Buyer

Job Description

Job Description

Great Lakes Energy is looking for a strategic and detail-oriented Buyer to support the procurement of materials, equipment, and services that keep our operations running efficiently and reliably. In this role, you'll build strong supplier partnerships, support sourcing and contract activities, help manage inventory needs, and work closely with teams across the organization to ensure the right resources are available at the right time. Your efforts will directly support the delivery of safe, reliable electric and broadband services to the communities we serve.

Who We Are

For over 85 years, Great Lakes Energy has powered rural communities across 26 counties in western and northern Michigan. As the third-largest Michigan-based electric utility and the state's largest member-owned power company, we serve over 128,000 meters with pride. Beyond delivering reliable electricity, we are leaders in advanced fiber technology through Truestream, our communication solutions subsidiary.

At Great Lakes Energy, we prioritize enriching the lives of our community members and employees. With over 300 team members, we're more than just colleagues, we're a close-knit family, united by a shared vision of growth, innovation, and community service.

A Day in the Life of a Buyer

As a Buyer, your day may begin by reviewing inventory levels, evaluating purchase requests, and coordinating with internal teams regarding upcoming projects and material needs. You'll analyze demand requirements, monitor supply chain activity, and work proactively to ensure critical materials and equipment are available to support ongoing operations.

Throughout the day, you'll source products and services, evaluate vendor proposals, negotiate pricing and contract terms, and place purchase orders for a variety of utility-related materials. You'll collaborate with suppliers to address delivery schedules, resolve shortages, and maintain strong vendor relationships that support the Cooperative's operational goals.

You'll work closely with engineering, operations, construction, finance, and maintenance teams to understand business needs and develop sourcing strategies that balance quality, reliability, compliance, and cost effectiveness. Whether supporting routine operations, capital projects, or emergency response efforts, you'll play a key role in maintaining service continuity.

Before the day ends, you may analyze procurement data, review supplier performance metrics, update purchasing records, reconcile invoices, or assist with reporting and compliance activities. You might also participate in vendor meetings, industry events, or cross-functional planning discussions focused on continuous improvement and supply chain optimization.

Who You Are

You're a highly organized professional who enjoys solving problems, building relationships, and finding efficient solutions that deliver value to the organization. You understand that successful procurement requires a balance of strategic thinking, strong analytical skills, and effective communication.

You thrive in environments where priorities can shift and where collaboration across departments is essential. Your attention to detail helps ensure accuracy, compliance, and accountability, while your ability to analyze information supports informed purchasing and sourcing decisions.

You take pride in developing productive supplier relationships, negotiating favorable outcomes, and helping teams obtain the resources they need to succeed. Whether you're evaluating vendors, supporting critical projects, or improving procurement processes, you're motivated by creating reliable and cost-effective solutions.

What You Bring

• Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, or a related field, along with at least five years of related experience. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
• Procurement and Supply Chain Experience: Experience with strategic sourcing, purchasing, supplier relationship management, inventory planning, contract administration, and procurement processes. Utility industry experience in electric, gas, water, or telecommunications is preferred.
• Technical Skills: Experience working with ERP systems, data analysis tools, and Microsoft Office/365 applications. Ability to collect, organize, analyze, and present data through reports, dashboards, and other business tools while adapting to emerging workplace technologies.
• Negotiation and Business Acumen: Strong negotiation, contract management, financial analysis, and decision-making skills with the ability to balance operational needs, supplier performance, and cost considerations.
• Communication and Relationship Building: Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and collaboration skills with the ability to establish productive relationships with suppliers, contractors, industry partners, and internal stakeholders.

What's in It for You?

You are valuable to us, and our benefits are here to show it. That's why we put employees first, your health, your family, and your development. We have a number of benefits, both traditional and progressive, to support you and your family through life's various stages. Here's just a taste of what we have to offer:

• The Essentials - We cover the cost of comprehensive health insurance. You'll be hard-pressed to find better for you and your family...seriously!
• Time to Spend - Generous paid time off (PTO) puts you in the driver's seat, letting you decide how to make the most of your time away from work.
• Better Health Through Better Living - Healthy employees are happy employees. Our diverse wellness program supports your physical, financial, and mental well-being.
• When Life Hands You Lemons - We know life doesn't always go as planned. That's why we offer life insurance, as well as short- and long-term disability insurance, fully paid by GLE to provide peace of mind when the unexpected happens.
• More Time with Your Baby - New parents get time off to bond with their new bundle of joy. Parental leave benefits provide two weeks of family-friendly paid leave for moms and dads to bond and care for their growing families. Growing your family through adoption? You're awesome! We may be able to help you with related expenses up to $2,000.
• Never Stop Learning - We hire talented people for a reason, and we want you to stick around. That's why we invest in your training and development. Whether it's advancing your education, learning new skills, or job shadowing another role, we're here to support your career growth.
• Riding Off Into the Sunset - Your future is important to us, and we've got the numbers to back it up. We offer two retirement savings plans for eligible employees, a traditional pension and a 401(k) option. Our participation rates are through the roof!