Buyer

Job Overview A Brief Summary of This Position: Responsible for procurement of assigned items, planning, coordinating and reviewing activities related to an assigned commodity. The focus is on timely deliveries and shipment accuracy to satisfy customer requirements. The incumbent commits funds, participates in strategic business decisions, and acts as liaison between supply chain and operations. Buyer is accountable for purchase order creation, supply chain execution, and purchase order requirements according to existing strategy through communication with suppliers. The position focuses on achieving on‑time supplier delivery to meet customer delivery requirements, works closely with new product planning teams, and ensures that components are chosen based on availability, lead time, and quality rather than solely price. Responsibilities also include handling engineering change notices, receipt discrepancies, transportation coordination, expediting, and data entry for all assigned commodities. Responsibilities Make effective and timely decisions to resolve material shortages in production. Achieve outstanding internal customer satisfaction and maintain relationships between the supply base and Valmont Industries, Inc. Deliver purchased material efficiently and economically for divisional production and related support functions in accordance with divisional inventory policy. Prepare Return Goods Orders and dispose of rejected material to closure. Maintain professional relationships with suppliers, engineers, production control, marketing, manufacturing, and other purchasing personnel. Develop a deeper understanding of production requirement data and properly respond to stated requirements. Resolve issues related to invoicing receipts, acknowledgements, material shortages, delinquencies, and certifications with vendors, divisional, and corporate personnel. Coordinate engineering change notices for purchased items affecting new or existing materials to ease transitions and manage inventory levels. Interpret MRP output to create purchase orders (P.O.) for assigned items and verify supplier receipt of the P.O. Expedite delivery of past‑due or moved‑up purchase orders for specified suppliers, recording any date revisions in the system. Assist Accounts Payable with credit/debit reconciliation, including contacting suppliers for P.O. confirmations, changes, shipment discrepancy resolution, or return processing. Participate in lean initiative events such as inventory carrying costs, Kanban, consignment, and floor stock. Analyze delivery issues and adjust the database as required for assigned items. Assist Corporate Purchasing in supplier consolidation efforts. Review purchasing standard work procedures for improvements to increase customer satisfaction and/or reduce cost. Act as backup for other Buyers and Senior Buyers. Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s Degree or Associate’s Degree with 3+ years of relevant experience, or 5+ years of relevant quality experience. Professional work experience with contract management and negotiations. Ability to work independently and in a team environment, building relationships at all levels. Organize and manage multiple simultaneous priorities, meeting aggressive deadlines. Attention to detail and accuracy in a fast‑paced environment with multiple deadlines. Judgment and decision‑making skills when comparing relative cost and benefit potential. Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Outlook. Preferred: Previous experience in sales, operations, operations planning, master scheduling, production planning, inventory control, or production control within an MRP/ERP environment. Knowledge of customer service functions and shipping procedures. APICS (C.P.I.M.) Certified Purchasing Manager or Certified Professional in Inventory Management certification. Benefits Healthcare: medical, prescription drugs, dental, and vision. 401(k) retirement plan with company match. Paid time off. Employer‑paid life insurance. Employer‑paid short‑term and long‑term disability, including maternity leave. Work‑life support. Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 per year. Voluntary programs such as tobacco cessation, Type 2 diabetes reversal, one‑on‑one health coaching, mortgage services, and more. EEO Statement Valmont does not discriminate against any employee or applicant in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. If you have a disability and require assistance in filling out the application for employment, email View email address on click.appcast.io. #J-18808-Ljbffr