Buyer

What you’ll do:

PRIMARY FUNCTION:

This position will focus on Vehicle Group purchases for through the US and Mexico. This position will support all operational supply chain activities. This position will interact with multiple Eaton manufacturing locations and manage assigned commodities to ensure uninterrupted supply at optimum cost and quality. This position will maintain an essential balance between supplier quality, engineering changes, delivery expectations, and cost reduction metric opportunities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

A. Manages supplier relationships and opportunities for cost out and product/supplier improvement, while ensuring production, delivery, and capacity requirements for all commodities.

B. Applies skillful negotiations with internal and external suppliers; conducts problem resolution and settles disputes; develops win/win solutions and creates positive relations with tact and expert judgment.

C. Creates innovative approaches for utilizing and applying project management tools and techniques for improved procurement practices; takes leadership roles within the department.

D. Develops and helps facilitate cost out projects and strategic commodity actions, while managing engineering part changes, supplier requirements and new part requirements for the commodity.

E. Manages all assigned current production supplier contacts, business relationships and commercial responsibilities for the assigned commodity base.

F. Facilitates cross-functional collaboration of commodity team members to achieve the greatest outcomes in support of the Vehicle Groups Business Units.

G. Facilitates supplier questions on accounts payables and supports any necessary activity for disposition of invoice resolutions and/or payment issues.

H. Possesses expert knowledge and applicable skills in the supply chain process; and is recognized as an expert in analyzing and interpreting total cost management drivers when developing cost outsourcing strategies.

I. Comply with established SCM policies and procedures and support continuous improvement of EBE processes for SCM Commodity Purchasing. #LI-DG2

Qualifications:

Education and Skills required to meet position qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in supply chain management, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, Mechanical Engineering or general business
• 1 - 3 years of purchasing experience (direct material)
• Manufacturing background is a must. Automotive Preferable.
• Fully bilingual (Spanish & English)

Preferred/Additional Specialized Knowledge (not required to be qualified for position):

• Knowledge or experience regarding metal forming and machining processes, metals engineering properties, metal market indices, currency management
• Experience with SCM Program and Commodity Management functions
• Experience with global sourcing and supply base management
• Strong Communication and Presentation Skills
• Knowledge and skills in MRP, JIT, Six Sigma, Lean Mfg., Kan Ban, Vendor Managed Inventory

Skills:

A. Operational Buyer: Shows experience in commodity management processes; shows results in developing commodity strategies, sourcing projects and negotiations as a leader of a commodity group.

B. Market and Customer Knowledge: Learns how to investigate and analyze customer base and requirements to fully understand the impact of purchasing and supplier management strategies.

A. Product/Process Development & Launch: Understands product and proposed manufacturing processes with the objective of a flawless launch of new products in the supply base.

B. Project Management: Understands knowledge of processes necessary to plan, organize, execute, and manage projects to complete complex tasks on time and on budget.

C. Negotiation: Applies sound knowledge of negotiating strategies with suppliers; and can apply strategies in the development of agreements to support total business requirements rather than just lowest-price options.

C. Contract Management: Possesses sound knowledge of solid and consistent architecture of supply chain contracts and agreements including terms, timing, and language. Shows ability to comprehend complex business unit and/or customer requirements to help shape contracts and negotiations.

D. Supplier Selection & Collaboration: Understands the critical stages in the sourcing process; possesses knowledge of how to evaluate competitive alternatives and conduct supplier performance reviews.

E. Total Cost Management: Is knowledgeable on how to gather and develop spend information; manages spend profile to drive savings and cost out opportunities year over year.

F. Material Materials Planning & Management: Understands forecasting, demand planning, scheduling and inventory management tools and concepts necessary to manage supplier relationships and commodities.

D. P&L Contribution: Understands financial, business and operational processes to analyze impact of multiple sourcing and supply chain variables on business outcomes.

E. Continuous Process Improvement: Possesses sound knowledge of continuous improvement tools and practices, such kaizen and lean, to help drive opportunities to eliminate waste and improve performance.

Additional Information:

A. The incumbent shows leadership experience in supporting commodity strategies, deploying strategic initiatives, and program managing sourcing activities to deliver business results.

B. Candidate should demonstrate a strong capability for thinking strategically and exhibiting leadership style, and be able to work effectively in a diverse environment.

C. This position requires understanding change is required for success and championing new ideas, while providing role model and mentorship to the commodity team members.

D. The incumbent acts as an exceptional communicator with both internal and external customer interactions.

DIMENSIONS:

• Support Total Cost Out (TCO) reduction projects.
• Supply base consolidation and right sizing.
• Support percent of spend with minority suppliers.
• Execution of Commodity & Supplier Strategy action plans.
• Manage engineering change orders/change request.
• Follow-up or expedite vendor purchase orders as necessary to meet schedules
• Interfaces with the Quality Assurance Department on the issuance of CAR's
• Follows-up to insure prompt reply with appropriate corrective and preventive action
• Contacts Suppliers as needed to provide technical support and help to improve internal production processes.
• Issues price change notifications to Sales for assigned Suppliers on a timely basis
• Supporting direct, indirect, MRO, packaging, freight and logistics cost out projects. Participate in monthly quality, operations and logistic meetings.