Buyer (Procurement/Purchasing Specialist) - Westlake Careers

SUMMARY

Organizes, supervises, and monitors all purchasing records distribution, recording, and files retention, and actively performs purchasing activities including expediting. Cultivates new and long-standing vendor relationships to attain the mutual professionalism required to assure timely deliveries. Perform the primary thinking encompassed by this job description. Comply with all Company policies and procedures.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

May include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Manages the flow, recording, and processing of purchasing documents. Controls and manages the purchasing activity with external suppliers. Negotiates purchases to the most economical advantage to the Company.

• Leverage yearly purchases to achieve lowest total cost for the purchase of goods (mostly store goods) through the identification of repeatable purchases, potential supply base and an appropriate sourcing strategy.

• Prepares, submits for quotes, and purchases requisitioned materials and equipment following evaluation.

• Prepares bid comparisons based on evaluation derived from vendor's bids.

• Expedites orders that are critical to the operation of the Plants and those orders that are behind schedule.

• Prepares and maintains preferred vendor database based on previous cost, quality of service, reliability and types of goods and materials.

• Assists and researches logistical information in specific areas relating to all Plant departments.

• Assists Accounting in resolving purchase/billing discrepancies; warehouse stores and other departments in expediting, scheduling, contracts, and specifications.

• Assures that purchases have the proper D.O.A. approval levels applied and that the purchasing department complies with external guidelines, such as SOX and Frank-Dodd.

• Contacts vendors to obtain quotes, delivery schedules, and terms of payment. When appropriate, negotiates discounts, delivery schedules and terms.

• Develops thorough knowledge of the Companys ERP tools.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• B.S. / B.A. in Business related or Engineering field with a minimum of 2 years of purchasing/procurement experience.

• Effective communication skills, strong business background involving realistic expectations and cost controls.

• Requires the ability to motivate and lead non-reports in the purchasing function as well as non-purchasing functions.

• ERP experience - JDE or SAP preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate as normally based in an office. May be exposed to manufacturing environments on a limited basis. Some of the work may be required in the operating units which can require usage of required PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, etc. May also result in exposure to outside elements and may require usage of stairs and elevators. Travel including air travel or auto travel may occasionally be required.