Buyer

Twin City Fan Companies, Ltd.; Brookings (SD); On-site; USD 58,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401K plan

Paid vacation

Volunteer time

Job summary

Twin City Fan Companies, Ltd. is seeking an experienced Buyer to manage purchasing execution and maintain supplier and production continuity at our Brookings, SD site.

You will navigate Epicor and Passport, reconcile data across systems, and drive improvements in material availability and delivery performance. This role requires 2–4 years of direct purchasing in manufacturing, ERP/MRP experience, and strong Excel skills.

Qualifications

• Two to four years of direct purchasing or buying experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Three or more years of business experience.
• Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent relevant experience considered.
• Experience using an ERP or MRP system to manage purchasing activities.
• Epicor Kinetic and/or Passport experience preferred; experience working across multiple systems is a strong advantage.
• Working proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook, including the ability to sort, filter, compare, and review purchasing information.
• Understanding of purchase orders, material planning, lead times, inventory management, and supplier delivery performance.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, and follow-through.
• Clear, professional communication with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and remain effective under pressure.
• Sound judgment, ethical decision-making, and willingness to escale issues appropriately.

Responsibilities

• Manage purchasing execution: review material requirements, place POs with approved suppliers, obtain acknowledgments, maintain pricing, quantities, delivery dates, and order status.
• Navigate multiple systems and processes: Epicor, Passport, spreadsheets, and manual reports; validate information and investigate discrepancies.
• Maintain material availability by monitoring open orders, shortages, supplier commitments, and changing requirements; expedite or adjust orders as needed.
• Resolve supply disruptions by investigating constraints, developing recovery actions with suppliers and internal teams, and escalating risks with recommendations.
• Communicate proactively with scheduling, operations, sales, and purchasing leadership about delivery changes and recovery plans.
• Coordinate demand and ordering with scheduling and plant operations to align production priorities and demand changes.
• Support supplier performance by holding suppliers to PO terms and documenting recurring issues and corrective actions.
• Assist with quality resolution by coordinating replacements, returns, credits, and follow-ups between suppliers, quality, and operations.
• Identify improvement opportunities; recommend cost savings, sourcing alternatives, and process improvements to category owners and leadership.

Skills

Purchasing experience

ERP/MRP familiarity

Epicor Kinetic/Passport

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Epicor Kinetic

Passport

Excel

Job description

deal Candidate

An experienced manufacturing buyer who is willing to get into the details while maintaining structure and control over purchasing activities. This person can shift priorities as production needs change, reconcile information across systems, and keep suppliers and internal stakeholders informed. They take initiative, ask thoughtful questions, and identify practical improvements while continuing to manage daily purchasing responsibilities. Strong buying fundamentals are essential; an interest in developing broader sourcing and supplier management skills is preferred.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage purchasing execution. Review material requirements, place purchase orders with approved suppliers, obtain acknowledgments, and maintain accurate pricing, quantities, delivery dates, and order status.
• Navigate multiple systems and processes. Work effectively in Epicor, Passport, spreadsheets, and manual reports. Validate information across sources and investigate discrepancies before taking action.
• Maintain material availability. Monitor open orders, shortages, supplier commitments, and changing requirements. Expedite, reschedule, or recommend order adjustments to support production and inventory objectives.
• Resolve supply disruptions. Investigate constraints, develop recovery actions with suppliers and internal teams, and escale risks with clear recommendations when additional support is needed.
• Communicate proactively. Keep scheduling, operations, sales, and purchasing leadership informed of delivery changes, lead times, shortages, and recovery plans.
• Coordinate demand and ordering. Partner with scheduling and plant operations to understand production priorities and demand changes, improving order timing and quantities.
• Support supplier performance. Hold suppliers accountable to purchase order terms, delivery commitments, and other agreed requirements. Document recurring issues and support corrective actions.
• Assist with quality resolution. Serve as the purchasing contact between suppliers, quality and operations to coordinate replacements, returns, credits, and follow-up actions.
• Identify improvement opportunities. Recommend cost savings, sourcing alternatives, and process improvements to the category owners and purchasing leadership and support implementation.
• Maintain purchasing discipline. Keep purchase order records and assigned purchasing data current, document decisions, and follow established approval requirements.
• Demonstrate TCF Core Values. Act with integrity, accountability, respect, and a commitment to customers and coworkers.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Two to four years of direct purchasing or buying experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Three or more years of business experience.
• Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent relevant experience considered.
• Experience using an ERP or MRP system to manage purchasing activities.
• Epicor Kinetic and/or Passport experience preferred; experience working across multiple systems is a strong advantage.
• Working proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook, including the ability to sort, filter, compare, and review purchasing information.
• Understanding of purchase orders, material planning, lead times, inventory management, and supplier delivery performance.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, and follow-through.
• Clear, professional communication with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and remain effective under pressure.
• Sound judgment, ethical decision-making, and willingness to escale issues appropriately.

Key Attributes for Success

• Flexible and agile: Adjusts to changing priorities and works effectively with both manual and automated processes.
• Proactive: Investigates issues and takes action without waiting for repeated direction.
• Disciplined: Maintains accurate records and follows through on commitments.
• Resourceful: Works through incomplete or conflicting information and knows when to seek help.
• Collaborative: Builds productive relationships with suppliers and internal teams.
• Improvement-minded: Identifies practical ways to reduce repetitive work, improve accuracy, and prevent recurring problems.

Measures of Success

• Materials are available to support production requirements.
• Purchase orders and delivery commitments are accurate and current.
• Supply risks are identified early, communicated clearly, and actively managed.
• Supplier and quality issues receive timely follow-through.
• Purchasing activities remain organized across both ERP systems.
• Practical improvements strengthen purchasing accuracy and efficiency.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Standard office environment with periodic interaction on the manufacturing floor.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 20 pounds.
• Ability to occasionally climb, balance, stoop, kneel, and reach.
• Ability to work for extended periods at a computer.

As a Buyer you will be offered pay of $58,000-70,000K dependent on experience. You will also be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus tied to overall performance of the organization.

At Twin City Fan we want our employees to achieve their personal best and strive to offer programs that support our employees and their families. We offer a full benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401K plan with employer match, as well as short/long term disability. Employees also have access to benefits such as employee assistance programs, education reimbursement, paid vacation, holiday pay, and volunteer time. Other exciting benefits TCF offers include a homeownership savings program, pet insurance, and more!

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.