Buyer I

Westlake Chemical; Lake Charles (LA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Westlake Chemical is seeking a purchasing professional to organize and monitor purchasing records, actively performing procurement activities and cultivating supplier relationships for timely deliveries.

The role requires a B.S./B.A. in a business or engineering field and a minimum of two years in purchasing/procurement, with SAP experience preferred. Strong communication and cost-control skills are essential, with exposure to SOX compliance.

Qualifications

• Effective communication skills, both written and oral.
• Strong business background involving realistic expectations and cost controls.
• Vendor management, materials management and/or inventory management is a plus.
• Experience working in the production industry is needed.
• Experience in using SAP is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manages the flow, recording, and processing of purchasing documents and negotiates with external suppliers.
• Leverages yearly purchases to achieve lowest total cost and recommends sourcing strategy.
• Prepares, submits for quotes, and purchases requisitioned materials and equipment.
• Expedites orders critical to plant operations and those behind schedule.
• Maintains a preferred vendor database and researches logistics information for plant departments.
• Assists Accounting with purchase/billing discrepancies and supports warehouse and other departments.

Skills

Effective communication

Cost controls

Vendor management

Business background

Education

B.S./B.A. in Business or Engineering

Tools

SAP

Job description

Westlake offers you the potential to enrich your work life and career experience in an entrepreneurial environment. We work together to enhance peoples' lives through our products and presence in the communities in which we operate.

SUMMARY

Organizes and monitors purchasing records distribution, recording, and files retention, and actively performs purchasing activities. Cultivates new and long-standing vendor relationships to attain the mutual professionalism required to assure timely deliveries.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

May include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Manages the flow, recording, and processing of purchasing documents. Controls and manages the purchasing activity with external suppliers. Negotiates purchases to the most economical advantage to the Company.
• Leverage yearly purchases to achieve lowest total cost for the purchase of goods (mostly store goods) through the identification of repeatable purchases, potential supply base and makes recommendations on the appropriate sourcing strategy.
• Prepares, submits for quotes, and purchases requisitioned materials and equipment following evaluation.
• Prepares bid comparisons based on evaluation derived from vendor's bids.
• Expedites orders that are critical to the operation of the Plants and those orders that are behind schedule.
• Prepares and maintains preferred vendor database based on previous cost, quality of service, reliability and types of goods and materials.
• Assists and researches logistical information in specific areas relating to all Plant departments.
• Assists Accounting in resolving purchase/billing discrepancies; warehouse stores and other departments in expediting, scheduling, contracts, and specifications.
• Assures that purchases have the proper D.O.A. approval levels applied and that the purchasing department complies with external guidelines, such as SOX and Frank-Dodd.
• Contacts vendors to obtain quotes, delivery schedules, and terms of payment. When appropriate, negotiates discounts, delivery schedules and terms.
• Develops thorough knowledge of the Company's ERP tools.
• No direct supervisory responsibilities, however, requires the ability to motivate and lead non-reports in the purchasing function as well as non-purchasing functions.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• B.S. / B.A. in Business related or Engineering field required.
• Minimum of 2 years purchasing/procurement experience required.
• Experience working in the production industry is needed.
• Effective communication skills, both written and oral.
• Strong business background involving realistic expectations and cost controls.
• Experience in using SAP is preferred.
• Vendor management, materials management and/or inventory management is a plus.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Incumbent may be required to travel via auto or airline on a limited basis.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. May be exposed to manufacturing environments on a limited basis.

Westlake is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable legislation.