Commodity Buyer

Schneider Electric•Buffalo, NY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Commodity Buyer deploys and develops commodity strategy for assigned commodities. The role manages supplier relationships and negotiations, pilots the use of supplier panels in programs and series production during sourcing, and ensures supplier performance. It is responsible for subcontract sourcing, proposal evaluation, negotiation, award, execution, and administration of subcontract purchase orders from new-part production through the production environment. The position oversees timely procurement and on-time delivery for assigned commodities and suppliers with annual spend of $8 million, while supporting production needs affected by vendor performance and minimizing inventory impact. The Buyer leads strategic vendor agreements for stocking and pricing, assesses vendor performance, and leads supplier improvement activities to reduce production risk and uphold Motivair’s Terms and Conditions of Purchase. The role identifies cost-reduction, efficiency, and risk-management opportunities through targeted negotiations; maintains working relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders; and prepares detailed subcontract files to support management decisions and audits. It also manages invoice-to-pay matters, including payment terms, payment releases, and resolution of discrepancies; leads Buy American, Conflict Minerals Reporting, and other annual reporting; and participates in representative and certification activities for new business. This is an onsite role at the Cheektowaga, New York facility, with attendance required five days per week. The position reports to the Procurement Supervisor. The work takes place primarily at a desk using a computer and may involve sitting for long periods.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain or engineering.
At least 5 years of progressive build-to-print, subcontract, or procurement experience, or 10 years of relevant experience.
Ability to understand engineering data and assess required flow-downs to vendors.
Ability to understand customer commercial data and assess required flow-downs to vendors.
Experience working with an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
Experience understanding technical data.
Experience managing supplier development activities.
Demonstrated contract negotiation with savings.
Strong business acumen and knowledge of commodity markets.
Blueprint-reading ability and familiarity with an eDrawing viewer.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Negotiation skills and vendor relationship-management skills.
Understanding of the procurement lifecycle and procurement compliance activities.
Attention to detail, project-management skills, strong problem-solving and reporting skills, and excellent presentation and communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience with ISO 9001.
Preferred experience in an electrical commodity.
CPIM certification.

Responsibilities

Deploy and develop commodity strategy for assigned commodities.
Manage supplier relationships and negotiations, pilot supplier-panel utilization in programs and series production during sourcing, and ensure supplier performance.
Source subcontracts; evaluate proposals; negotiate, award, execute, and administer subcontract purchase orders from new-part production through the production environment.
Ensure timely procurement and on-time delivery for assigned commodities and suppliers with annual spend of $8 million.
Lead activities addressing production needs affected by vendor performance while minimizing impact to inventory position.
Negotiate strategic vendor agreements for stocking and pricing.
Assess vendor performance and lead vendor improvement activities to reduce production risks and uphold Motivair’s Terms and Conditions of Purchase.
Participate in representative and certification activities for new business.
Identify cost-reduction, efficiency-improvement, and risk-management opportunities through strategic and targeted negotiations.
Cultivate and maintain working relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders, including operations, engineering, and quality.
Prepare and maintain detailed subcontract files that support informed management decisions and successful audits.
Manage the invoice-to-pay process, ensuring accurate payment terms, release of payments, and resolution of discrepancies preventing payment.
Lead Buy American, Conflict Minerals Reporting, and other annual reporting requirements.
Perform other duties as assigned.