Buyer I

Role Summary:

The Buyer I coordinates activities involved with procuring goods and services such as raw materials, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, and advertising for Lathrup. This position is responsible for communicating with vendors on providing quality materials at competitive prices, delivered per our schedule and ensuring on time delivery to our customers.


Key Accountabilities:
• Confers with vendors to obtain product or service information such as price, availability, and delivery schedule based on shop need.
• Estimates values according to knowledge of market price. Recommends Standard Pricing Adjustments.
• Determines method of procurement such as direct purchase or bid.
• Prepares purchase orders or bid requests.
• Inventory Management insuring stock locations and quantities are adequate for production needs.
• Crucial piece of the Accuracy of the MRP System, defining new part numbers and costing as well as sourcing and forecasting requirements.
• Reviews bid proposals and negotiates contracts within budgetary limitations and scope of authority.
• Selects products for purchase by testing, observing, or examining items/vendor qualification.
• Maintains procurement records such as items or services purchased costs, delivery, product quality or performance, and inventories.
• Discusses defective or unacceptable goods or services with inspection or quality control personnel, users, vendors, and others to determine source of trouble and take corrective action.
• Audit suppliers: Filed visits, incoming quality, first piece verification.
• Approves invoices for payment.
• Expedites delivery of goods to users
• International buying and negotiating.
• Line-item inventory approval level is $20,000 or less.
• Manages Accurate Inventory Accountability and is responsible for Annual Inventory Process.
• Pulls inventory for jobs as needed and verifies part accuracy.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.


Competencies:
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to author reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• NAPM membership and CPM desired. Experience with Lean Manufacturing, PFEP, 6 Sigma, Kanban, etc. is also desired.

Success Measures:
• Maintains a collaborative, team relationship with direct reports, peers and colleagues in order to effectively contribute to the group's achievement of goals and to help foster a positive work environment
• Demonstrates a friendly, responsive, service-minded attitude to all internal and external customers
• Demonstrates a willingness to accept change and new approaches, including additional responsibilities
• Sets work plans and considers priorities for completing assignments in order to meet deadlines
• Maintains compliance with all state and federal regulations.
• Qualifications:
• 2-4 years related experience in the Buying function.
• Special Position Requirements:
• Travel may be required within RTH Corp's domestic footprint.
• Travel Percentage (<10% Overnight) Frequent day travel.


Work Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and distance vision.