Indirect Buyer

Knorr Bremse Group; Grain Valley (MO); On-site; USD 57,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare plans

401k plan

Vacation and paid holidays

Parental leave

Employee stock plan

Job summary

KB Signaling is seeking a Professional Buyer – Indirect Procurement to drive strategic sourcing and supplier management. You will partner with operations, engineering, finance, HR and legal to translate requirements into effective sourcing strategies and commercial agreements.

You will lead RFx processes, manage contracts, and apply TCO principles to optimize spend, quality, service and risk while supporting cross‑functional teams worldwide.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, engineering or related field required.
• 2+ years in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain (indirect preferred).
• Experience with RFx processes and supplier negotiations.
• Familiarity with contract development and supplier management practices.
• Experience with bid evaluation methodologies (e.g., TCO).
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 10%.

Responsibilities

• Sourcing and end-to-end procurement execution for indirect categories.
• Lead RFx processes, supplier identification, bid evaluation, and awards.
• Conduct commercial negotiations including pricing and SLAs.
• Apply total cost of ownership concepts to sourcing decisions.
• Manage contracting with legal and stakeholders; review and execute SOWs.
• Track supplier KPIs and address performance gaps with corrective actions.

Skills

Commercial Acumen

Negotiation Skills

Analytical Capability

Stakeholder Management

Communication

Risk & Compliance

Results Orientation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field

Job description

ON-SITE/REMOTE: On-site

KB Signaling delivers unparalleled end-to-end wayside and onboard conventional signaling platforms and solutions, supporting our Control, Command, and Signaling (CCS) global business unit. A trailblazer, we are driven to provide the best solutions for improved safety, performance, and lower overall operating cost for today’s transit and freight railway systems and operators in North America and beyond. Our team is fueled by innovation and grounded in solid values, like giving back to the communities where we do business and embracing sustainability to help protect our planet. KB Signaling is part of a global, high-tech company that will challenge you and help you grow. Discover your potential.

KB Signaling Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of the Company to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Summary

The Professional Buyer – Indirect Procurement is responsible for executing strategic and tactical sourcing activities for indirect goods and services to support business operations. This role manages the end-to-end procurement process, including supplier sourcing, contract negotiation, and performance management, with a focus on delivering value across cost, quality, service, and risk.

Working closely with internal stakeholders such as operations, engineering, finance, HR, and legal, the Professional Buyer translates business requirements into effective sourcing strategies and commercial agreements. The role plays a key part in optimizing spend, improving supplier performance, and ensuring compliance with procurement policies and governance standards.

The Professional Buyer also supports broader commodity strategies by executing sourcing initiatives, analyzing spend data, and identifying opportunities for cost savings, supplier consolidation, and process improvement.

Reporting Line

Head of Procurement

Key Responsibilities

• Sourcing & Procurement Execution
  • Execute end-to-end sourcing activities for indirect categories (e.g., services, material repair and operations (MRO), facilities, IT, logistics, professional services)
  • Lead RFx processes (RFQ/RFP/RFI), including supplier identification, bid evaluation, and award recommendations
  • Conduct commercial negotiations, including pricing, service levels, and contract terms
  • Apply total cost of ownership (TCO) principles to sourcing decisions
• Contracting & Commercial Management
  • Partner with legal and stakeholders to develop, review, and execute supplier contracts and statements of work (SOWs)
  • Ensure contracts align with business requirements, risk tolerance, and compliance standards
  • Manage contract lifecycle activities, including renewals, amendments, and performance clauses
• Manage day-to-day supplier relationships to ensure performance against cost, quality, and service expectations
• Track and report supplier KPIs and address performance gaps through corrective actions
• Support supplier segmentation and contribute to supplier development initiatives
• Cost Management & Value Delivery
  • Identify and deliver cost savings through competitive sourcing, spend analysis, and negotiation strategies
  • Support cost optimization initiatives, including demand management and specification alignment
  • Analyze spend data to identify consolidation, standardization, and efficiency opportunities
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with internal stakeholders to understand business needs and translate them into sourcing strategies
  • Collaborate with finance on budgeting, forecasting, and cost tracking
  • Engage with legal, risk, and compliance teams to ensure adherence to corporate policies and regulatory requirements
• Identify and mitigate procurement risks, including supplier dependency, contract exposure, and service disruptions
• Ensure compliance with procurement processes, policies, and internal controls
• Maintain accurate procurement documentation and audit readiness

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field
• 2+ years of experience in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain roles (indirect preferred)
• Experience managing RFx processes and supplier negotiations
• Familiarity with contract development and supplier management practices
• Experience with bid evaluation methodologies (e.g., total acquisition cost / TCO)
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required, up to 10% of the year to support business objectives.

Other Skills & Competencies

• Commercial Acumen: Understanding of pricing structures, contracts, and cost drivers
• Negotiation Skills: Ability to drive competitive outcomes while maintaining supplier relationships
• Analytical Capability: Strong data analysis and problem-solving skills
• Stakeholder Management: Ability to effectively partner with cross-functional teams
• Communication: Clear and professional communication, including supplier-facing interactions
• Compliance Mindset: Strong attention to governance, policy adherence, and risk mitigation
• Results Orientation: Focus on delivering measurable value and operational improvements

The anticipated salary range for candidates who will work in Grain Valley is $56,900 to $85,300 per year. The final pay offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to the type and years of experience within the job, the type of years and experience within the industry and education. KB Signaling is a multi-state employer, and this pay scale may not reflect positions that work in other states or locations. Provided they meet all eligibility requirements under the applicable plan documents, employees (and their eligible dependents) will be eligible to enroll in group healthcare plans that offer medical, dental, vision, and basic life and disability insurance. Employees also will be able to enroll in our company’s 401k plan. Employees will also receive 120 hours of vacation leave and 40 hours of Personal Paid Absence every year. Employees will also enjoy 12 paid holidays, and 1 floating holiday throughout the calendar year, subject to relevant terms outlined in the employee handbook. 6 weeks of paid parental leave will also be available for use. Requirements for these benefits will be controlled by applicable plan documents and policies. Employees working on federal contracts covered by the Federal Paid Sick Leave requirements will be notified and will receive benefits consistent and compliant with the FPSL requirements. Hired applicant will be able to purchase company stock, subject to the relevant plan documents and annual bonuses based on achievement of certain metrics of up to 4% of annual salary. This is intended to provide a general description of benefits and other compensation and is not a substitute for applicable plan documents or company policies. Applications for this position are accepted on an ongoing basis

Become part of our team!

Join us in shaping the mobility of the future!

We - that's around 32,000 employees worldwide. At over 100 locations in more than 30 countries, we are committed to progress on rail and road through technological excellence, sustainable management and social responsibility. Our most recent turnover was 7.8 billion euros. With us, you can expect an exciting and varied job in an international environment as well as an attractive package.