Project Buyer

AKG North America; Mebane (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay based on experience

Shift differential opportunities

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Company Paid Life Insurance, STD/LTD

PTO and paid holidays

401(k) with company match

Training and advancement opportunities

Stable manufacturing environment

Employee recognition programs

Team-oriented, safety-focused culture

Job summary

AKG North America is seeking a Project Buyer to develop sourcing and supplier strategies for Railway, Defense, Energy, and other growth markets. You will drive supplier selection, risk management, and project execution from quotation through customer acceptance, collaborating with Sales, Engineering, and Operations.

You will strengthen AKG's competitive position by building supplier networks, pursuing new opportunities, and supporting faster, more competitive quotations while ensuring successful

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a related field and working knowledge of procurement processes.
• Experience handling suppliers, cross-functional projects, and manufacturing environments.
• Experience with regulated industries preferred (Railway, Defense, Aerospace, Energy, Automotive).

Responsibilities

• Strategic Supplier Development & Industry Engagement to onboard suppliers for current and future opportunities.
• Lead procurement activities from project award through production launch and customer acceptance.
• Coordinate supplier compliance, PPAP, FAI, and traceability requirements across the supply chain.
• Identify risks, develop mitigation plans, and support continuous improvement in sourcing.

Skills

Sourcing & supplier management

Negotiation

Commercial evaluation

RFX & supplier selection

Risk assessment & project risks

Project management

Communication skills

Analytical & problem solving

Technical interpretation of drawings//

Education

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

Job description

Description

At AKG, we believe great people build great products. We are looking for dependable, safety-focused team members who want to grow their skills and be part of a company that values teamwork, accountability, respect, and continuous improvement.

What We Offer:

• Competitive pay based on experience
• Shift differential opportunities
• GREAT Medical, dental, and vision benefits the first of the month after 30 days
• Company Paid Life Insurance, STD insurance and LTD insurance
• PTO and paid holidays
• 401(k) with amazing company match
• Training and advancement opportunities
• Stable manufacturing environment
• Employee recognition programs
• Team-oriented culture focused on safety and respect

What You’ll Do:

The Project Buyer is responsible for developing and executing sourcing and supplier strategies for customer projects within Railway, Defense, Energy, and other strategic growth markets.

The role supports projects from opportunity assessment and quotation through supplier selection, project execution, production launch, and customer acceptance. Working closely with Sales, Engineering, Commodity Management, Supplier Quality, Operations, Material Planning, and Logistics, the Project Buyer ensures supplier capabilities, sourcing strategies, compliance requirements, and project risks are addressed before customer commitments are made.

The Project Buyer helps strengthen AKG's competitive position by developing supplier networks, identifying new sourcing opportunities, building industry relationships, and supporting faster, more competitive quotations while ensuring successful project execution.

Key Responsibilities

• 1. Strategic Supplier Development & Industry Engagement
  • Identify, evaluate, develop, and onboard suppliers capable of supporting current and future business opportunities.
  • Build and maintain relationships with suppliers, industry organizations, customers, and strategic business partners.
  • Partner with Commodity Managers to leverage existing suppliers while identifying and developing new suppliers when project requirements exceed current supply chain capabilities.
  • Attend trade shows, exhibitions, supplier conferences, customer events, and industry networking opportunities.
  • Identify new suppliers, technologies, manufacturing capabilities, and market opportunities that strengthen AKG's competitive position.
  • Develop and maintain a network of suppliers capable of supporting future customer programs before project requirements arise.
• 2. Project Procurement Management
  • Lead procurement-related activities for assigned projects from project award through production launch and customer acceptance.
  • Develop and maintain project procurement plans, supplier action lists, sourcing plans, and risk mitigation activities.
  • Coordinate supplier deliverables, timing requirements, approvals, documentation, and project milestones.
  • Monitor supplier readiness throughout the project lifecycle.
  • Support prototype, validation, pre-production, first article, and production launch activities.
  • Ensure supplier activities support project schedules and customer commitments.
  • Support engineering change implementation and supplier coordination activities.
• 3. Customer Requirements, Compliance & Documentation
  • Review customer specifications and ensure supplier-related requirements are understood and implemented throughout the supply chain.
  • Coordinate supplier compliance with customer-specific requirements.
  • Support activities related to:
  • PPAP submissions
  • First Article Inspection (FAI)
  • Material and Process certifications
  • Traceability requirements
  • Supplier qualifications
  • Customer documentation requirements
  • Support supplier audits, customer audits, project reviews, and compliance activities.
• 4. Risk Management & Continuous Improvement
  • Identify supply chain risks during quotation, development, sourcing, and project execution phases.
  • Develop mitigation plans and support recovery activities when risks arise.
  • Support supplier diversification and second-source initiatives.
  • Monitor industry trends, customer expectations, regulatory developments, and emerging technologies.
  • Develop market intelligence related to suppliers, technologies, manufacturing capabilities, and industry requirements.
  • Support continuous improvement initiatives that improve sourcing effectiveness, supplier performance, project execution, and overall competitiveness.

Requirements

What We’re Looking For:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, or related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in Procurement, Supply Chain, Sourcing, Project Management, Engineering, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing, or a related field.
• Experience managing suppliers, sourcing activities, and cross-functional projects within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting customer-driven projects preferred.
• Experience within Railway, Defense, Aerospace, Energy, Automotive, Heavy Equipment, or other regulated industries preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong sourcing, supplier management, negotiation, and commercial evaluation skills.
• Experience leading RFX activities and supplier selection processes.
• Ability to evaluate supplier capabilities, manufacturing processes, quality systems, and project risks.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications, customer requirements, and project documentation.
• Ability to effectively collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Operations, Sales, and Supply Chain teams.

Why AKG?

At AKG, we are committed to creating a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and part of the solution. Safety is our top priority, and we believe strong teams are built through communication, accountability, and respect for others.

As part of The AKG Way, we strive to create an environment where employees can grow professionally while contributing to the success of the organization.

AKG is an Equal Opportunity Employer.