Ability to think strategically and implement solutions that improve buyer efficiency, reduce costs, and accelerate sales within the vertical
Proven ability to delegate tasks effectively and manage performance of a team
Ability to handle escalations and problem solve
Ability to analyze the supply chain needs of the vertical and develop key supplier relationships to satisfy the requirements
Ability to work cross functionally with all service center personnel and supplier representatives to manage the incoming supply chain and stocking levels
Ability to negotiate lowest possible material acquisition cost and lead times which meet customer demand schedules
Excellent problem solving, multi-tasking and time management skills
Ability to prioritize and organize
Willingness to travel to support customer/supplier meetings, audits and other assessments
Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree or equivalent work experience
5+ Years of professional sourcing and/or purchasing experience
Strong technical acumen and industrial components supply base knowledge
Proven leadership experience and direct report oversight
Excellent computer skills, specifically Microsoft Excel and Power BI. Proven ability to create complex formulas (x-lookup, if/then statements) and build pivot tables.
Effective communication skills with peers and service center personnel.
Summary of Key Responsibilities:
Ensure procurement alignment to the vertical sourcing strategy by participating in supplier selection decisions, strategic supplier growth plans, cost reduction and supplier development initiatives.
Collaborate with demand planning team and supply chain analytics team to analyze customer forecast data and historical consumption. Participate and provide recommendations in demand planning meetings to ensure inventory optimization and target fulfillment levels.
Proactively evaluate inventory investments required to support new business implementations or program scope expansions. Ensure investments align with trade working capital initiatives.
Meet or exceed average days of inventory targets monthly. Assist in establishing the annual budget and provide quarterly inventory forecasts monthly.
Cooperate with Service Center Manager and Program Management team to maintain alignment with sales projections and gross margin improvement targets.
Oversee new business implementations, establishing stocking methodologies, allocating resources for implementation purchases, and aligning key supplier price agreements.
Evaluate procurement workload for the service center and delegate/assume tasks to ensure performance to key sourcing and procurement metrics.
Manage overall service center performance to key procurement metrics -Fill Rate, Days of Inventory Performance, Supplier OTD, and Purchase Price Variance, NCMR/IBD Resolution.
Ensure minimal Supplier Contract pricing leakage through daily review of acquisition costs versus contract pricing and previous costs.
Identify opportunities for gross margin improvement through cost reduction negotiations, leveraging volume to meet price breaks, and near/off-shoring opportunities. Track and publish results consistently.
Assist in disposition of obsolete inventory by looking for opportunities to return to vendor or transform to an active part through rework or secondary processing.
Coordinate all HR/personnel issues for direct reports within the Consumer & Industrial vertical including Annual Performance Reviews, Compensation, Benefits/payroll issues, Promotions/Merit increases/Bonus allocations, and Training and Development.
Perform ongoing training and development with buyers, junior buyers, and expeditors. Create and manage training matrix for continual evolvement of critical skills and negotiation tactics. Provide regular feedback on performance metrics.
Champion the onboarding and change management required for adoption of the supplier portal and all functionalities.
