Senior Buyer

Solar Turbines•San Diego, CA

1d•$89,210 - $133,810•Onsite

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. Join Solar Turbines and become part of a global team dedicated to powering industries and communities around the world. We are innovators, problem solvers, and builders committed to engineering excellence and operational performance. At Solar Turbines, you’ll have the opportunity to make a measurable impact while growing your career in a dynamic, fast paced environment. Employees in this position work directly with a specific group of suppliers in the Investment Castings and Machining Supply Chain and cross functional clients daily to help ensure uninterrupted availability of material through the Global Supply Chain to worldwide locations in direct response to our customers’ requirements. The Senior Buyer have a direct impact on improving and sustaining supplier performance with impact on quality, cost, delivery, and ultimately to customer commitments and satisfaction. Role Definition Processes requisitions and provides support for purchasing, supply chain, sourcing, cost, price analyses and contract/purchase order generation.

Requirements

Analytical Thinking: Knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems.
Effective Communications: Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.
Negotiating: Knowledge of successful negotiation concepts and techniques; ability to negotiate successfully across the organization and with external vendors and clients in a constructive and collaborative manner.
Vendor/Supplier Management: Knowledge of external provider management processes and ability to effectively manage the business relationship with external providers (e.g., vendors, service providers, contractors, consultants, and suppliers).
Cost Management: Knowledge of cost management; ability to plan and control organizational costs in order to lower product and service costs and maximize return.
Procurement: Knowledge of buying and procurement; ability to work with organizational strategies and practices, and use tools for buying goods, supplies, equipment and services needed to conduct business.
Purchasing Tasks and Activities: Knowledge of policies, regulations and processes of purchasing; ability to use practices and procedures for procurement of materials, components, equipment and services.
A Bachelor’s degree with 2-5 years of purchasing experience or equivalent experience in similar business role.
Experience with ERP software and proficient with MS Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Visio).
Fluent in Business English in written and oral form.

Nice To Haves

Supply Chain Certification from a professional institution (ASCM, APICS, IIPMR, ISCEA, ISM, or comparable International Certification).
Affiliation(s) with ISM, ASCM/APICS or comparable professional purchasing organizations.
Demonstrated background(s) in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field.
Individual Contributor Behavior consisting of customer commitment, priority setting, proactiveness, accountability and professional growth.
6-Sigma certification as a Blackbelt or Greenbelt with project and team leadership experience.
Understanding and application of Lean Manufacturing principles.
Strong Communication and Analytical Skill Sets.
Proven Influencing and Interpersonal Skill Sets.

Responsibilities

Developing improvement plans to support buyers and professionals related to response time, lean targets, quality, cost, logistics, development, and management to enable optimal and efficient operations.
Performing analysis and maintenance of assigned processes that produce output excellence, builds expertise for the assign process area, and contributing to continuous improvement efforts.
Supporting customers and customer proposal efforts with pricing information and supplier selection.
Performing analytical and administrative tasks in support of purchasing strategic initiatives.