Contingent Buyer/Planner

What Makes a Honda, is Who makes a Honda

Honda has a clear vision for the future, and it’s a joyful one. We are looking for individuals with the skills, courage, persistence, and dreams that will help us reach our future-focused goals. 

At our core is innovation. Honda is constantly innovating and developing solutions to drive our business with record success. We strive to be a company that serves as a source of “power” that supports people around the world who are trying to do things based on their own initiative and that helps people expand their own potential. To this end, Honda strives to realize “the joy and freedom of mobility” by developing new technologies and an innovative approach to achieve a “zero environmental footprint.”

We are looking for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, continuous improvement values, and a strong work ethic to join our team.

If your goals and values align with Honda’s, we want you to join our team to Bring the Future!

Job Purpose

The purpose of this position is to plan production requirements, provide forecasts to key suppliers, source parts and services, and purchase parts and materials (both internally, within HRC shops, and externally via outside suppliers) to support production, development, and race component requirements. This position is a key role that manages the supply chain core functions from planning analysis, part review, supplier bids/negotiations, delivery, and quality assurance support that results in best value to meet critical assembly, development testing, and race team activities.

Key Accountabilities

Planning Analysis/Purchasing - Lead production planning analysis and ensure timely release of purchase orders to meet assembly build requirements, based on the certified Bill of Materials (BOM). Provide annual forecasts to long lead and major engine suppliers. Negotiate best price, economic ordering quantities (EOQ), and desired delivery, based on production needs and project milestones. Ensure Purchase Orders are maintained with current information for expected receipt dates and any supplier delay notes. Solicit quotations for current specification production parts with approved suppliers and actively manage the supply chain from order placement to part delivery. Manage project inventory levels to ensure sufficient parts are available for production and development needs, while minimizing excess inventory for cost avoidance. Management of Design Level revisions as they relate to production part supersession. Ensure Vendor Cards are current, with up-to-date contacts, addresses, etc. Ensure Item Cards are kept current, with up-to-date revision levels, pricing, and lead time.
Supplier Management - Manage day to day supplier monitoring for on-time delivery, quality, and cost. Lead and review Production Requisitions and Purchase Orders to ensure expected due dates are current, and any delays are communicated to management. Lead recurring meetings with suppliers to establish purchase requirements and status to stakeholders. Analyze supplier technical capabilities, manufacturing limitations, and facilities/equipment availability and redundancy. Participates in and facilitates meetings and vendors for any part quality issues. Communicate with the approved supplier base and Engineering and Quality Assurance to ensure any delays or quality issues are efficiently resolved for procurement responsibilities. Request HTS codes and understanding of INCOTERMS 2010 for international purchases and customs regulations. Develops solutions to a variety of complex procurement problems, referring to established precedents and policies.
Interdepartmental Coordination and Scheduling - Lead coordination with engineering, manufacturing engineering, production, and supplier quality on component quality/ delivery issues. Lead interdepartmental discussions and direction setting regarding vendor capacity issues, quality inspection/documentation, and shipping and receiving, while maintaining on-time delivery. Provide timely status reporting to stakeholders. Coordinate with procurement peers to assist when workload is high, during the peak purchasing season.
Administrative - Plan weekly/daily schedules to attend required meetings. Ensure required training is completed, prior to expiration. Document status and report to HRC management, as required. Maintenance of Purchase Orders. Complete MRB actions on time.

Qualifications, Experience, and Skills

Minimum Experience of 5 years of manufacturing (Machine Shop experience preferred) and buyer/planner procurement experience. Basic understanding of production/manufacturing machine equipment (Manual, CNC, Welding, Castings, etc.). Working knowledge of supplier management and procurement processes. Ability to develop and integrate requirements, planning analysis, negotiation, documentation, and coordination of supplier activities. Ability to effectively interface with all levels of company associates and outside suppliers and resolve conflicts at appropriate levels. Supplier selection understanding based on QAV, familiar with supplier ranking criteria, monitoring on time delivery, familiar with supplier audit (quality, financial, management and shop floor), and continuous improvement, product quality planning, and production part approval process. Familiarity with various purchasing software modules (Navision, Accellion, etc.). Ability to work in a team environment. Clear and concise verbal communication skills. Ability to work under minimal supervision. Ability to resolve conflict effectively.
BS Degree, preferably in a Business-related field and/or equivalent industry procurement experience.

Honda is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.