Entry Level Buyer

Solar Turbines•Houston, TX

About The Position

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc. When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it. Job Purpose This position is responsible for day-to-day and strategic supplier management including, but not limited to: purchase order placement, follow-up, and issue resolution; communication of demand and forecasts; preparing contracts and assist in negotiating contract terms; managing supplier relationships and performance metrics; communicating and mitigating risk that could impact Solar’s ability to meet the business plan. Dimensions Spend & Contractual Commitments: Typically between $5M-30M People: This position supports multiple internal business groups, engages in cross functional interactions, and provides back-up coverage for other Buyers. Suppliers: Can be Sole, Single, Dual, Multiple source. Can provide direct and/or indirect goods & services and could involve Third Party Intermediaries (TPIs). Buyer-Supplier Relationships: Arms-Length, Preferred Suppliers, Partnerships, Strategic Alliances. Supplier Complexity & Risk: Works with suppliers that fall within the following Portfolio Analysis categories: Acquisition, Leverage, Critical, Strategic. Balance of Power: Works with suppliers across the spectrum (Buyer, Neutral, Seller). Nature and Scope A Buyer acts with a sense of urgency and is diligent in providing timely support to internal clients and external customers. This individual operates in compliance with corporate and Supply Chain policies and procedures. A Buyer may manage relationships of several non-strategic suppliers as well as a select few strategic or complex suppliers. This position may be located centrally or in regional offices. This individual has no direct reports, but works within a team structure typically including a Sourcing Specialist, Supply Chain Coordinator/Planner, Supplier Technical Engineer, Supplier Development Engineer, and reports directly to a Site Sourcing Manager or Supply Chain Manager. There is an expectation to participate on projects from conception to completion that directly support to organizational objectives. The primary functions of the job include but are not limited to: Supply Chain Management: Applies advanced Supply Chain concepts and performs complex analyses to develop procurement strategies ensuring supplier capacity that supports Purchase Order (PO) commitments. Proactively identifies internal clients and external customers’ expectations and value drivers and meets commitments to both. Provides timely updates to the business of pertinent customer & supplier information. Identifies risks from financial, business continuation, and compliance perspectives. Develops strategies to manage key current and ongoing risks, ensuring appropriate input from specialists, as required. Maintains all detailed documentation for performing in the role. Contract Management: Identifies and utilizes appropriate standard Solar contracts, supports with required minor contract changes while protecting clients by engaging specialist advise. Maintains contracts and PO’s, provides status updates, and acts ethically during all stages of contract management. Negotiation: Able to collect and synthesize a complete data package as well as assist in developing the strategy in preparation of negotiation. Identifies and uses different negotiating styles, key negotiating techniques, and plays a support role in negotiations. Demonstrates understanding of risk. Supplier Selection & Management: Supporting role of supplier selection process and integral part of managing the relationships of existing suppliers. Identifies opportunities for supplier collaboration. Manages the performance of low to moderate complex suppliers. Cost Management: Applies business strategies to daily activities, understands key factors influencing make-buy decisions. Uses knowledge of the supplier and their capabilities to align day-to-day activities with business objectives. Identifies components of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and applies basic financial principles in TCO models. Purchasing Execution: Efficiently executes PO’s through the order life cycle including the resolution of medium complexity purchasing related grief issues with minimal assistance. Performs regular assessments of suppliers’ health and capabilities. Validates data integrity, identifies data gaps, and updates & corrects system data. The work environment is mostly office based, however this position may visit internal production areas as well as external supplier sites, which may involve domestic and/or international travel. Internal clients include, but not limited to, the following: Global Supply Chain, Finance, Global Enabling Systems, Logistics, Legal, Customer Services (Field Services, Overhaul & Repair, Service Parts), Manufacturing, Business Management, New Product Introduction & Design Engineering, Project Application Engineering, Test Engineering, Project Engineering, and external Suppliers. The primary challenges of this position include: Making sound decisions with the Business’ best interest in mind and knowing the impact decisions will have on organizational objectives. Improving and sustaining supplier performance