Project Buyer

Gutor•Houston, TX

137d•$85,000 - $100,000

About The Position

A Proactive and Detail-oriented Customer Project Buyer supporting our Gutor Project Managers, Engineers, and Sales teams in fulfilling customer-specific procurement needs in and Engineer-to-Order(ETO) environment. This role is critical in ensuring timely and cost-effective sourcing of a high mix of low-volume components, often with unique specifications and tight delivery schedules once designs are completed. The Customer Project Buyer will act as a key interface between project management, engineering, and suppliers, ensuring alignment with project timelines, budgets, and quality standards. Focusing on both direct and indirect supply needs, negotiating contracts with suppliers in assigned technologies. Indirect procurement responsibilities may include sourcing services, tooling, consumables, and other non-product-related materials essential to project execution and operational continuity. The position requires a continuous evaluation and adjustment of priorities and duties, based on a dynamic environment and dynamic customer requirements. Thriving in a complex, low-volume, high-mix environment, juggling multiple priorities and collaborating across departments to ensure seamless project execution while maintaining exceptional attention to detail. A strong collaborative team player who thrives in a fast-paced setting with a focus on multi-tasking, responsiveness, and stakeholder communication is essential.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration or related field.
Minimum 3-5 years of experience
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; Previous experience in project-based negotiation with proven track record.
Able to negotiate, establish, and process contracts
Able to prioritize and manage time efficiently
Detail oriented with strong organizational skills.
Ability to work collaboratively in a fast paced environment
Willingness to travel occasionally for supplier visits or industry events: ~10% travel
Fluent in English; additional languages (Spanish, German, French or Mandarin) are a plus

Nice To Haves

Experience with SAP systems and Microsoft Dynamics 365 (preferred)
Certification in procurement (e.g., CIPS, CPM) is a plus
Solid knowledge and understanding of purchasing processes, policy, and systems
Highly organized and able to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
Customer-focused mindset with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
Collaborative team player with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
Strong communication skills, both verbal and written
Detail oriented with high level of accuracy in work.

Responsibilities

Project & Customer Support Lead and act as the primary procurement interface for project managers, engineers, and sales teams on large bids.
Translate customer-specific requirements into actionable procurement quotes.
Ensure timely quoting, negotiation and tracking of quotes for material and services.
Procurement & Supply Chain Execution Manage purchasing activities including supplier selection, bids and awards. Including influencing the decisions of the supplier selection Support providing Forecasts of material to the Supply Chain Team based on project schedules and sales input, as needed.
Coordinate with logistics and finance teams to ensure accurate receiving and payment of 3rd party goods.
Support indirect procurement needs such as services, tooling, and operational supplies, as required Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with engineering, project managers, quality, and sales teams to align procurement with technical and commercial requirements.
Participate in project meetings, as needed, to stay informed of changes in scope, timelines, and priorities.
Provide regular updates on procurement status, risks and mitigation plans.
Support Engineering change processes and manage the impact on procurement, influencing early – stage discussions for cost-effective sourcing linked to overall Gutor Supplier Strategies.
Supplier Management & Negotiation Identify, evaluate, and manage suppliers on technologies/categories assigned to meet project/plant needs.
Clearly define and provide a documented sourcing strategy to management on assigned technologies/categories.
Monitor supplier performance and resolve delivery or quality issues proactively.
Develop strong relationships and establish material replenishment methods with vendors and suppliers Developing, sharing and executing sourcing strategy for assigned technologies Continuous Prioritization & Adaptability Continuously evaluate and adjust priorities based on evolving customer orders and project dynamics.
Manage multiple projects simultaneously, balancing urgency, complexity, and resource availability.
Ensure the involvement of the purchasing function as early as possible in the project stage.
Identifying potential risks in the procurement process and proposing risk mitigation strategies, while ensuring compliance with regulatory and company policies.
Support of general activities in the procurement department as required to maintain business.
Act as the procurement representative in customer onsite audits, updating the results to management.
Additional, sourcing and projects as required, to maintain the plant operations and company targets Support corporate sustainability goals by sourcing environmentally friendly materials and promoting ethical sourcing practices.
Ensure compliance with international trade regulations, export controls, and customer-specific requirements.