Buyer

At ASRaymond the Buyer is responsible for managing the tactical, day to day relationship with domestic and international suppliers for items that are stocked in ASRaymond warehouses. The Buyer is responsible for maximizing inventory turns and minimizing obsolete inventory and inventory write-offs while at the same time taking a lead role in resolving problem shipments from suppliers, problem invoices, and other tactical supplier relationship issues.

Core Responsibilities:

• Manage the inventory position for selected commodity/location and maintain relationship with assigned 
• Responsible for $3 - $5 million in Inventory and accountable for maintaining a first-pass fill rate of 98%.
• Analyze and act on purchase recommendations generated by the materials management system. This includes generating Purchase Orders, communicating PO’s to suppliers, receiving acknowledgements, and performing PO maintenance as needed
• Accountable for global contract negotiations and long term agreements, managing total cost requirements.
• Review fill rate performance on a daily basis and initiate corrective actions where necessary
• Communicate with suppliers regarding shipping performance, open PO’s, expedite/defer requests, and other issues as needed.
• Manage IVR/obsolete/excess inventory
• Resolve problem shipments with suppliers, receiving issues, packaging standards, etc.
• Resolve problem invoices (mismatched vouchers) with suppliers
• Take an active role in communicating service and inventory issues across departments (including Purchasing, Marketing, Operations, Finance, etc.) and with management.
• Responsible for approving or denying upcoming shipments from each supplier.
• Managing requisitions and providing regular updates to system regarding order status.
• Approximately 10% travel is required for (but not limited to) supplier visits, sales ride-alongs, training seminars, etc.
• Perform other projects as assigned by the Global Supply Chain Manager.
• Acts in accordance with Force Motions Group’s Code of Ethics and Conduct.

Competencies:

Ownership & Accountability: Takes responsibility for supply outcomes; follows through on commitments to internal customers and suppliers.

Attention to Detail: Accurately processes POs, pricing, and supplier data with a low error tolerance.

Negotiation & Influence: Skilled at negotiating with suppliers on cost, lead time, and terms; builds mutually beneficial supplier relationships.

Analytical Thinking: Uses data to evaluate supplier performance, assess sourcing options, and support cost reduction decisions.

Collaboration: Works effectively across engineering, operations, quality, and finance to align purchasing activity with manufacturing and business needs.

Adaptability: Manages shifting priorities and supply disruptions effectively in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

Communication: Communicates clearly and professionally with suppliers, internal stakeholders, and leadership.

Qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience in a purchasing, procurement, or supply chain role within a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing a portfolio of direct and/or indirect spend categories.
• Hands-on experience issuing and managing purchase orders, expediting, and resolving supplier delivery issues.
• Working knowledge of ERP systems for purchasing transactions and data management (e.g., JBA, SAP, Oracle, Epicor, or similar).
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Office suite for data analysis and reporting.
• Solid understanding of procurement fundamentals: RFQ process, cost analysis, supplier negotiation, and PO management.
• Ability to read and interpret technical documents, drawings, and specifications relevant to purchased parts or materials.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple open orders and priorities simultaneously.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills; able to represent ASRaymond professionally in supplier interactions.
• Familiarity with supplier development and formal supplier performance management processes.
• Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI) or engineering change processes from a procurement perspective.
• Experience with lean manufacturing or continuous improvement initiatives within a supply chain or procurement context preferred.
• Knowledge of import/export compliance requirements, Incoterms, and international sourcing a plus.
• Familiarity with contract review and basic commercial terms negotiation a plus.

Education Requirements and Preferences:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field required.
• APICS CSCP, CPIM or CPSM certification (or progress toward certification) is a plus but not required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk and sit; use hands to handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is frequently required to talk and/or hear.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is able to perform functions that require manual and finger dexterity.