with regards to Quality, Cost, Delivery and Field Support (when required). Achieving business commercial objectives where minimal supplier leverage exists. Management of supplier contracts and execution. Concurrently managing multiple critical priorities. Building relationships inside and outside of the Global Supply Chain Organization; influencing, persuading, and collaborating with others in order to support business objectives. The decisions that are made by the Buyer will be based on: Supply Chain Management, Site Sourcing Manager and/or Sourcing Specialist direction, Our Values in Action, Worldwide Procedures, Solar Policies, Quality Management System, other process documentation, import/export compliance guidelines as well as adherence to State, Federal, and international regulations. Failure to achieve results can normally be overcome without serious effect on Supply Chain performance. This position could use all or any of the following tools: ERP software, Windchill, Cognos (or other analytical tool), MS Office Suite, Lotus Notes or Outlook, Sourcing Tools, Virtual Conferencing (WebEx / Skype), industry research tools and codes, cost analysis and make/buy decision tools, supplier financial health reporting (D&B, 10-k, 10-Q, etc), travel expense reporting tools. Principal Accountabilities Continuously practices and demonstrates Safety and acts in adherence to Our Values in Action. Effectively evaluates, improves, and sustains supplier performance, including but not limited to: Quality, Cost, Delivery, Lead-time, Bid & Proposal Turn-times, Project & Field Support, etc. Identifies opportunities for cost reduction. Seeks assistance to utilize cost modeling techniques, and analyze TCO to ensure the best overall value to Solar. Manages and maintains the supplier relationship at a day-to-day and strategic level. Day-to-day activities include purchase order issuance and maintenance, grief resolution, and business review meetings. Strategic activities include working with the Supply Chain Leadership and/or Sourcing Specialist to define the buyer-supplier relationship that determines as well as executes the strategic direction (Hold, Grow, Consolidate, Exit). Assists and participates in commercial negotiations and is accountable for contract execution and maintenance (NDA’s, GP’s, PSAs, JDAs, etc). Participates in and supports cross functional teaming in supplier development, problem resolution, and continuous improvement efforts. Supports NPI, global strategic sourcing, and supplier selection to ensure flexible capacity and consistent supply from qualified suppliers to support business objectives. Interpersonal and Analytical Skills Well-developed interpersonal skills are required in dealing with sensitive issues and reaching consensus on specific actions. Capability to influence or persuade suppliers and internal clients to effective solutions. Ability to collaborate in order to build constructive and inclusive business relationships. Demonstrates responsiveness and acts with a sense of urgency. Ability to provide and accept constructive criticism. Effective communicator in written and oral form. Dedicated to meeting and exceeding the expectations of external customers and internal clients. Ability to cope with change effectively and adjust to accommodate the unknown or unproven. Capable of setting priorities in order to support business requirements; can sense what will help or hinder achieving a goal, sets reasonable priorities and can plan what needs to be done in order of importance. Holds self and others accountable to commitments in support of business objectives. Uses rigorous logic and methods for analyzing and solving problems. Can unearth root cause to assess risk to the business and works with team members to develop business continuation plans.

Requirements

The position requires a Bachelor’s degree
Experience with ERP software and proficiency with MS Office Suite (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Visio)
Fluent in Business English in written and oral form.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain or other related field
Prior internship or previous work experience in Supply Chain
Supply Chain Certification from a professional institution (APICS, IIPMR, ISCEA, ISM, etc)
Understanding and demonstration of 6-Sigma and Lean Manufacturing principles.
6-Sigma Blackbelt Certification

Responsibilities

Effectively evaluates, improves, and sustains supplier performance, including but not limited to: Quality, Cost, Delivery, Lead-time, Bid & Proposal Turn-times, Project & Field Support, etc.
Identifies opportunities for cost reduction.
Seeks assistance to utilize cost modeling techniques, and analyze TCO to ensure the best overall value to Solar.
Manages and maintains the supplier relationship at a day-to-day and strategic level.
Assists and participates in commercial negotiations and is accountable for contract execution and maintenance (NDA’s, GP’s, PSAs, JDAs, etc).
Participates in and supports cross functional teaming in supplier development, problem resolution, and continuous improvement efforts.
Supports NPI, global strategic sourcing, and supplier selection to ensure flexible capacity and consistent supply from qualified suppliers to support business objectives.