Buyer

Vulcan Elements; Benson (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Vulcan Elements, a U.S.-based manufacturer of rare-earth magnets, is seeking a Buyer to support production ramp and procurement for direct materials. You will manage PO lifecycle and collaborate with Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Logistics. The role focuses on RFQs/RFPs, price/lead-time negotiations, on-time delivery, and supplier qualification.

You will help identify cost-saving opportunities and maintain organized procurement records. Must be a U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, Finance, or a related field preferred.
• 2+ years of experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain, materials management, or a related role, preferably within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience purchasing direct materials, components, or production-related goods and services.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel or similar analytical tools, including the ability to organize and analyze purchasing and supplier data.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with changing priorities and aggressive production ramp schedules.
• Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.

Responsibilities

• Execute purchasing activities for direct materials, components, production supplies, and other manufacturing requirements in accordance with production plans and business needs.
• Create, issue, maintain, and close purchase orders (POs) while ensuring pricing, quantities, delivery dates, payment terms, and other commercial requirements are accurate.
• Proactively track open purchase orders and supplier commitments to ensure materials arrive on time and production requirements are met.
• Identify potential late deliveries, material shortages, and supply disruptions and elevate risks before they impact manufacturing operations.
• Lead and administer RFQs/RFPs, including preparing bid packages, soliciting supplier proposals, coordinating technical and commercial responses, and developing bid comparisons.
• Negotiate pricing, minimum order quantities, lead times, payment terms, freight arrangements, and other commercial conditions within established sourcing strategies.
• Work closely with Planning and Manufacturing to translate production requirements and MRP demand into purchasing actions.
• Coordinate with Engineering and Quality to ensure purchased materials meet drawings, specifications, quality requirements, and approved supplier requirements.
• Coordinate with Logistics and Operations to resolve shipping, receiving, customs, packaging, and delivery issues.
• Work with Finance and Accounts Payable to resolve invoice discrepancies, pricing differences, receiving issues, and payment holds.
• Support supplier corrective actions and recovery plans when delivery or performance issues arise.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction, lead-time improvement, order consolidation, inventory optimization, and process improvement.
• Assist with supplier onboarding, documentation, compliance requirements, and maintenance of approved supplier information.
• Maintain organized procurement records, including quotations, purchase orders, supplier correspondence, contracts, and sourcing documentation.

Skills

Procurement

Excel

Supply chain

Negotiation

RFQ/RFPs

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Tools

ERP systems

MRP

SAP

Job description

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets to enable a secure and resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resilience, we serve critical industries including defense, aerospace, and automotive—powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence, and Transparency.

As a Buyer, you will be responsible for executing purchasing activities that support Vulcan Elements’ manufacturing operations and continued production ramp. You will manage the procure-to-pay lifecycle for direct materials, components, supplies, and other production requirements, working closely with Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Logistics.

Responsibilities

• Execute purchasing activities for direct materials, components, production supplies, and other manufacturing requirements in accordance with production plans and business needs.
• Create, issue, maintain, and close purchase orders (POs) while ensuring pricing, quantities, delivery dates, payment terms, and other commercial requirements are accurate.
• Proactively track open purchase orders and supplier commitments to ensure materials arrive on time and production requirements are met.
• Identify potential late deliveries, material shortages, and supply disruptions and elevate risks before they impact manufacturing operations.
• Lead and administer RFQs/RFPs, including preparing bid packages, soliciting supplier proposals, coordinating technical and commercial responses, and developing bid comparisons.
• Negotiate pricing, minimum order quantities, lead times, payment terms, freight arrangements, and other commercial conditions within established sourcing strategies.
• Work closely with Planning and Manufacturing to translate production requirements and MRP demand into purchasing actions.
• Coordinate with Engineering and Quality to ensure purchased materials meet drawings, specifications, quality requirements, and approved supplier requirements.
• Coordinate with Logistics and Operations to resolve shipping, receiving, customs, packaging, and delivery issues.
• Work with Finance and Accounts Payable to resolve invoice discrepancies, pricing differences, receiving issues, and payment holds.
• Support supplier corrective actions and recovery plans when delivery or performance issues arise.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction, lead-time improvement, order consolidation, inventory optimization, and process improvement.
• Assist with supplier onboarding, documentation, compliance requirements, and maintenance of approved supplier information.
• Maintain organized procurement records, including quotations, purchase orders, supplier correspondence, contracts, and sourcing documentation.

Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, Finance, or a related field preferred.
• 2+ years of experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain, materials management, or a related role, preferably within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience purchasing direct materials, components, or production-related goods and services.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel or similar analytical tools, including the ability to organize and analyze purchasing and supplier data.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with changing priorities and aggressive production ramp schedules.

Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.