Indirect Buyer

Description

General Position Overview

The Indirect Buyer is responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and purchasing the goods and services required to support the organization's operations and business objectives. Working closely with internal stakeholders and external suppliers, this role ensures that products and services are acquired in a cost-effective, timely, and quality-focused manner.

The Indirect Buyer manages supplier relationships, evaluates sourcing opportunities, negotiates commercial terms, and oversees the procurement process from requisition through purchase order issuance. This position plays a key role in driving purchasing efficiency, supporting cost-reduction initiatives, and ensuring compliance with company policies and procurement procedures. The position requires strong communication, analytical, negotiation, organizational, and problem-solving skills, along with the ability to manage multiple priorities and collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization.

Essential Job Functions

• Demonstrates SoundOff Signal’s Core Values in daily interactions with internal and external customers.
• Ensures all purchasing decisions and transactions adhere to the company’s Quality Management System (QMS), internal controls, and contractual requirements while promoting responsible and effective stewardship of company funds and upholding the highest standards of business integrity.
• Assesses purchasing requirements and determines the appropriate use of tactical and strategic sourcing methods to achieve timely delivery and cost-effective results.
• Partners with engineering, facilities, marketing, manufacturing, sales administration and IT departments, to source, negotiate, evaluate, and develop effective procurement strategies across all indirect purchasing categories.
• Manages the supplier onboarding process, including supplier evaluation and qualification, master data collection, negotiation of payment terms and Incoterms, establishment of key performance indicators (KPIs), and collaboration with Finance to ensure supplier records are complete and accurate.
• Recognizes when contractual agreements are required and engages appropriate stakeholders and legal counsel to establish terms and conditions that protect the company and mitigate business risk and liability.
• Processes purchase requisitions into orders accurately and in a timely manner, while collaborating with requestors to ensure materials and services meet their specifications and requirements when ordered and when delivered.
• Identifies and implements hard and soft cost savings through spend data analysis, supplier negotiations, continuous improvement, competitive bidding, and supplier optimization initiatives.
• Leverages industry and market data to develop and implement purchasing strategies that optimize price, quality, delivery and service across each indirect purchased category.
• Cultivates strong supplier relationships while holding suppliers accountable to established performance standards and business expectations.
• Quickly resolves purchasing, invoicing, receiving, delivery and supplier issues.
• Monitors current news, market conditions, supplier input, and business trends relevant to assigned indirect purchasing categories to anticipate potential risks and support informed procurement decisions.
• Prepares and presents results, issues, opportunities, risk and other key data as requested.
• Demonstrates proper document control habits.
• Identifies and contributes to continuous improvement initiatives that enhance supply chain performance and advance the company’s vision, mission, and strategic objectives.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Able to perform job consistently without excessive absenteeism or tardiness.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Five plus years’ experience in purchasing
• Professional designation or certification, such as APICS (Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), or Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) or Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) program preferred.
• Indirect Procurement experience with a global supply base of over 100 suppliers and an annual expenditure over $75M
• Experience procuring multiple indirect categories
• Strong tactical procurement skills, with a demonstrated ability to execute purchasing activities, and other tasks, accurately, and within appropriate timelines
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to independently analyze, define, and resolve complex supply chain and procurement challenges using sound judgement
• Ability to work independently, as well as work successfully with others across all departments and levels of the organization
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Experience with ERP Software
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy of tasks
• Excellent written, verbal, and computer communication skills exhibiting good judgment, discretion, and diplomacy

Working Conditions

• Mostly office environment, occasional light manufacturing environment
• Fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• Low noise level in a temperature-controlled setting
• Some level of domestic and/or international travel may be required
• May work remotely
• Mostly normal business hours with occasional need to flex hours