Buyer - Southwest Stainless & Alloy

About the role

Southwest Stainless & Alloy provides specialized stainless and alloy piping solutions for critical industries, including oil & gas, petrochemical, and power generation. We emphasize continuous improvement in the quality of our products and the service we provide to our customers. This role supports branch operations by ensuring material availability, optimizing inventory levels, maintaining supplier relationships, and identifying cost-effective sourcing solutions.

Responsibilities

• Review the procurement queue and analyze items for potential purchase.
• Ensure material is placed on order and follow up with vendors, sales teams, and customers to confirm delivery specifications and pricing.
• Coordinate the timely flow of material from vendor to customer.
• Follow up on order changes, cancellations, process returns, and cancellation fees.
• Evaluate daily purchasing reports and prioritize purchase orders by critical need.
• Ensure orders meet required lead times to minimize profit and sales impact.
• Maintain product line purchasing parameters to ensure daily purchasing reports are accurate as calculated by computer inventory systems.
• Initiate and verify price changes in the computer inventory system.
• Monitor open orders and maintain projected delivery dates.
• Negotiate pricing, delivery schedules, and order terms with approved suppliers to support profitability and customer service objectives.
• Evaluate sourcing options and obtain competitive quotations from vendors to achieve cost-effective purchasing solutions.
• Develop and maintain effective supplier relationships to support timely delivery, quality expectations, and issue resolution.
• Coordinate inventory transfers and material movements between branches to support customer demand and optimize inventory levels.
• Collaborate with branch operations, sales teams, and other locations to identify inventory availability and reduce excess inventory through internal transfers.
• Analyze inventory requirements and recommend branch-to-branch stock reallocation opportunities to improve inventory utilization and minimize expedited purchases.

Requirements

• Working knowledge of computer-based inventory management systems.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to interact professionally with vendors, customers, and internal teams.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, and inventory management systems.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to negotiate with suppliers and evaluate sourcing alternatives.
• Ability to analyze purchasing trends, inventory requirements, and replenishment needs.
• Ability to effectively prioritize work and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills.

Physical Demands

• Frequently required to stand and walk.
• Continually required to sit and utilize hand and finger dexterity.
• Occasionally balance, bend, stoop, kneel, or crawl.
• Continually required to talk or hear.
• Continually utilize visual acuity to read technical information and/or use a keyboard.
• Occasionally required to lift, push, or carry items up to 25 pounds.
• Occasionally work near moving mechanical parts.
• Occasionally work around fumes, airborne particles, or toxic chemicals.
• Occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.
• Occasionally exposed to loud noise (e.g., shop tool noises, electric motors, moving mechanical equipment).

Work Environment

This role operates in a professional office environment with flexibility for hybrid work. Standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and printers are used. Occasional visits to warehouses or operational sites may be required.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance with multiple plan options.
• Company-paid Life and Disability Insurance.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Health Savings & Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Supplemental coverage (Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity).
• Employee Assistance Program (includes 3 free counseling sessions).
• Identity Theft Protection at discounted rates.