Senior Buyer - NPI Sourcing

Intuitive•Sunnyvale, CA

About The Position

This role is accountable for procuring materials, components, and equipment for new product introductions. The Senior Buyer will gather quotations, understand key supplier capabilities, and match those capabilities to new designs and project schedules. Responsibilities include tracking and updating orders, delivery commitments, and inventory receipts within and outside of the MRP system, ensuring adequate supply for production ramp-up of new products. This position works in partnership with Strategic Sourcing to ensure the appropriate supplier strategy is utilized for new product release and scale-up to production. The role establishes material requirements from engineering and new product build schedules, maintaining inventory at planned levels. It also evaluates supplier reliability and collaborates with Supplier Development Engineering and Strategic Sourcing to develop new supply sources as needed. The Senior Buyer monitors cost, schedule, and scope of assigned new products and projects, ensuring material availability for production release in time to meet project schedules. This role is a key member of a high-performance team.

Requirements

10-12 years experience in supply chain management of which a minimum with specific expertise in new product introduction (NPI), R&D and/or engineering environments with a demonstrated successful track record of increasing responsibility.
Minimum BS in business, mechanical or electrical engineering or equivalent education/experience.
Must have significant computer experience using Windows, Word, Excel (advanced skills preferred) and ERP Information Systems, preferably SAP and Agile.
MS Office skills (MS Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel)
Excel (Vlookups, Pivot Tables, Charts, and filtering)
Experience working with engineers and manufacturing resources for prototype parts procurement, pilot activities and production launch of new products.
Ability to enjoy and work effectively in a fast paced, chaotic environment of constant change.
Ability to manage change quickly and gracefully.
Experience with and a functional knowledge of the manufacturing processes utilized by the suppliers of mechanical components (precision machining, sheet metal, plastic injection molding and other plastics processes, etc), contract manufacturing, OEM, cables, PCA, etc.
Familiar with project management techniques for new product introduction.
ECO implementation experience required.
Familiarity with contract and cost negotiation techniques.
Excellent oral and written communication skills a must.
Ability to communicate at both high (strategic) and detailed (tactical) levels and the ability to know when one or the other is appropriate.
Diplomacy and “grace under fire” a must.
Detail oriented with demonstrated ability to proactively follow-up on areas of responsibility in a timely manner.
Ability to perform repetitive computer data entry and place phone calls for 50+% of the workday.
Ability to move across the factory, move materials, transfer packages up to 35 lbs., and read and have a basic knowledge of engineering drawings.

Responsibilities

Uses developed forecasts and proper planning techniques to ensure that optimal inventory levels are available to meet engineering and production ramp up requirements.
Applies extensive new product introduction/R&D purchasing experience to minimize material run times and insure on time delivery of material to help with NPI project schedules.
Works with engineering to assist suppliers in developing efficient fabrication processes.
Identifies second sources for critical components as necessary.
Participates in the continuous improvement of current systems and processes.
Works with Strategic Sourcing to identify and qualify new supplier resources.
Identifies potential supplier capacity issues and works in conjunction with Strategic Sourcing to resolve these issues and insure no impact to project schedules.
Creates, updates, and publishes project material cost models.
Quickly and proactively, resolves and/or escalates issues related to delivery, supplier performance, quality or cost.
Insures and maintains accuracy of all applicable reports, purchase orders, component item master information, etc.
Work with engineering and production control to insure BOMs are accurate and will function in a production environment.
Provides direction and/or effectively delegate critical tasks as needed.
Be a functional, productive member of a high performance team.