Sourcing Specialist I

Job Summary

Working under general supervision, supports the Purchasing Division in one of the following areas: packaging components, raw ingredients, and/or fine and costume jewelry and quality items for recognition, promotion, and special events programs. Demonstrates the ability to negotiate and/or implement initiatives that reduce Company costs and/or prevent annual cost increases by $100,000 to $200,000.

Responsibilities

• Purchases up to $15 million in inventory in the most cost-effective manner while maintaining quality and supply flexibility.
• With assistance from senior peers, negotiates and implements initiatives to reduce Company costs and prevent annual cost increases by $100,000 to $200,000.
• Makes decisions consistent with the overall policies and objectives of the Manufacturing Group and the Purchasing Division.
• Evaluates supplier competence relative to others in the industry.
• Selects reliable first, second, and third source suppliers to increase capacity, achieve a competitive pricing situation, and ensure supply of quality components, ingredients, jewelry, recognition items, and contract manufacturing.
• Resolves invoicing discrepancies, negotiates price, quality, and delivery, obtains quotes, and expedites delayed shipments.
• Handles supplier correspondence, purchase orders, change orders, and schedules supplier evaluation trips.
• Pursues and investigates new project innovation.
• Contributes to the completion of organizational projects and goals.
• Develops solutions to routine problems of limited scope and complexity following established policies and procedures.
• Prepares the component, ingredient, or finished good standard costs for the annual budget.
• Responds to purchasing requirements listed in the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) report.
• Interfaces with Brand Marketing or Sales Force Recognition, Global Inventory Control, Supply Scheduling, Finance, Transportation and Compliance, Quality, and, depending on the project, Package Development, Engineering, Contract Manufacturing, and R&D to address purchasing requests, inquiries, problems, and status updates.
• Collaborates with Mary Kay China counterparts as needed to support their market needs.
• Intercedes on behalf of Supply Scheduling to troubleshoot finished goods, component, or ingredient supplier service issues regarding replenishment procurement.
• Becomes the Purchasing owner for new product development initiatives.
• Interfaces with all departments involved in new product development from the initial idea phase to final approval.
• Responds to frequent changes and opportunities due to new products, materials, and processes and completes projects on schedule.
• Works with supervisor to resolve problems and review progress on projects.
• Remains informed about current technology and processes to remain competitive in the marketplace.
• Identifies tooling requirements for the annual budget process.
• Allocates tooling dollars as needed to execute both new product/package projects and upgrades to current packaging or increased capacity requirements.
• Sets up Capital Expenditure Authorization requests with cost justifications calculated to cover tooling purchase orders required to buy all tooling.
• Issues non-inventory purchase orders to cover all prep charges, artwork dies, etc. involved in producing components for Mary Kay Inc.
• Leverages existing supplier relationships to support international plants and international markets.
• Acts as a liaison with international plants on purchasing, sourcing, and overall product supply strategies.

Qualifications

• Experience: 1+ years in Purchasing role
• Education: Bachelor Degree
• Additional Skills & Abilities: Negotiation skills, effective interfacing with internal and external contacts, understanding business needs, decision-making skills, organizational and project management skills, knowledge of materials, manufacturing, printing, and decorating processes, oral and written communication skills, knowledge of and experience in laws and regulations associated with each region, ability to work with multiple cultures.