Senior Purchasing Agent

Job Summary:

The Senior Purchasing Agent – Projects is responsible for the timely execution of developing, implementing, and executing procurement strategies for new product and sustaining production in an efficient, cost-effective manner while maintaining quality standards.

Essential Functions:

· Researches, identifies, and establishes sources for the procurement of material, both direct and indirect, services, equipment, and other purchases as required.

· Prepare requests for quotations (RFQs/RFPs), analyze supplier responses, and confirm purchase orders within budgetary limitations and scope of authority.

· Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships with suppliers.

· Identifies and qualifies new suppliers as needed with Quality and Engineering.

· Performs site audits of potential as well as current suppliers.

· Negotiates pricing, delivery, payment terms and other conditions with current and prospective suppliers.

· Assists other buyers in addressing emergent supplier issues relating to quality, delivery, or other concerns. In some cases, a problem supplier will be temporarily assigned to the Senior Purchasing Agent until such time that the situation stabilizes.

· Issues and approves purchase orders as needed to procure production related material.

· Facilitates Follett / Supplier communication.

· Leads conferences between suppliers and Follett personnel such as Engineering, Buyers, and Quality.

· Provides supplier with performance feedback using formal and informal communication tools with respect to quality and delivery.

· Addresses quality and delivery issues associated with purchased components by collaborating with the supplier, Buyers, and Engineering.

· Facilitates product changes by participating on new product development teams to ensure that deliverables as defined in project charters are successfully implemented for buying and production planning related deliverables.

· Implement contingency plans with Production Planning and Manufacturing when inventory availability commitments are at risk and initiate work-around.

· Participate on engineering change orders (ECO) and corrective action requests (CAR).

· Planning and executing the smooth and economic transition of purchased components affected by a change in either engineering specifications or suppliers.

· Applies and expands the use of lean supply philosophies to the supply chain by implementing replenishment supply systems in place of traditional systems where applicable.

· Maintains company databases and systems in accordance with company policies.

· Maintains cost data in the company ERP system.

· Assists in maintaining accurate inventory in Follett’s ERP system.

· Maintains accurate Item Master data.

· Plans for the appropriate re-supply of material based on the Master Assembly Schedule using MRP, ROP, and Supplier Pull Systems.

· Calculates economic order quantities and performs make versus buy analysis.

· Assists in the development and control of departmental budgets by assisting in the development and control of the purchase parts variance account, travel budget, and other key department financial results.

· Participates as a department representative on assigned product development teams, process development teams and other teams and initiatives.

· Resolves cost issues with suppliers and the accounting group.

· Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s degree in business related field preferred. Supply chain focus a plus. Professional Certifications: APP or CPM and/or APICS CPIM preferred.

· 5+ years’ experience in technical sourcing, project management, or new product development sourcing role.

· Experience functioning in a lean environment with skills for implementing and sustaining pull systems, JIT, and other lean initiatives.

· Experience using MRP planning systems.

· Able to work closely with others in an initiative-taking fast paced team environment.

· Excellent oral and written communication skill. Demonstrated leader and negotiator that generates results.

· Proficiency using Microsoft Office Professional Products. Exposure to Avante ERP system preferred.

· Experience in global sourcing and logistics.