{"id":3847622,"url":"https://alion.io/job/gea-operational-buyer-2","title":"Operational Buyer","company":{"id":1788131,"name":"GEA","domain":"gea.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/gea-com","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":82,"open_postings":77,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.701,"repost_share":0.013,"time_to_fill_p50_days":38,"computed_at":"2026-11-09T06:03:00Z"}},"role":"Operations","role_family":"Operations","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"explicit","locations":["Romeoville, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":70000,"max":85000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":85000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":true,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"Microsoft Office","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-11-05T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-11-05","last_verified_at":"2026-11-09T19:26:09Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":4,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":4},"description":"GEA Group, founded in Germany in 1881, is a global leader in engineering solutions, serving industries such as food and beverage, pharma, dairy, and more. With over 18,000 employees worldwide and a strong U.S. presence since 1929, GEA combines the heritage of a well-established company with the innovation of a forward-thinking industry leader. At GEA, we’re not just building equipment, we’re building lasting careers with an average employee tenure range from 5 to over 11+ years, reflecting the strong culture, growth opportunities, and support we provide.Working at GEA Group has significant benefits:\nStart strong - Medical, dental, and vision coverage begins on your first day\nRecharge and refresh - Enjoy 13 paid holidays, including a flexible floating holiday, and 136 hours of PTO to relax or explore\nInvest in your future - A 7% 401(k) employer match helps grow your retirement savings faster\nKeep learning - Take advantage of tuition reimbursement to further your education or skillset\nLive well - Our wellness incentive program rewards healthy habits\nGet support when you need it - Access to a confidential Employee Assistance Program for personal or professional guidance\n• Save smart - Flexible Health Savings and Spending Accounts to manage out-of-pocket expenses\nResponsibilities / Tasks\nThe Operational Buyer will manage the buying of a wide range of goods and services, (example electronics, plastics, nylon, and rubber parts) This role involves sourcing and purchasing these products, negotiating with suppliers, maintaining inventory levels, ensuring timely delivery, setting up new suppliers, and working with third parties to handle supplier payments.\nKey Responsibilities:\nProcurement and Ordering:Source and purchase various goods and services, ensuring timely and cost-effective acquisition.\nPlace orders, negotiate pricing with support from the Strategic Buyers, and secure favorable terms and delivery schedules with suppliers.\nMonitor and manage purchase orders from creation through to delivery, ensuring accuracy and compliance with company policies.\n\nSupplier Management:\nDevelop and maintain relationships with suppliers.\nEvaluate supplier performance based on factors such as quality, cost, and delivery reliability.\nAddress and resolve any issues related to supplier performance, product quality, or delivery delays.\n\nSetting Up New Suppliers:Identify and assess potential new suppliers\nAssist the strategic buyers with contracts and pricing. Establish terms with new suppliers to integrate them into the supply chain effectively.\nMaintain records of new supplier setups and ensure all necessary documentation is completed.\nOnboard new suppliers, ensuring they are aligned with the company’s quality standards and procurement processes.\n\nInventory Management:Monitor inventory levels of various products to ensure adequate stock while minimizing excess and carrying costs.\nWork with sales and product management teams to forecast demand and adjust purchasing strategies as needed.\nConduct regular inventory reviews and reconcile discrepancies.\n\nCost Control and Analysis:Analyze market trends and pricing as comparison by suppliers to make informed purchasing decisions and achieve cost savings.\nImplement purchasing strategies to optimize purchasing processes and reduce costs.\nPrepare and present reports on purchasing activities, cost savings, and inventory status to management.\n\nCompliance and Quality Assurance:Ensure that all procured goods meet company standards and regulatory requirements.\nCollaborate with quality control teams to address and resolve any quality issues related to purchased products.\nMaintain accurate records of purchases and supplier communications.\n\nWorking with Third Parties for Supplier Payments:Coordinate with third-party service providers to manage aspects such as invoice processing and supplier payments.\nEnsure that all invoices are reviewed, approved, and processed in a timely manner.\nAddress and resolve any discrepancies or issues related to invoice payments, ensuring accuracy and adherence to contractual terms.\nMaintain effective communication with third-party service providers to facilitate smooth payment processes and resolve any issues that arise.\n\nCollaboration and Communication:Work closely with internal departments such as product management, sales, strategic procurementand logistics to understand their needs and adjust procurement strategies accordingly.\nCollaborate with the strategic procurement team for support and alignment.\nCommunicate effectively with suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve issues and ensure smooth operations.\n\nYour Profile / Qualifications\nEducation: High School Diploma or equivalent.\n Experience: +5 years relevant experience in related field. Certifications (e.g., CPSM, C.P.M.) are a plus.\n Skills:Analytical thinking and cost management\nProven experience as a Purchasing Specialist, or in a similar role\nStrong knowledge of procurement processes, inventory management, and supplier relations.\nSAP experience a plus\nEffective communication skills, both written and verbal.\nExcellent interpersonal skills.\nProficiency in purchasing software's and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).\nStrong analytical skills with the ability to make data-driven decisions.\nAbility to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.\n\nThe typical base pay range for this position at the start of employment is expected to be between $70,000- $85,000 per year. GEA Group has different base pay ranges for different work locations within the United States. The pay range is not a guarantee of compensation or salary. The estimated range is the budgeted amount for the position. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, location, qualifications, and other job-related reasons. You may be eligible for additional rewards, such as discretionary bonus (based on eligibility) and/or equity awards.\nPlease note: This position is based in the United States and does not offer visa or work sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future sponsorship.\nGEA is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will therefore receive consideration for employment without regard to age, sex, race, color, religion, world view, national origin, genetics, disability, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other protected characteristic required by applicable law. Applicants with disabilities are welcome and will be given special consideration if they are equally qualified.\nDid we spark your interest?\nThen please click apply above to access our guided application process.","description_format":"text","description_chars":6708,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":5,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"high_school","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Growth opportunities"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Food Technology","Industrial Machinery","HVAC & Refrigeration"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-11-06T01:22:32Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"adverts_offering_sponsorship_24m":0,"sanctioned_now":false,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 6 · green card filings: 1","filings_12m":6,"filings_prev_12m":8,"green_card_filings_12m":1,"median_offered_wage_usd":99643,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-11-09T07:32:21+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)","US Department of Labor: PERM disclosure data (green cards)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":63,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.632,"p_room":1,"age_days":4,"expected_fill_days":38,"reasons":["conf:2","stale_co","velocity","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-11-09T06:03:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":85000,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/gea-operational-buyer-2","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/gea-operational-buyer-2.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-09T23:46:23Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":13789,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-10T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.1,"usd":0.01,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":1788131},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=1788131"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fgea-operational-buyer-2"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":2,"usd":0.2},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fgea-operational-buyer-2"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.1,"usd":0.01},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fgea-operational-buyer-2"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/gea-operational-buyer-2\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fgea-operational-buyer-2"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3847622}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"gea.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3847622},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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