Operations - Buyer Analyst III

Chemelex•McAllen, TX

7d•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. The Buyer works with Maintenance, Operations, Warehouse, Engineering, and Finance teams to ensure 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, and travel occasionally to Houston, Texas. A local office may be established in the future. The role covers MRO procurement, supplier and inventory management, maintenance and operations support, cost management and continuous improvement, purchasing compliance and documentation, and procurement and inventory reporting. The Buyer monitors performance measures such as purchase order lead time, supplier on-time delivery, cost savings, inventory turnover, material availability, and service-level performance, and recommends action plans based on performance data.

Requirements

Minimum 8 years of purchasing and procurement experience involving MRO materials.
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant education and experience will be considered.
Experience working with technical suppliers, maintenance contractors, and industrial equipment vendors.
Experience managing inventory and safety stock levels.
Proficiency with ERP systems; SAP 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.

Nice To Haves

Inventory management or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment.
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field.
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 for production and maintenance requirements; expedite purchases and deliveries to minimize downtime and manage urgent and emergency procurement.
Identify, evaluate, qualify, and manage suppliers of MRO materials and services.
Negotiate pricing, delivery schedules, payment terms, and supplier agreements; maintain relationships with key suppliers and address supplier delivery, quality, and service issues.
Establish alternative sources of supply to support business continuity.
Coordinate inventory levels, including minimum, maximum, and safety stock requirements, with Maintenance and Warehouse teams.
Prevent stockouts while minimizing excess and obsolete inventory; support inventory accuracy and cycle count programs.
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 and respond to equipment failures and production interruptions.
Analyze MRO spending and identify cost-reduction opportunities.
Support standardization of parts, materials, and suppliers; recommend cost-effective products, services, and technical alternatives.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives related to purchasing and inventory management, and support working capital improvement through effective inventory management.
Ensure compliance with company procurement policies, procedures, and approval requirements; maintain accurate records and traceability and support audits.
Track and report procurement and inventory metrics, including purchase order lead time, supplier on-time delivery, cost savings, inventory turnover, material availability, and service-level performance.
Develop and maintain reports on supplier performance and purchasing effectiveness and recommend actions based on performance data.