Operations - Buyer Analyst III

Chemelex•McAllen, TX

6d•Remote

About The Position

The MRO Buyer is responsible for procuring and managing the Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) materials and services needed to support safe, efficient, and uninterrupted plant operations. The role ensures timely acquisition of spare parts, consumables, tools, equipment, and maintenance services while maintaining appropriate inventory levels and controlling costs. It works closely with Maintenance, Operations, Warehouse, Engineering, and Finance teams to support material availability, supplier performance, and compliance with company purchasing policies and procedures. This is a remote position based in the McAllen, Texas area. The employee must be able to commute to the manufacturing facility in Reynosa, Mexico, as business needs require. Occasional travel to Houston, Texas, is also required. The role is currently remote, though a local office may be established in the future.

Requirements

Minimum 8 years of purchasing and procurement of MRO materials.
Experience working with technical suppliers, maintenance contractors, and industrial equipment vendors.
Experience managing inventory and safety stock levels.
Proficiency with ERP systems; SAP is preferred.
Strong Microsoft Excel and data-analysis skills.
Understanding of inventory-management principles and purchasing best practices.
Knowledge of manufacturing operations and maintenance processes.
Strong negotiation and supplier relationship-management skills.
Excellent organizational and time-management abilities.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
Customer-focused mindset and ability to collaborate across departments.
Bilingual English/Spanish skills.
Ability to commute to the manufacturing facility in Reynosa, Mexico, as business needs require, and travel occasionally to Houston, Texas.
A bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field is preferred; an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience will also be considered.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field.
Inventory management or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment.
Experience with SAP.

Responsibilities

Purchase MRO materials, including spare parts, consumables, tools, equipment, and maintenance services.
Create, issue, and monitor purchase orders to ensure timely delivery.
Ensure critical materials are available to support production and maintenance requirements.
Expedite purchases and deliveries to minimize operational downtime, and manage urgent and emergency procurement requirements.
Identify, evaluate, qualify, and manage suppliers of MRO materials and services.
Negotiate pricing, delivery schedules, payment terms, and supplier agreements; develop and maintain relationships with key suppliers.
Monitor supplier performance and address delivery, quality, or service issues; establish alternative sources of supply to support business continuity.
Coordinate and maintain appropriate inventory levels, including minimum, maximum, and safety stock requirements.
Work with Maintenance and Warehouse teams to ensure critical spare parts are readily available, prevent stockouts, and minimize excess and obsolete inventory.
Support inventory accuracy and cycle count programs, and maintain material master data and purchasing records.
Collaborate with Maintenance personnel to support preventive and corrective maintenance activities.
Ensure purchased materials and services meet technical specifications and operational requirements.
Support plant reliability initiatives and respond quickly to unplanned equipment failures and production interruptions.
Analyze MRO spending, identify cost-reduction opportunities, and support standardization of parts, materials, and suppliers.
Recommend cost-effective products, services, and technical alternatives; participate in purchasing and inventory-management continuous improvement initiatives.
Support working-capital improvement efforts through effective inventory management.
Ensure compliance with company procurement policies, procedures, and approval requirements; maintain accurate records and procurement traceability.
Support internal and external audits as required.
Track and report procurement and inventory metrics; develop and maintain reports on supplier performance and purchasing effectiveness.
Monitor and analyze KPIs, including purchase order lead time, supplier on-time delivery, cost savings, inventory turnover, material availability, and service-level performance.
Provide recommendations and action plans based on performance data.