Buyer I

Position Summary:

Join our exciting & dedicated team at Vallen as an On-site Buyer. In this position, you will work at a customer location and will be responsible for providing exceptional service by purchasing products, goods, and materials (stock and/or non-stock, or stock buy) that meet the organization's standards of price, quality, timing, and reliability of supply.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Perform procurement activities to ensure the customer's current and anticipated demand for products and materials (stock and/or non-stock, or spot buy) are met and in alignment with Vallen's purchasing strategies.
  • Review and approve assigned inventory forecasts produced by Vallen's inventory management or other Enterprise Resource Planning application.
  • Review and approve daily replenishment recommendations produced by Vallen's inventory management or other Enterprise Resource Planning application.
  • Assess existing orders to determine action for expediting or de-expediting for optimal delivery.
  • Place purchase requisitions and vendor purchase orders.
• Research, assess, and make recommendations for vendors and/or specific items of request to ensure they that they comply with specifications and meet the customer's quality, pricing, and delivery standards.
• Monitor the quality and timeliness of products and materials supplied; may coordinate the return of damaged goods and/or replacement items.
• Negotiate and coordinate vendor returns for aging, expired, or excess inventory; coordinate other liquidation activities as required.
• Follow-up on the status of purchase orders with vendors to ensure timely delivery; and communicate status of orders with customers.
• Communicate with vendors to resolve problems with timeliness and product quality.
• Maintain and cultivate relationships with one or more suppliers, vendors, and assigned customers.
• Research and resolve account payables nonconformance with suppliers.
• Identify opportunities for and document customer cost savings.
• Produce customer KPI measurement data.
• Follow all Vallen and customer Standard Operating Procedures.
• Adhere to LEAN operating practices; ensure worksite is professional, clean and neat always.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job Qualifications:

High school diploma or equivalent. Bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g., Business, Finance, etc.) preferred. 1+ years of experience in the field of Procurement preferred. CPM certification preferred. Other relevant experience includes:

• Excellent customer service.
• Computer skills and aptitude to learn the various Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Inventory Management applications.
• Mathematical aptitude for basic calculations.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Demonstrated strong attention to detail, organizational and execution skills.
• Proficiency with MS-Office products.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Work Environment & Physical Demands:

Reasonable accommodations will be evaluated and may be implemented to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of this position.

• Long periods of time working on a computer and performing repetitive key-boarding activities.
• Work may be in a manufacturing environment and could have exposure to dirt, smoke, heat, cold, etc.
• Safety protection may be required while in the customer's facility (hand, foot, and eye or other as dictated by the customer's safety protocols).
• Overtime hours may be required with little advanced notice.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee may be required to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, ability to adjust focus, and may require the ability to distinguish color.