Buyer, MRO

Blue Bird Corporation•Troy, MI

13h•Onsite

About The Position

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com. JOB SUMMARY Reporting to the Senior Manager, Purchasing, the Buyer, MRO coordinates and supports procurement and distribution activities for Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) goods, building maintenance, tools, and indirect services supporting the Thunderbird program and Troy operations. This role focuses on streamlining procurement methods, managing the end-to-end purchase order (PO) lifecycle, and resolving invoice discrepancies. The successful candidate will lead sourcing activities, evaluate bid proposals, negotiate commercial terms, and collaborate with legal to finalize vendor agreements. This role also serves as the procurement Super User for indirect commodities, monitors tool crib and logistics activity, and drives continuous process improvements across multiple departments to support production timelines.

Requirements

Ability to perform basic financial and data analysis to identify cost-reduction opportunities.
Strong written and verbal communication skills to maintain alignment between suppliers and internal business units.
Proven ability to multitask, prioritize urgent requests, and thrive in a fast-paced industrial environment.
Capability to effectively evaluate, select, negotiate with, and approve qualified MRO vendors.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (data tracking) and modern enterprise procurement platforms.
Bachelor degree in Supply Chain or Business Related field, required
Minimum of 3 years’ experience working in purchasing, materials management, planning, or an indirect procurement role.
All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience with LN, preferred
Prior experience managing contract negotiations and vendor service level agreements, preferred
Ability to anticipate and understand customer needs and provide guidance
Excellent interpersonal and customer relationship skills to handle difficult and sensitive matters.
Strong project management skills. Exposure to difficult or complex projects a plus.
Ability to influence stakeholders
Effective communication and ability to communicate complex details in a clear manner.
Working in a collaborative team and balancing the needs of individual stakeholders while delivering corporate objectives.

Responsibilities

Execute, convert, and manage PO revisions utilizing LN and B-BOND systems; expedite deliveries to ensure critical project and production timelines are met.
Implement and oversee contracts for indirect goods and services, ensuring all administration procedures are executed accurately and in a timely manner.
Process new supplier onboarding requests, evaluate vendor performance, and leverage strong supplier relationships to drive cost-savings initiatives.
Monitor tool crib and logistics activity to ensure optimal stock levels of critical operational and maintenance supplies.
Review incoming bid proposals, verify pricing on indirect purchases, and resolve invoice price discrepancies directly with accounting and vendors.
Act as the internal Super User for indirect commodities, partnering with multiple internal departments to spearhead procurement process improvements.