Buyer

Why Waupaca Foundry? Waupaca Foundry, Inc. is North America’s leading supplier of iron castings and has a history of innovation with a legacy of product quality. Waupaca Foundry employs approximately 3,500 people company-wide. Waupaca Foundry is committed to relentless improvement, forward-thinking sustainability initiatives, and providing a reliable experience to the millions who use our castings every day. Our goal is to employ individuals who take pride in their work within a culture of continual innovation. Waupaca Foundry is proud to be an employer of choice for those driven and skilled individuals seeking rewarding careers by producing top quality castings. You will be right at home at Waupaca Foundry. Cast Your Own Future. More information is available on our website Buyer ROLE: The Buyer (Value Add) is responsible for strategically sourcing, quoting and procuring machining, paint, heat‑treat, and a multitude of outside services essential to foundry operations. This role leads supplier negotiations, develops long‑term partnerships, and ensures capacity and capability alignment to support production requirements. This position requires up to 50% travel to Waupaca Foundry locations and supplier sites for audits, capability assessments, relationship development, and resolution of procurement‑related issues. The Buyer will collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams to align procurement strategies with operational goals while maintaining strong cost control, quality, and delivery performance. Principal Duties and Responsibilities Material Sourcing Identifying and selecting suppliers for machining, paint, and heat treat. Manage the quote process, including data analysis, cost modeling, and timely submission of accurate quotes. Supplier Relationship Management/Contract Management Develop and maintain supplier partnerships, focusing on capability growth, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement. Cost Management Lead strategic negotiations to secure competitive pricing, favorable terms, and long‑range value for the organization. Maintain and report KPIs and scorecards for internal and external performance, including cost, quality, delivery, and responsiveness. Ensure compliance with financial controls, procurement policies, and audit requirements. Inventory Management Monitoring inventory levels and ensuring materials are ordered in time to meet production demands without causing excess stock or shortages. Conduct capacity and capability planning with suppliers to ensure alignment with production schedules and long‑term business needs. Quality Management Collaborating with suppliers to ensure that all materials and services meet required specifications and quality standards. This includes managing rejected or non‑conforming materials. Supporting COPQ and COPE. Market Research/Risk Management Keeping informed of market trends, price fluctuations, and emerging technologies to make informed purchasing decisions Identifying potential risk in the supply chain and developing contingency plans to mitigate disruptions. Ensure that procurement practices meet environmental and regulatory standards, including responsible sourcing and ethical practices. Supporting safety objectives and regulations within the facilities and at supplier locations Cross-Departmental Collaboration Collaborating with cross-functional disciplines to align procurement with the foundry’s operational needs *This is not an exhaustive list of duties or functions and may not necessarily comprise all the "essential functions" for purposes of the ADA. Education/ Experience Requirements Knowledgeable in negotiations, analytical ability, and risk management Preferred Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain or engineering. Travel Requirements Travel up to 50% for supplier visits, audits, assessments, and cross‑site collaboration. Qualifications/Skills Must demonstrate highly effective oral and written communication skills. Must possess and demonstrate leadership ability; to include the following: Conflict resolution and problem solving Cross-functional communication Knowledgeable and supportive of corporate policies Possess a positive, motivational attitude and be dependable to the supply chain team and cross-functional disciplines. Fair and ethical treatment of employees and supplier partners Knowledgeable of corporate objectives, Must possess prominent level of computer skills working with spreadsheets, charts, graphs with Excel, Lotus Notes and SAP. Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of proper accounting and financial controls. Ability to work independently to plan and organize daily tasks, assess risk, and do comparable analytics. Work Environment On site Cross-functional interface including customer service, sales, quality and finance. Waupaca Foundry is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability. BENEFITS: Waupaca Foundry offers competitive wages and exceptional benefits, including: Medical, dental, vision. Short and long term disability. Life insurance. 401(k). Employer funded retirement plan. Paid vacations/holidays Wellness program. Fitness membership. Employee assistance program (EAP) Employer supported career development, including tuition reimbursement. Waupaca Foundry is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability. Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans. #J-18808-Ljbffr Socket.dev