Buyer

Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, Inc.; Raleigh (NC); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company is seeking a Procurement Specialist to manage supplier relationships and negotiate purchasing agreements. This hybrid role, based in Raleigh, NC, requires extensive experience in strategic sourcing and a B.S. degree. The ideal candidate will have strong negotiation, analytical, and communication skills, coupled with proficiency in advanced Excel and ERP systems. A commitment to ethical purchasing practices and the ability to work closely with engineering and production planning teams is essential.

Qualifications

• 5 years' experience in Purchasing or related fields including Strategic Sourcing.
• C.P.M. or C.P.S.M. certification is a plus.
• Highly proficient in spoken and written English.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage supplier relationships.
• Negotiate procurement of commodities and services.
• Analyze procurement transactions for cost improvement.
• Provide management with market forecasts and price trends.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Analytical skills

Supplier relationship management

Technical knowledge

Communication skills

Education

B.S. Degree

Tools

Advanced Excel

Microsoft Teams

ERP software

Job description

PURPOSE OF POSITION

Procurement of manufacturing materials and/or services involving high value and/or complex technical characteristics requiring continuous and close contact with Engineering, Production Planning, and other key personnel to ensure that requirements to support our division operations are properly presented to and executed by supplier(s).

Responsibilities may include purchase of raw materials, MRO items, contracted services, subcontract manufacturing, etc.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Successfully develop and manage supplier relationships to best serve the needs of Corporate or Division objectives.
2. Negotiate procurement of major or minor commodities and/or services by properly balancing considerations of price, quality, service, delivery, payment terms, and commercial situations.
3. Be able to complete a comprehensive purchase contract covering all as facts of a purchase agreement, insuring legal and ethical requirements are met while still meeting company objectives.
4. Analyze and interpret industry conditions and state of the art advancements which may have an affect on design, lead time, cost.
5. Acquire a broad knowledge of supplier qualifications encompassing such items as sales and distribution policies, procedures, research and development support in order to ensure desired quality and delivery of assigned commodities.
6. Analyze and evaluate all elements of cost and all procurement transactions of assigned commodities for maximum cost improvement.
7. Maintain a general knowledge of technical requirements involved with assigned commodity responsibility so that requirements are fully understood by suppliers.
8. Provide management with forecasts of market conditions, price trends, and potential problem areas. Communicate detailed and sometimes technical information to internal customers to advance best practices and decision making.
9. Assist in training other Purchasing personnel

REQUIREMENTS

• Sound working knowledge of purchasing principles within a manufacturing environment including the ability to research, analyze, negotiate, and close various types of purchase efforts within the guidelines of good business and ethical practices.
• B.S. Degree and five (5) years’ experience in Purchasing or related field including Strategic Sourcing, Logistics, Inventory Management, Supplier Relationship Management, or Materials Management.
• C.P.M. or C.P.S.M. certification a plus
• Highly proficient in spoken and written English
• Technology adept including advanced Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP, etc.), Microsoft Teams, ERP, etc.

Position in Organization: Reports to Purchasing Manager

Work Schedule: Hybrid position with a minimum of three days per week in the office and up to two days remote.