Buyer - North Region

ORR Protection•Louisville, KY

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Buyer supports ORR Protection’s operations and customer commitments by ensuring the timely and cost-effective procurement of materials, components, and services. The role helps maintain vendor partnerships and supports the company’s quality, service, and financial objectives. It regularly collaborates with Operations, Project Management, Warehouse Operations, Finance, other internal stakeholders, and external suppliers and vendors. The position is hybrid and based in Louisville, Kentucky. The Buyer sources and purchases goods and services, manages supplier relationships, analyzes costs and market conditions, and supports budgeting, forecasting, and procurement-process improvements. The role generally operates during regular business hours, with occasional flexibility for urgent purchasing needs, supplier issues, or operational deadlines. Occasional travel to company locations or other business-related sites may be required.

Requirements

Experience sourcing suppliers, evaluating quotes, negotiating commercial terms, and managing purchase orders is required.
Experience working with enterprise resource planning, purchasing, or inventory management systems is required.
Strong knowledge of purchasing principles, procurement practices, supplier management, and purchase order processes.
Strong negotiation and analytical skills, including the ability to evaluate pricing, supplier terms, lead times, quality, and total cost.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Effective written and verbal communication skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.
Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and collaborate effectively across departments.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, supply chain management, procurement, finance, or a related field preferred; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
Five or more years of experience in purchasing, procurement, buying, supply planning, or a related field preferred.

Responsibilities

Review and analyze purchase requisitions and generate accurate purchase orders.
Source, evaluate, and select vendors that meet quality, price, service, and delivery requirements.
Monitor inventory levels and purchasing needs to help prevent material shortages and excess inventory.
Ensure timely delivery of materials, components, and services, and follow up with vendors regarding late or incomplete orders.
Coordinate with Operations, Project Management, Warehouse, and other internal stakeholders to understand purchasing requirements, priorities, and timelines.
Maintain accurate records of purchases, pricing, lead times, purchase orders, and other relevant purchasing data.
Ensure purchasing activities follow company policies, approval requirements, and documentation standards.
Develop and maintain effective relationships with vendors and suppliers.
Negotiate pricing, discounts, payment terms, delivery schedules, and other commercial terms with vendors.
Monitor supplier performance related to quality, cost, responsiveness, and on-time delivery.
Communicate expectations to suppliers and address performance concerns when requirements are not met.
Resolve purchase invoice discrepancies, shipping errors, damaged materials, product-quality concerns, and other order-related issues with vendors.
Analyze market trends, supplier pricing, material availability, and lead times to inform purchasing decisions.
Compare supplier quotes and evaluate total cost, quality, availability, and delivery considerations when making purchasing recommendations.
Identify opportunities for cost savings, supplier consolidation, improved purchasing terms, and greater efficiency.
Prepare reports on purchasing activity, spending trends, cost savings, and supplier performance.
Support purchasing-related budgeting, forecasting, and cost-management activities.
Identify opportunities to automate purchasing activities, strengthen internal controls, and improve procurement processes.
Monitor price changes and communicate potential cost or supply impacts to appropriate internal stakeholders.
Perform other duties as assigned as business needs require.