Buyer

POSITION SUMMARY The Buyer is responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and purchasing materials, goods, and services to meet the company's operational requirements. This position monitors supplier performance, delivery commitments, and material availability while working directly with suppliers to resolve delivery, quality, and service-related issues. The Buyer manages supplier relationships and helps ensure suppliers meet established performance expectations related to quality, delivery, cost, and responsiveness. In addition to external suppliers, this position collaborates closely with internal stakeholders including Sourcing, Planning, Engineering, Quality, Operations, Customer Service, and Product Management to support business objectives, improve material availability, and maintain continuity of supply. This critical role requires a strong sense of urgency, excellent communication skills, sound analytical abilities, and the desire to make a measurable and immediate impact on the business. This is a regular, full-time, on-site position located at HURST in Shelby, NC. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Manage procurement activities, including issuing purchase orders, expediting orders, resolving discrepancies, and maintaining supplier commitments. Evaluate and analyze buy signals generated by the Material Requirements Planning (MRP) system; experience with JD Edwards (JDE) is preferred. Collaborate with Planning to support material availability and adjustments in production planning to meet business demands. Actively manage supplier lead times, expedite critical shortages, and support inventory optimization initiatives through effective execution of MRP recommendations. Understand procurement policies and procedures and execute job duties in alignment with those requirements. Recommend improvements that enhance operational effectiveness and efficiency. Collaborate with internal departments to understand purchasing requirements, resolve supply challenges, and improve material availability. Analyze supplier performance using quality, delivery, cost, inventory, and risk metrics to support a reliable and sustainable supply chain. Make timely, data-driven recommendations to improve supplier performance and support business objectives. Coordinate supplier quality, delivery, and nonconformance issues with internal teams and suppliers in a timely manner to minimize business disruption. Authorize payment of invoices or return of merchandise, as appropriate. Interface with vendors and build strong working relationships to maintain a high level of support throughout all aspects of the procurement process. Support sourcing, inventory management, and continuous improvement initiatives as assigned. Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND REQUIRED ABILITIES Understanding of supply chain processes, including procurement, logistics, planning, and inventory management. Proficiency with procurement software, ERP systems, and reporting tools; experience with JD Edwards (JDE) is preferred. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to use data to support decision-making. Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively interact with suppliers and internal stakeholders. Ability to resolve supply chain issues and help ensure timely delivery of materials. Ability to engage and collaborate effectively with all levels of the organization. Strong attention to detail to ensure accuracy in orders, data, and compliance with specifications. Desire to learn, understand business processes, and recommend improvements where appropriate. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience, with emphasis in Business Administration, Economics, Production, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Operations Management, and/or Engineering. Two to four (2-4) years of progressively responsible purchasing and materials control experience in a manufacturing environment. Experience working with international suppliers / supply chains. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, and walk. The employee may occasionally be required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, or over 50 pounds with assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus when reading printed materials and computer screens. The employee may be exposed to various workplace hazards, including chemicals, machinery, and noise. Proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is required. Are you ready to join a different kind of company where our people, our culture, and our commitments are centered around providing trusted solutions that improve lives around the world? IDEX is an Equal Opportunity Employer . IDEX gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other consideration or protected category made unlawful by federal, state or local laws. Attention Applicants: If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, please let us know. Likewise, if you are limited in the ability to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, we will determine an alternate way for you to apply. Please contact our Talent Acquisition Team at View email address on click.appcast.io for assistance with an accommodation. These contact tools may be used only by individuals with a disability for accommodation requests. Do not inquire as to the status of an application. Job Family: Operations Business Unit: Hurst #J-18808-Ljbffr IDEX Corporation