity and latitude to meet goals and objectives.
• Self-direct and reprioritize activity to support business needs and meet deadlines.
• May be assigned discretionary authority to provide work direction and constructive feedback for other employees within the department.
• May provide input to management on the performance of team members that may affect employment actions.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to tour all vessels and work sites at Austal USA.
• Regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to manipulate, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear.
• Required to sit for extended periods in an office setting.
• Occasional ability to bend, squat, stoop, crawl, and kneel.
• Perform prolonged standing.
• Ability to turn head and body at the waist from side to side.
• Lift/push/pull up to 20 lbs on an occasional basis.
• Ability to occasionally climb in an unrestrained safe manner (e.g., stairs, scaffolding, ladders, ramps).
• Demonstrate good balance while working on uneven surfaces and maneuvering obstacles.
• Ability to utilize personal protective equipment (hard hat, safety glasses, steel-toed shoes, etc.) safely per OSHA standards.
• Ability to enter confined spaces within ships under construction.
• Able to respond to verbal and audible sounds/commands.
• Able to utilize adequate visual skills.
• Able to hear emergency alarm systems and wear authorized hearing protection.
• Must be able to walk 100+ yards at a time without assistance.

Work Environment

• May be exposed to humid conditions, strong smells, bright flashing lights, moving mechanical parts, high precarious places, outside weather conditions, extreme heat, and cold.
• Occasionally exposed to fumes and/or airborne particles at or below the PEL, toxic or caustic chemicals in production areas.
• Noise level in the office is moderate; can be very loud in production areas (+90 dB).
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Additional Requirements

• Must comply with company, federal, state, and local safety and environmental rules and regulations.
• Ability to obtain a U.S. Government Security Clearance if required.
• Must be 18 years of age or older and able to provide proof of U.S. person status.
• No felony convictions of theft/deception or violent crimes within seven years from disposition date.
• No felony convictions of drug crimes within three years from disposition date.
• Willing to submit to a drug screen and background check.