Buyer / Planner

About the role

The Buyer plans and develops bidder lists, prepares requests for proposals, reviews supplier proposals, selects qualified sources, prepares purchase contracts, and provides guidance to less experienced agents. Serves as a focal point between organizations and suppliers to communicate, clarify, and resolve procurement problems and issues.

Responsibilities

• Independently commit the company by planning and authorizing purchase contracts, contract changes, and other procurement instruments having signatory authority.
• Lead procurement team and manage the total procurement effort for assigned projects/programs, including directing tasks such as fact-finding, price and cost analysis, source selection, negotiations, and bidder briefings and debriefings.
• Improve supplier performance by monitoring cost, quality, and schedule compliance; initiating and implementing appropriate action to resolve problems; and mediating conflicts to establish resolution with customers and suppliers.
• Manage procurement packages by gaining a thorough understanding of supplier-customer relationships; developing a working knowledge of the organization’s relationships with other Company organizations; and developing, implementing, and authorizing actions to incorporate with other functional disciplines.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of procurement basics, ethical business conduct, legal principles, and protection of the Company, supplier, and customer proprietary data by complying with company policies, procedures, and accepted business practices.
• Maintain contractual integrity of procurement packages by reviewing, determining, and incorporating appropriate State and Federal regulations, contract flow-down requirements, and other special terms and conditions peculiar to individual contracts.
• Develop other procurement team members by providing guidance on technical procurement issues.
• Foster increased productivity and advancement opportunities by personal commitment to professional development and by practicing continuous improvement of processes.
• Support Corporate goals for small business/small disadvantaged business by promoting the use of qualified sources and by seeking, encouraging, and assisting new candidates to become qualified.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Four-year college degree or equivalent work experience as a Procurement Agent.
• Three years of procurement experience leading to a solid understanding of the organization’s processes and product flow, the ability to interpret engineering data where applicable, and a demonstrated ability to make quick and accurate decisions (or previously demonstrated experience is strongly preferred).
• Proficient in MS Office software applications.
• Good written and oral communication skills and the traits of an effective team member.
• Good organizational skills and the ability to prioritize work and accurately perform duties.
• Independent problem-solving skills and the discipline to persevere until problems are solved.
• International and domestic travel required, up to 20%.
• Read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Willingness to continue personal growth and development.

Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
• Generous paid time off program.
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities.

Schedule

This position offers a 9x80 schedule and is currently eligible to work hybrid.

Physical Demands / Work Environment

• Normal office environment where approximately 80% of work is performed in a sitting position, with the remaining time walking and moving around the office area.
• Duties require normal mental and visual attention along with manual coordination for keyboard operations.
• Normal duties involve filing as well as typical office duties that require stretching, reaching, and stooping, with lifting typically limited to 10-20 lbs. maximum.
• Normal or corrected hearing and vision are required.
• Occasional exposure to manufacturing areas for meetings and other functions.

Location: Greensboro, North Carolina. Full-time, exempt position.