MRO Buyer- Maintenance

About the role

The MRO Buyer ensures cost-effective and timely delivery of materials required for the efficient operation of HFS’s facilities. This role supports production requirements by identifying and executing sourcing strategies and material management plans by MRO category, plant, and within HFS’s network. The position requires expertise in SAP and leadership in its use for plant MRO activities, as well as working in MVP to maintain parts inventories. The MRO Buyer also manages the Parts Room and supervises Parts Room Clerks.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, issue, and monitor Purchase Orders.
• Ensure sourcing decisions align with established sourcing strategies.
• Identify and generate SAP reports to monitor usage, sourcing, costs, spend history, supplier performance metrics, and PPV.
• Lead all aspects of SAP-related tracking and reporting, from initial sourcing to spend maps.
• Identify and execute cost reductions.
• Establish MRO-related programs to reduce line downtime due to part availability and performance.
• Determine the “right size” for all material inventories.
• Drive best practices within the supply chain, including supplier development and supply-related metrics.
• Support and maintain Food Safety and plant Quality programs.
• Provide SAP training for plant cross-functional team members on MRO-related best practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience in MRO management, procurement, and related supply chain functions.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment; familiarity with the food industry preferred.
• SAP, MRO, and procurement experience in a professional purchasing role; knowledge of the food industry is a plus.
• Additional background in materials and inventory management preferred.
• Proven results in sourcing initiatives, cost reductions, and improving supplier service and performance.
• Experience generating thorough industry analysis for domestic and international sourcing strategies.
• Project management experience.
• Ability to lead cost analysis processes, including identifying inputs, developing calculations, and presenting findings.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in cross-functional influence management and negotiation.

Skills

• Well-developed vendor management skills.
• Ability to prioritize work based on short- and long-term objectives.
• Strong data analysis and presentation skills for multiple levels of the organization.
• Proficiency in developing contracts that deliver industry-wide best practices, including competitive terms and fixed margins.
• Leadership in MRO-related SAP activities and reporting.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite, SAP, and MVP.

Work Environment

• Primarily an office setting with infrequent exposure to the production environment.
• Expectation to spend 25–35% of time on the production floor monitoring maintenance parts warehouse locations to ensure correct min/max levels are maintained.
• Production environment may include noise, dust, moving machinery, forklifts, and temperature fluctuations.

Physical Requirements

• Sitting at a workstation for extended periods.
• Standing, walking, and climbing stairs.
• Ability to lift 40–50 lbs. frequently and up to 80 lbs. infrequently.