Associate Buyer

Daifuku•Novi, MI

About The Position

Daifuku Airport America Corporation is seeking an Associate Buyer. Under the general supervision of the Corporate Procurement Manager, this role processes logistics invoices, creates requisitions, and purchases materials and services for a defined group of custom-engineered or specialty items. The Associate Buyer also negotiates supplier claims and adjustments. The position supports procurement for Daifuku Airport America’s material handling systems by managing purchase orders and supplier relationships, evaluating bids, coordinating technical reviews, and helping maintain project schedules. It works with Engineering, Finance, Sales, Estimating, Project Management, Legal, and other departments, and may require visits to supplier production facilities and project job sites.

Requirements

Associate’s degree in Business, Supply Management, Materials and Logistics Management, Procurement, or equivalent is strongly preferred.
1–2 years of significant experience in the Purchasing Department of a major manufacturer or service organization is required.
Negotiation skills and knowledge of contract law, the U.C.C. Code, and federal procurement policies.
Computer literacy, including proficiency in MS Word, Excel, Access, and Impromptu.
Knowledge of English language structure, vocabulary, composition, and grammar.
Knowledge of production and processing, including raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and techniques for effective manufacturing and distribution.
Time-management skills.
Critical-thinking skills, including using logic and reasoning to assess alternatives and problems.
Judgment and decision-making skills, including weighing costs and benefits.
Ability to monitor or assess performance.
Verbal and written communication and comprehension skills.
Ability to organize information or actions according to rules or patterns.
Ability to recognize when something is wrong or may go wrong.
Ability to remain stationary for 50% of the time, move throughout the office to access files and equipment, operate a computer and other productivity machinery, inspect documents, communicate by speaking and hearing, and read, identify, and assess forms and correspondence.

Nice To Haves

1–2 years of experience within a defined engineered commodity group and/or contract administration.
SAP knowledge.

Responsibilities

Code, log, and approve freight invoices, ensuring required supporting documentation is received.
Create purchase requisitions from engineering requests.
Follow up on open orders and expedite materials as needed to maintain project schedules.
Enter orders, changes, and revisions accurately into the ERP system.
Coordinate Supplier Diversity requirements and forms with Sales and Estimating for airport bids.
Purchase standard and off-the-shelf items.
Attend procurement project team meetings and track action items.
Coordinate new supplier requests with Finance.
Maintain subcontractor and supplier databases.
Enter new parts into SAP.
Work with Daifuku Engineering and other departments to modify or develop item specifications and qualify vendors for approved use.
Help identify secondary materials, equipment, and sources of supply.
Review purchase requisition descriptions and solicit competitive bids in accordance with company policies.
Evaluate commercial bid terms, including price, quality, payment terms, discounts, warranty and performance, insurance and purchasing-terms compliance, supplier capacity and reliability, delivery dates, and transportation.
Negotiate and procure custom-engineered or specialty items; administer supplier or inter-division material contracts and coordinate with Daifuku Legal on final contract language when necessary.
Coordinate Engineering Design Section reviews of vendor proposals for design conformance, technical competence and capacity, and quality-control procedures.
Consolidate or adjust quantities to obtain discounts or other price advantages.
Recommend successful vendors and issue purchase orders and change orders.
Negotiate supplier claims or adjustments for defective materials or non-performance.
Participate in developing short- and long-range departmental goals.
Visit vendor production facilities and Daifuku project job sites as required; report findings to Engineering or Project Management and negotiate project-priority or production-schedule changes as necessary.