The Materials Expeditor/Junior Buyer will be responsible for coordinating the timely delivery of materials, parts, and supplies needed for operations. This role involves working closely with suppliers, internal departments, and logistics to ensure the smooth and cost-effective flow of materials. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, organized, and has strong communication skills, ensuring that purchasing and delivery schedules are maintained, and any issues are quickly resolved.
Key Accountabilities:
Expediting Materials:
- Monitor and track the status of purchase orders to ensure timely delivery.
- Coordinate with suppliers to expedite late or urgent orders.
- Communicate with internal departments regarding material shortages and provide status updates on deliveries.
- Resolve delays, shipping discrepancies, or other issues that impact material availability.
Purchasing Support:
- Assist in the procurement of raw materials, components, and supplies according to production and inventory needs.
- Request and evaluate quotes from vendors for price competitiveness and quality.
- Preparing and analyzing monthly reports, forecasting monthly requirements to vendors.
- Review and analyze purchase requisitions and convert them into purchase orders.
- Collaborate with procurement team to negotiate contracts & terms with suppliers.
- Conduct market research to identify potential suppliers and compare products and services for quality, price, and lead time.
- Assisting in cost reduction initiatives
Vendor Relations:
- Maintain and develop relationships with key suppliers, ensuring clear communication and solid business partnerships.
- Support vendor performance evaluations based on quality, delivery, and cost.
- Assist in identifying alternative suppliers for key materials when required.
Documentation and Compliance:
- Maintain procurement files and records, ensuring they are up-to-date and accessible.
- Assist with invoice verification, approvals, and processing.
- Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and relevant regulations.
COMMUNICATIONS & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
Internal:
- All departments in the development of commodity strategies and in the status of performance versus plan.
- Team members on an ongoing basis to mentor and assist them to achieve individual and departmental objectives.
- Coordination with sales, marketing and technology to communicate pricing, market, and terms changes.
- Work closely with planning to ensure effective coordination between the two groups.
External:
- Supplier representatives in contract and supply negotiations.
Auditors and consultants of other external regulatory bodies on an ad hoc basis.
FRAMEWORKS, BOUNDARIES, & DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY:
- Freedom given to expedite orders & negotiate terms of procurement contracts for relevant accounts and bring forward to Senior Management for approval.
QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, & SKILLS:
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Science/Arts degree in Business with a major concentration in Supply Chain Management or Bachelor of Science in Engineering.
- Professional certification: Institute for Supply Management designations of Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (APP) or Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM); or the American Purchasing Society designation of Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) or Certified Professional Purchasing Manager (CPPM).
Minimum Experience:
- 3-5 years’ experience in procurement in a manufacturing environment
Job-Specific Skills:
- Knowledge of Supply Chain standard Policies & Procedures.
- Understanding of regulatory requirements.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
- Procurement and supplier negotiation abilities.
COMPETENCIES:
- Excellent “people skills”
- Ability to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong organizational and multitasking abilities.
- Problem solving, written and oral communication skills
- Ability to operate and navigate the following software: (excel spread sheets, pivot tables, word, e-mail, presentation, project, and expert knowledge of ERP systems/process).
- SAP experience (preferred)
- Results, organized, and detail oriented.
- Excellent analytical, organizational, and negotiating skills
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Office environment with frequent interaction with manufacturing/production environment. Required interaction, understanding, and support of entire production lifecycle. Adherence to and support of all safety standards. Approximately 10% travel, including international travel, for conferences, supplier audits, and business meetings. Freedom to travel easily through North America, Europe, Middle East and Asia (access to travel Visa’s etc.)
Ability to operate a computer and other communications equipment. Must be able to stand, stoop, walk and lift up to 50 pounds.
