Buyer II

Kasai North America, Inc; Murfreesboro (TN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

KASAI North America in Murfreesboro, TN seeks a Buyer II to lead sourcing and supplier management for key commodities. You will manage RFQs, evaluate proposals, negotiate pricing and terms, and drive program success with cross-functional teams.

Ideal candidates bring strong negotiation, analytics, and project-management skills, plus experience in cost modeling, TCO, supplier development, and risk management. Domestic travel up to 20% may be required.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in purchasing, sourcing, or supplier management.
• Experience leading complex negotiations.
• Ability to interpret quotations and supplier data.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute commodity strategies.
• Lead RFQs, quote analysis, and supplier selection.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and contracts to achieve total cost of ownership.
• Monitor supplier performance and drive continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve issues.

Skills

Negotiation

Cost analysis

Strategic sourcing

Supplier development

Stakeholder management

English fluency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Finance, or related field

Tools

ERP systems

E-sourcing tools

Job description

DESCRIPTION:

The Buyer II supports sourcing and supplier management activities for assigned commodities and programs to achieve competitive cost, quality, delivery, and supply continuity objectives. This role manages requests for quotation, analyzes supplier proposals, negotiates pricing and commercial terms within established authority, monitors supplier performance, supports new program launches, and works with cross-functional and global teams to resolve purchasing and supply issues.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and execute commodity and supplier strategies aligned with business objectives, customer requirements, program timing, and annual cost-reduction targets.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing activities, including requests for quotation, quote analysis, supplier selection, business-case development, sourcing recommendations, and contract award.
• Negotiate pricing, commercial terms, tooling, productivity commitments, and agreements to achieve competitive total cost of ownership and protect company interests.
• Create and maintain cost tables, benchmarks, market intelligence, and cost-driver analyses to support negotiations, budgeting, estimations, and global alignment.
• Build and optimize supplier panels; identify, evaluate, qualify, and develop suppliers based on capability, capacity, cost, quality, delivery, technology, financial health, and risk.
• Manage supplier performance using QCDDMR and other applicable metrics, provide formal annual feedback, and drive corrective actions and continuous improvement.
• Monitor supply, capacity, financial, geopolitical, tariff, quality, and delivery risks; develop mitigation and recovery plans to protect customer and production requirements.
• Partners with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Program Management, Finance, Logistics, Supply Chain, Sales, Legal and global purchasing teams to resolve issues and deliver program objectives.
• Support product launches, engineering changes, resourcing, supplier transitions, and other cross-functional initiatives through timely commercial decisions and execution.
• Track, analyze, and report purchasing KPIs, sourcing queues, agreements, supplier financials, savings performance, and assigned program milestones; escalates gaps with recommended actions.
• Prepare and present sourcing strategies, quote analyses, cost-reduction plans, resourcing proposals, supplier recommendations, and executive-ready business cases.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records and comply with company policies, procedures, ethical standards, customer-specific requirements, and applicable quality and environmental management systems.
• Perform other related duties and special projects as assigned by management.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Finance, or a related field preferred; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.

Experience:

• 3 or more years of progressive purchasing, strategic sourcing, supply chain, engineering, logistics, or manufacturing experience, preferably in the automotive industry.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex negotiations, cost analysis, supplier performance management, and cross-functional sourcing initiatives.

Skills:

• Advanced negotiation, analytical, financial, problem-solving, and project-management skills.
• Strong knowledge of strategic sourcing, supplier development, contract terms, cost modeling, manufacturing processes, and total cost of ownership.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications, quotations, market data, and supplier financial information.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to communicate concise recommendations to all organizational levels.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; experience with enterprise resource planning and electronic sourcing systems preferred.
• Ability to prioritize multiple programs and deadlines, work independently, exercise sound judgment, and maintain attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor others, influence cross-functional teams, and promote continuous improvement.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Other:

• Prior automotive purchasing or manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Professional procurement or supply-chain certification is preferred.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 20%, as business needs require.

Work Environment:

This position operates in office and manufacturing environments and routinely uses standard office equipment. Visits to production and supplier locations may involve exposure to moving equipment, varying temperatures, and elevated noise levels; required personal protective equipment must be worn.

Physical Demands:

The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must frequently lift or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds. The employee may be required to work in hot environments.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position. The employee may be required to follow other instructions and perform other related duties as assigned by management.