Buyer

Fiber Cement Siding Procurement Buyer

Search, evaluate, select, and negotiate with suppliers based on plant requirements, approved Purchase Requisitions, and a clearly defined scope provided by the requesting department. Utilize established procurement policies, procedures, and SAP to issue Purchase Orders, monitor inventory levels, and procure materials and services required to support plant operations. The Buyer is responsible for collaborating with Warehouse, Production, Maintenance, Engineering, Accounts Payable, and Corporate Procurement to ensure timely delivery of materials, resolve purchasing issues, maintain supplier relationships, and support continuous improvement initiatives.

Essential Functions

• Manage daily raw material and maintenance inventory levels to support uninterrupted plant operations.
• Work with raw material unloading personnel and Warehouse to prioritize deliveries and avoid inventory outages.
• Communicate daily with Plant Management regarding inventory levels, supplier performance, and potential supply issues.
• Monitor inventory levels and recommend replenishment as needed.
• Search, evaluate, and qualify suppliers to support purchasing requirements.
• Obtain competitive quotations (minimum of two or three quotes when applicable).
• Maintain supplier quote documentation and sourcing history.
• Negotiate pricing, freight, lead times, payment terms, and service levels.
• Convert approved Purchase Requisitions into Purchase Orders using SAP.
• Review Purchase Requisitions for completeness and accuracy.
• Issue Purchase Orders and transmit them to suppliers.
• Maintain daily follow-up on all open Purchase Orders.
• Update expected delivery dates (ETAs) and proactively communicate delays to internal customers and Corporate Procurement Mgr.
• Resolve purchasing, pricing, receiving, invoice, and supplier discrepancies by working closely with Accounts Payable and internal departments.
• Support vendor onboarding and maintain supplier information.
• Assist with supplier setup and required documentation.
• Promote ACH and standard Accounts Payable payment methods whenever applicable.
• Ensure compliance with company procurement policies and procedures.
• Planned purchases, including maintenance services, memberships, renewals, certifications, and operating supplies, must follow the standard Purchase Requisition and Purchase Order process.
• Ensure company credit cards are to be used only for approved business exceptions or emergency purchases when the normal procurement process cannot meet the required timeline.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records and procurement reports using SAP, Microsoft Excel, and Smartsheet.
• Support the Corp Procurement Manager with sourcing projects, supplier negotiations, reporting, process improvements, and other procurement initiatives.
• Perform assigned tasks in accordance with Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) procedures and company policies.

Percentage of Time/Duties

• 30%-Purchase Order processing, supplier follow-up, expediting, and ETA management
• 20% - Raw material and inventory management
• 15%- Supplier sourcing, vendor qualification, and competitive quotations
• 10%- Vendor communication, negotiations, and issue resolution
• 10%-Accounts Payable support, invoice discrepancy resolution, and purchasing issue resolution
• 10%-SAP transactions, reporting, Microsoft Excel analysis, and Smartsheet updates
• 5%- Meetings with Plant Management, Procurement, Warehouse, and Corporate teams

Problem Solving

• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks while supporting plant operations.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent follow-up skills to ensure supplier commitments and delivery schedules are met.
• Ability to analyze inventory levels and recommend replenishment actions.
• Strong negotiation skills related to pricing, freight, payment terms, and supplier performance.
• Ability to resolve purchasing, receiving, invoice, and supplier issues in a timely manner.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills with internal departments and external suppliers.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across multiple departments.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in SAP, Microsoft Excel, and Smartsheet.
• Ability to comply with company procurement policies, procedures, and approval requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of purchasing experience in a manufacturing environment preferred.
• Required: SAP purchasing experience.
• Preferred: Smartsheet experience.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, XLOOKUPNLOOKUP, filtering, and reporting.
• Strong knowledge of procurement, inventory management, supplier management, and purchasing best practices.
• Excellent organizational, communication, multitasking, and customer service skills.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced manufacturing environment while managing multiple priorities.