Outside Buyer

About the Role

The Outside Buyer reports to the Regional Accounts Manager and is responsible for generating purchases of scrap metals (both Ferrous and Non-Ferrous) within a defined geographic area. This outside sales role involves visiting facilities of current and potential suppliers, including scrap metal dealers, demolition contractors, industrial manufacturers, auto wreckers, and other scrap metal generating projects or companies.

The Outside Buyer focuses on developing and building customer/supplier relationships, negotiating prices, and securing long-term contracts to grow and retain the supplier base. The role requires in-depth knowledge of various Ferrous and Non-Ferrous scrap grades to assess value, quality, and processing requirements to maximize company profit. The Outside Buyer collaborates with cross-functional teams to align purchasing strategies with commercial goals, understands transportation, grading, handling, and processing costs, and stays informed about market conditions and competitor pricing.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safe work practices and compliance with company safety policies, OSHA, and other regulatory guidelines.
• Communicate and reinforce the company’s position on scrap acceptance in line with Environmental, Health, and Safety regulations.
• Foster and expand relationships with current and potential suppliers through daily in-person and phone communication.
• Educate and train customers on scrap quality and acceptance policies, ensuring compliance with regulations.
• Prepare and submit competitive bids in response to request for quotes, working with the Inside Buyer and Regional Director of Commercial Operations.
• Calculate resources needed to support bid requirements.
• Communicate daily with the Regional Account Manager or Director of Commercial Operations regarding significant bids or pricing requests.
• Review market conditions and company inventory with the Commercial Operations team before making significant or long-term purchases.
• Encourage suppliers to move product to facilities quickly.
• Advance payments to suppliers in accordance with company policy.
• Review daily transactions and purchase activities to ensure proper pricing for the Commercial Operations and Scale Receiving teams.
• Verify and update pricing in the scale purchase system, coordinating with the facility’s Office Manager.
• Maintain relationships with key top-tier customers to ensure high-quality service and added value.
• Develop a written plan of action with the Regional Account Manager for business development.
• Spend approximately 25% of the work week seeking new business opportunities.
• Coordinate with office staff to ensure accurate and timely documentation of purchasing transactions.
• Provide weekly reports on customer visits, material purchases, follow-up actions, and expense reports.
• Monitor and maintain staffing levels to ensure cost-effectiveness and compliance with HR policies and union contracts.
• Review performance of direct reports and interview prospective employees.
• Work with Human Resources to prepare job descriptions.
• Perform special projects or other duties as assigned.
• Support the company’s internal control process, including compliance with policies and reporting violations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required.
• One to four years of sales or non-procurement buying experience; preference given to candidates with exposure or experience in the scrap metal industry.
• Valid driver’s license.

Skills

• Superior customer service skills.
• Proficiency in Windows XP, including Outlook.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to interact professionally at all levels.
• Excellent mathematical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong negotiation skills with keen attention to detail and accuracy.
• Basic typing and data entry skills.
• Ability to follow written, oral, or diagrammatic instructions and handle problems involving multiple variables.

Work Conditions

Primarily an office environment with occasional exposure to dirt and dust in a scrap yard setting. Work pressure may be substantial during peak times, requiring adaptability to workflow disturbances or irregular schedules. Regional travel is required for customer visits and meetings at other company locations.

Physical activities include the ability to sit, stand, or walk for extended periods (6-8 hours per day), bend at the waist, operate a vehicle, use hands for writing or keyboarding, and communicate professionally by phone and in person. Visual acuity is required for reading documents, inspecting materials, and using a computer.

Pay

Salary Range: $90,000 - $120,000 per year.