Project Buyer

AKG North America Inc•Mebane, NC

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Project Buyer is responsible for developing and executing sourcing and supplier strategies for customer projects within Railway, Defense, Energy, and other strategic growth markets. The role supports projects from opportunity assessment and quotation through supplier selection, project execution, production launch, and customer acceptance. Working closely with Sales, Engineering, Commodity Management, Supplier Quality, Operations, Material Planning, and Logistics, the Project Buyer ensures supplier capabilities, sourcing strategies, compliance requirements, and project risks are addressed before customer commitments are made. The Project Buyer helps strengthen AKG's competitive position by developing supplier networks, identifying new sourcing opportunities, building industry relationships, and supporting faster, more competitive quotations while ensuring successful project execution.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, or related field.
Minimum of five (5) years of experience in Procurement, Supply Chain, Sourcing, Project Management, Engineering, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing, or a related field.
Experience managing suppliers, sourcing activities, and cross-functional projects within a manufacturing environment.
Strong sourcing, supplier management, negotiation, and commercial evaluation skills.
Experience leading RFX activities and supplier selection processes.
Ability to evaluate supplier capabilities, manufacturing processes, quality systems, and project risks.
Strong project management and organizational skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications, customer requirements, and project documentation.
Ability to effectively collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Operations, Sales, and Supply Chain teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting customer-driven projects preferred.
Experience within Railway, Defense, Aerospace, Energy, Automotive, Heavy Equipment, or other regulated industries preferred.

Responsibilities

Identify, evaluate, develop, and onboard suppliers capable of supporting current and future business opportunities.
Build and maintain relationships with suppliers, industry organizations, customers, and strategic business partners.
Partner with Commodity Managers to leverage existing suppliers while identifying and developing new suppliers when project requirements exceed current supply chain capabilities.
Attend trade shows, exhibitions, supplier conferences, customer events, and industry networking opportunities.
Identify new suppliers, technologies, manufacturing capabilities, and market opportunities that strengthen AKG's competitive position.
Develop and maintain a network of suppliers capable of supporting future customer programs before project requirements arise.
Lead procurement-related activities for assigned projects from project award through production launch and customer acceptance.
Develop and maintain project procurement plans, supplier action lists, sourcing plans, and risk mitigation activities.
Coordinate supplier deliverables, timing requirements, approvals, documentation, and project milestones.
Monitor supplier readiness throughout the project lifecycle.
Support prototype, validation, pre-production, first article, and production launch activities.
Ensure supplier activities support project schedules and customer commitments.
Support engineering change implementation and supplier coordination activities.
Review customer specifications and ensure supplier-related requirements are understood and implemented throughout the supply chain.
Coordinate supplier compliance with customer-specific requirements.
Support activities related to: PPAP submissions, First Article Inspection (FAI), Material and Process certifications, Traceability requirements, Supplier qualifications, Customer documentation requirements.
Support supplier audits, customer audits, project reviews, and compliance activities.
Identify supply chain risks during quotation, development, sourcing, and project execution phases.
Develop mitigation plans and support recovery activities when risks arise.
Support supplier diversification and second-source initiatives.
Monitor industry trends, customer expectations, regulatory developments, and emerging technologies.
Develop market intelligence related to suppliers, technologies, manufacturing capabilities, and industry requirements.
Support continuous improvement initiatives that improve sourcing effectiveness, supplier performance, project execution, and overall competitiveness.