Purchasing Agent/Buyer

Dairy Farmers of America•Bruce, WI

About The Position

This role is responsible for purchasing materials or other goods, including raw materials, equipment, tools, parts, and supplies. The Purchasing Agent/Buyer will partner closely with internal groups such as sales and operational planning, strategic procurement, distribution, sales, and operations teams to ensure optimal inventory levels are maintained to meet business requirements. This involves communicating with vendors to obtain product or service information, including price, availability, and delivery schedules.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED required
1 to 2 years of purchasing/expediting work experience
Knowledge and demonstrated abilities in various software applications, including Excel
Must be able to read, write and speak English

Nice To Haves

SAP knowledge preferred
3 to 5 years of experience in a manufacturing environment with knowledge of blueprints and procurement practices preferred
Certification and/or License – may be required during course of employment
Sound knowledge of procurement, supply chain, and general business principles
Knowledge of vendor product, services, and reliability
Knowledge of and skill with Microsoft Office Suite and ability to operate general office equipment
Skill in critical thinking, analysis, and problem solving
Able to negotiate
Able to organize time, energy, and resources effectively to achieve goals (i.e., organizational skills)
Able to prioritize work effectively
Able to work under tight deadlines
Able to be flexible, dependable, and have good attendance
Able to work independently
Able to interact positively and work effectively with others (interpersonal skills)
Able to respond courteously and efficiently to inquiries, complaints, and requests
Able to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing
Able to work with accuracy and attention to detail

Responsibilities

Coordinate all purchasing activities, review and process purchase requisitions, and place purchase orders.
Recommend and/or determine method of procurement, such as direct purchase or bid.
Expedite orders where required to ensure constant supply against schedule changes.
Review and manage invoice issues, shipping errors, late deliveries, replacement of materials not meeting company specifications, and cancellation of orders, keeping stakeholders updated throughout the process.
Ensure appropriate inventory levels are attained and managed, meeting or exceeding procurement and inventory key performance indicators (KPIs).
Actively participate in the resolution of aging inventory.
Negotiate prices within budgetary limitations and scope of authority; create competitive bidding situations to ensure lowest total costs.
Develop and maintain effective logistics storage and inventory plan that optimizes freight costs.
Maintain procurement records, such as items or services purchased, costs, delivery, product quality or performance, and inventories.
Discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services with internal groups, vendors, and others to determine source of trouble and take corrective action.
Monitor market standards and trends, changes in business practices of supported area(s), new sources, new systems, new or altered types of materials entering the market, etc., to identify and recommend ways of reducing prices of goods purchased and costs of operations through standardization of material and value analysis.
Maintain market intelligence and report changes in pricing levels. Identify potential problem areas or conditions which could adversely affect the company’s procurement position. Recommend and take corrective actions.
Interview existing and new vendors to obtain information regarding product quality and price and to ensure vendor performance is consistently satisfactory. Evaluate and make appropriate changes for the most cost effective and best quality service.
Maintain, re-evaluate, and expand reliable qualified sources of supply and secondary sources as back up.
Collect and compile information for vendor performance annual reviews from internal departments on the quality of vendor products and services. Initiate reports and distribute to proper personnel for their review and action.
Participate in continuous improvement projects and discussions within operational procurement and provide input into procurement strategies.