SR Direct Materials Buyer at ARC Automotive in Knoxville, TN

Description POSITION SUMMARY: Under the general direction of the Director of Purchasing, assists in planning, coordinating, directing and controlling activities in line with corporate policies and procedures. Responsible for acquiring, purchasing and negotiating materials, components and services, for Direct Materials for all locations globally. Obtains quotations, prepares quote analysis and evaluates potential suppliers to determine if they are compatible with company objectives. Oversees purchasing logs and records to ensure accuracy and follow through. Monitors quality of goods by reviewing costs, schedules, timeliness of delivery and conformance to specifications. Controls annual purchases of approximately $60 million. Performs duties related to department administration, research, pricing, negotiation, documentation, purchases and supplier interfacing. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Responsible for approximately $60 million in annual expenditures for materials, components 2. Purchases materials, components and services in line with cost, quality and delivery targets. 3. Develops Purchasing strategies for key categories such as tubing, labels, stamped parts etc.  4. Leads sourcing activities by completing and providing in depth quote analysis and risk analysis on potential suppliers, and presenting supplier recommendations to the team. Responsible for process sign-off of supplier selection. 5. Generates CAR (budget approval form) and justification for production tooling. Issues tooling purchase orders. Tracks supplier’s progress for mass production preparation (timing plans) through to PPAP submission to meet project deadlines. 6. Purchases and tracks prototype and PPAP materials and components. 7. Prepares and issues Spot Purchase orders and Scheduled Purchase orders. 8. Monitors status and leads negotiations of all purchasing contracts and agreements. 9. Monitors market conditions and identifies risks and opportunities. 10. Conducts research for new suppliers, markets and new technologies. 11. Initiates, leads and tracks cost reductions activities. 12. Monitors annual forecasts and ensures supplier capacity is in place in time for emerging needs. 13. Prepares reports and updates as and when required. 14. Builds and maintains supplier relationships and ensures effective communication. 15. Ensures compliance to company guidelines and Purchasing policies and procedures.  16. Resolves invoice and receipt discrepancies. 17. Acts as the interface between suppliers and other relevant departments on purchasing processes, new projects and activities. 18. Performs other job-related duties as assigned. Self Management • Assertive, resilient, flexible and handles changes. • Collaborative approach to working together. • Proactively contributes to the team. • Optimistic, open and honest in all dealings Skills and Attributes • Attention to detail and accuracy. • Able to manage time effectively and prioritize tasks to meet set targets. • Good communication, negotiation, interpersonal and influencing skills. • Commercial, legal and financial awareness with full understanding of how failure impacts production and customer. • Strong analytical, problem solving and numeracy skills. • Ability to read Engineering drawings. DISCLAIMER This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job. Requirements MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: College graduate plus three (3) years experience in purchasing materials and/ or components and logistics at a Buyer level or higher. Automotive industry experience preferred. Must possess a high degree of maturity and integrity in conducting purchasing activities in a team environment. CPM or APICS certification desirable. Must have excellent negotiating skills and oral / written communication skills. Must be able to function in both domestic and foreign markets and cultures. Must have excellent computer skills, and be proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook). Equivalent combination of experience and training directly related to the position, which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities, may be substituted. WORK ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS / PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work is performed in an office environment and is generally temperature controlled with or without humidity co,1trol. Exposure and risk to health is minimal. Overtime during the week and weekends is mandatory when required. International business travel maybe required. These are considered essential duties and are illustrative of those job tasks, which are fundamental. Employees ma be required to perform additional related duties as may be assigned by management. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.