Procurement Specialist/ Production Buyer

Location: Lexington, KY manufacturing office.

About the role

The Procurement Specialist / Production Buyer is responsible for procuring parts needed for the manufacturing process of forklifts. The role manages a portfolio of commodities and suppliers, aiming to meet cost, quality, and availability objectives, and to develop, source, and manage both foreign and domestic suppliers within department guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Procure parts and materials necessary to support production business requirements at optimum efficiency and pricing.
• Perform a wide range of procurement duties involving all types of parts, components, and materials for assigned commodities.
• Manage all supplier contracts and assist in administering best pricing strategies for all purchase materials and suppliers.
• Analyze new material issues and recommend strategies to improve quality and manage inventory levels for all products.
• Interface between engineers, finance, quality, marketing, and suppliers, interpreting blueprints, sketches, requisitions, and verbal or written instructions.
• Serve as liaison with finance to assist in the solution of invoice problems.
• Develop and achieve cost‑savings plans and ideas with current suppliers and seek new opportunities with potential suppliers.
• Assist production in resolving inventory availability and quality problems with suppliers.
• May assist aftermarket in sourcing parts for older catalogue trucks and components.
• Evaluate new sources of supply, identify and qualify their processes and capabilities to provide cost‑effective, quality‑proven components, processes, or services.
• Identify potential suppliers by reviewing previous domestic and foreign suppliers and involve competitive suppliers early in the design cycle.
• Send and receive quote request forms to and from potential suppliers.
• Process Engineering Change Requests to document cost‑improvement ideas submitted by suppliers, identifying savings, tooling investment, and providing detailed descriptions for engineering review.
• Process all Engineering Change Notices to suppliers, negotiate pricing, tooling impact, and delivery as required, and lead efforts to maintain cost targets.
• Assist in value‑analysis processes by costing parts, reviewing existing manufacturing processes, competitor processes, new technology, and other alternatives to reduce cost.
• Travel periodically to supplier locations as needed.

Qualifications

• Four‑year degree with experience as a buyer in a manufacturing operation or a related specialty field.
• Detailed knowledge of purchasing policies, procedures, and principles.
• Ability to provide detailed price analysis, recommendations, and project reports to management.
• Knowledge of import/export issues and skilled in negotiating tactics.
• Understanding of pricing of raw materials, labor rates, and manufacturing costs.
• Strong organization, documentation, research, and analytical skills.
• Critical thinking and action‑oriented mindset.
• Ability to read and understand blueprints, bills of materials, formal engineering change processes, supplier processes, pricing structures/policies, and the Uniform Commercial Code.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Outlook, Excel, Word) and ERP software in a manufacturing environment.
• Effective professional communication skills, including clear, concise writing, telephone usage, and presentations.
• CPIM certification or other APICS certification preferred.
• Authorization to work indefinitely in the U.S. without sponsorship now or in the future.