Senior Buyer

Job Title

The Buyer is a front-line employee often making first contact with member companies. This role is responsible for ensuring that our members receive white-glove customer service. This includes high level accuracy, responsiveness, and a broad understanding of general MRO categories.

Requirements

• Research and Identify suppliers for member requirements.
• Understand and utilize preferred suppliers as much as possible
• Evaluate suppliers based on quality, pricing, availability and conformance to supplier expectations
• Set up and maintain suppliers in systems as needed
• Negotiate terms and pricing with supplier after a suitable item has been identified and confirmed to be what member needs
• Provide new supplier onboarding, as required based on importance or frequency of transactions with supplier
• Negotiate, prepare, and manage pricing agreements
• Prepare and provide accurate price quotes for products and services.
• Negotiate pricing and terms within established guidelines to win business while maintaining profitability
• Generate cost savings through use of strategies, negotiations, and multiple bids as possible
• Provide requests for quotation responses on average in 1.5 days
• Accurately capture managed versus directed spend with 99.5% accuracy
• Ensure necessary documentation is associated with supplier quotations and provide future evidence as needed
• Create quality catalog content with accurate and complete information, such as description, images, manufacturer name, manufacturer part number, and ships within timing
• Ensure quoted prices are valid and do not generate purchase order pricing issues with 99.5% accuracy
• Demonstrate a deep understanding of the products and services our members require.
• Assist members with product inquiries, technical questions, and order customization requests
• Provide recommendations and guidance to help customers select the right products for their needs
• Be able to offer suitable interchanges and direct interchanges when available
• Demonstrate supplier and category expertise
• Address member concerns, complaints, and inquiries in a professional and timely manner.
• Attempt to resolve any inquiry within 2 business days
• Ensure necessary documentation is associated with inquiries required to resolve and provide future evidence as needed
• Support troubleshooting problems related to orders, deliveries, or product quality issues
• Collaborate with other departments to resolve complex issues and ensure customer satisfaction
• Support Buyers with guidance on issue resolution
• Does not require additional oversight outside of standard coaching and development
• Communicate professionally and effectively with members and internal stakeholders.
• Provide timely and regular communications on all transactions, e-mails, or other interactions with members, suppliers, and internal stakeholders
• Utilize various communication tools to reach the intended audience effectively, including phone, chats, systems notes and notifications, as well as e-mail
• Always communicate professionally
• Proactively reach out to members to understand their needs and preferences
• Build strong relationships with members, suppliers, and internal stakeholders
• Identify opportunities to improve customer service processes and procedures.
• Provide feedback to management on member needs, market trends, and competitor activities
• Participate in training and professional development activities to enhance product knowledge and customer service skills
• Provide system and process training to members, suppliers, and team members as required
• Willingness to adopt and train peers on new processes and technologies related to their core job duties