Sourcing Buyer (De Pere or Rhinelander, WI)

You have a choice of where you want to work! We invite you along on our journey to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World . We aim to attract, retain, and energize passionate people, like you , by investing in your professional development and providing opportunities for personal growth.
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The Buyer is responsible for securing an optimized and stable SRM (Supplier Relationship Management) to the manufacturing sites while maintaining a strong link and alignment with the other members of the site Procurement Team and Regional Category management. SRM includes, but not limited to: RFx, Sourcing, Contracts, On-Boarding, KPI's, Pricing. This person will provide supporting tasks and activities to the entire Source-to-Contract (S2C) area in alignment with business needs and expectations. They will lead and develop processes and procedures, suggest methods to update, simplify, and enhance site procurement processes, procedures, and technologies in alignment with Procurement Hub Manager. This individual will continuously seek opportunities to optimize the total cost of ownership (TCO) to achieve the cost reduction objective for the P&L while working closely with key stakeholders at the site and support the implementation of the regional category strategies. This position is also responsible for cost efficiency: implementing strategies for the scope assigned to optimize procurement expenditure, such as identifying cost-effective sources and negotiating favorable terms. They will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to meet the needs of the Strategic Vision and requirements of the facility or business and support finding the best supplier: identifying and maintaining relationships with suppliers who can provide the best value in terms of quality, price, and reliability.

Main Responsibilities

MASTER DATA SUPPORT

• Actively monitor supplier base and mitigate third-party risk
• Actively support pricing accuracy

PRICE AND CONDITION MANAGEMENT

• Secure and monitor contract compliance for site specific raw materials, packaging, and indirect categories.
• Responsible for supplier selection and negotiating site-specific contracts aligned with external spending policy for areas outside the scope of Regional Category Managers
• Achieve Procurement targets established in the annual plan such as: cost savings, supplier lead time, compliance rate, supplier performance.
• Ensuring proper information/documentation for annual blanket purchase orders, such as but not limited to quotes, contracts, rate cards, insurance
• Actively participate in local STT (spend transparency team) meetings

P2P ADMIN

• Approve indirect POs above 5k€ in the system
• On-board new suppliers through approved process (challenging and validating a new supplier is needed)
• Collaborate with Finance to resolve discrepancies
• Collaborate with Finance to manage Supplier DPO (Days Payable Outstanding) on a quarterly basis, along with implementing process improvements where DPO is not reflective of payment terms (where applicable)

PROCESSES SUPPORT

• Provide assurance for contracts execution.
• Maintain database of supplier evaluations, contracts, pricing agreements and claims per global policy
• Lead and develop procurement operations, processes, and procedures within the site to secure good quality sustainable supply
• Engage and motivate internal stakeholders to operate according to procurement policies, processes, and procedures
• Act as a procurement ambassador and actively contribute to the development of the procurement capabilities and skills in the site
• Manage ISO audits and internal audits for Indirect category
• Manage supplier consignment audits (where applicable)
• Utilize approved tools to track cost savings, cost avoidance and opportunities
• Generate performance metrics, as required
• Back-up support for plant(s) Sourcing Specialist, Buyer/Planner, Tactical Buyer, as needed

PROCUREMENT STRATEGY SUPPORT

• Identify and drive site cost reduction opportunities together with different stakeholders and in alignment with regional category strategies
• Collaborate with the site to align the spending with the designated suppliers for Indirect category.
• Support Category Strategy implementation in the region and together with Purchasing Specialists to maintain all relevant supplier documentation in the systems.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

• Manage supplier claims as well as supplier evaluations of the plant according to Ahlstrom tools and procedures.
• Give feedback and supporting documentation on supplier performance and contract compliance to the category managers regularly.
• Provide spend analysis and benchmarking for local suppliers

INTERNAL STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT

• Gather and understand the business requirements of the site and communicate them within the procurement organization (Category managers)
• Be the main interface and first point of escalation to the site management; Act as the main point of contact for site Management and participate in site management meetings. Work with the regional Indirect team to align priorities and activities for the sites.
• Help drive standardization in products, services, and processes
• Build trust, engage and motivate internal stakeholders, to operate according to procurement policies, processes, and procedures, through visits to the assigned plants.

SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP

• Manage indirect categories of supplier claims directly with the supplier with alignment from Regional Category Managers

PROJECTS

• Lead site related projects in alignment with the category strategies and CAPEX instructions and facilitate requests for quotations.
• Support and implement best practice in sourcing Capex investments <0.5MEUR and secure early involvement of procurement in the projects. Actively work to embed a strong focus on TCO within the organization to bring value beyond the initial purchase.
• Align and collaborate with the Capex Procurement Project Managers to secure timely and reliable implementation of mid and large Capex Projects.

Other tasks and responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications

• Min 5 years of experience in Procurement
• Possess a Bachelor's degree
• Proven experience in supplier relationship management
• Skilled in commercial and contracts negotiations
• Proven experience in driving and executing tasks and activities in S2P
• Experience in Procurement Services is strongly recommended
• Experience in SAP (P2P) or site-specific equivalent system
• SAP and JDE skills are a plus.
• Willingness to travel (drive/or fly) to supplier meetings, sites and team meetings.
• Valid driving license

Ahlstrom is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal opportunity is a sound and just concept to which we are firmly bound. Ahlstrom will not engage in discrimination against, or harassment of, any person employed or seeking employment with our company based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, non-disqualifying disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.

About Us.
Ahlstrom is a global leader in combining fibers into sustainable specialty materials. Our purpose is to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. Our vision is to be the Preferred Sustainable Specialty Materials Company for all our stakeholders. Our three divisions, Filtration and Life Sciences, Food and Consumer Packaging, and Protective Materials, address global trends with safe and sustainable solutions. Our net sales in 2024 amounted to EUR 3.0 billion and we employ some 6,800 people.

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