Buyer - BAP

Purpose:The purpose of the Buyer is to create and execute an operational strategy to meet the commercial objectives of an assigned product line and support the fulfillment of orders through inventory planning and replenishment, forecasting and allocation to sales orders. This includes aligning supply with demand, optimizing inventory levels, and ensuring effective communication across teams.

Areas of Responsibility / Tasks:It is the Buyer's responsibility to conduct a plan to have the right products, in the right quantities, in the right location, at a competitive cost in order to fulfill sales orders for forecasted and non-forecasted business to support growth. The objectives are: to limit cost associated with carrying inventory, optimize margin through aligning demand with stocking program, and to provide guidance to the commercial team regarding availability and pricing.

Demand/Supply Planning & Order Fulfillment

Monitor and review new sales orders, including consignment and call-off orders, and develop proactive fulfillment plans by analyzing current inventory levels, open and forecasted purchase orders. Initiate purchase order requests as needed, and coordinate material movement orders, warehouse transfers, and repackaging activities in advance to ensure on-time customer deliveryReview demand by analyzing sales history, customer forecasts, and market trends.Proactively align inventory availability and purchasing activity with anticipated customer requirements.Direct Purchasing Associates in issuing purchase orders based on re-order cycle and open demand, and support the product manager in negotiating pricing and product availability with suppliers.Review open purchase orders and compare them against changes in sales orders to determine if adjustments are needed.Initiate, monitor, and manage warehouse transfers, repackaging/relabeling/blending job orders, and material movement orders to meet order fulfillment needs.Allocate to sales orders with enough time to ensure on-time delivery to customers.Review and validate sales order margins to ensure historical margin standards and profitability targets are met.Serve as support to the sales team, customer service, and purchasing associates on complex orders.Collaborate with sales and suppliers to resolve potential fulfillment delays, force majeure, or any other issues and find alternative solutions to minimize impact to customers and the business.Collaborates on creating a supplier forecast to cover forecasted demand to cover customer ordersParticipates in collaboration demand/supply planning meetings with Product Manager to create a balanced inventory replenishment strategy that meets current demand, promotes sales growth, and achieves inventory turn targets.Support with supplier communication for rush orders, price discrepancies, availability issues, changes in quantity, and delivery timelines, and serves as an escalation point to the Product Managers and supplier's Account Managers.Monitor the Rail Car In-Transit Report to identify delays in transit or placement times, assess potential impacts on customer orders, and proactively communicate issues while offering viable alternative solutions

Inventory Management

Regularly monitor stock levels, identify potential shortages, and ensure sufficient inventory availability to meet demand.Maintain optimal stock levels based on demand, forecast, and trends.Use inventory dashboards and ERP tools to track inventory levels, partials, rail cars in stock, and aging inventory.Reduce obsolete and slow-moving inventory through strategic planning and cross-departmental efforts by working with commercial teams to find a home for aging inventory.Collaborate with Product Managers to align stocking strategies with product segmentation and sales initiatives.Review blocked inventory regularly to ensure timely resolution of damages, quality issues, or returns.Lead segmentation reviews with Product Managers and communicate updates across stakeholders for correct product categorization.Oversee railcar inventory, by reviewing Idle report, minimizing heels, aging and demurrage and detention charges.

Cost Reduction

Analyze material costs, freight expenses, and supplier pricing to take advantage of bulk orders, truck builds, bracket pricing, supported pricing, CUPS, Rebates, and deals pricing for opportunities to reduce spend and increase margin.Monitor and take action to mitigate demurrage, detention, and warehouse storage/carrying costs.Initiate recovery of demurrage fees per company policy by passing charges to customers when applicable.Offer disposition guidance on damaged goods to maximize value recovery.

ERP, Data Maintenance & Vendor Management

Maintain accurate ERP data, including product segmentation, product classification, country of origin, and Primary Supply Point (PSP) assignments.Submit new product setup and deactivation requests, and provide all necessary documentation and information, maintaining company standards.Ensure supplier setup is complete by gathering and providing necessary documentation.Maintains updated vendor contact information.Coordinate quarterly PSP reviews and participate in segmentation updates with Product Managers.Serve as a content manager for digital product platformsCommunicate changes in MOQs, lead times, and sourcing strategies to the commercial team and adjust purchasing rules accordingly.

Communication, Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

Serve as the primary liaison for all internal and external stakeholders related to assigned product lines.Notify customer service and sales proactively of potential order delays with root-cause analysis and alternative solutions.Work closely with the inventory team, warehouse, logistics, and suppliers to ensure synchronized execution of plans.Support team members during peak times or absences, promoting a collaborative and adaptable work culture.Participate in team initiatives outside core responsibilities as required to support organizational objectives.Stay current on industry trends, system updates, policy changes, company initiatives, technologies, and compliance requirements.Actively participates in Daily Management, tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), participating in stakeholders meetings and problem-solving activities.Identify and present opportunities for process improvement, and partner with cross-functional teams to evaluate and propose enhancements.Lead and support development of the Purchasing Associate assigned to portfolio to enhance their skills and capabilities in line with organizational goalsAct as a strategic advisor to the sales team on inventory and procurement matters, providing insights, solutions and recommendations

Other duties as assigned

Supervisory Responsibilities:

1. Not Applicable

Competencies: Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSA):To perform this role successfully, an individual must have experience achieving desired result(s) in their areas of responsibility. The requirements listed below are representative of observable behaviors and essential knowledge, skill, and abilities required of a successful incumbent within our culture.

1. Proven communication and interpersonal skills (verbal and written) and ability to establish relationships and collaborate with a diverse set of stakeholders
2. Have Knowledge of the supply chain activities, understand all activities carried out to run the operations, and demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge to meet targets and solve problems.
3. Takes initiative, use experience and critical thinking to innovate
4. Team building: Creates a climate in which people want to do their best; can motivate the team; empowers others
5. Strong understanding of purchasing processes, replenishment, material allocation, and managing inventory levels.
6. Must exhibit business acumen and commercial understanding with an attention to detail and the ability to prioritize
7. Ability to analyze data/reports to make and execute an action plan
8. Proficiency in MS Excel, Word and Outlook. Experience with other purchasing/supply chain Planning, Inventory Management, and ERP systems is a plus

Minimum Qualifications / Education / Experience / Certifications:

1. Education:a. Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain or related field required. Equivalent experience considered in lieu of degree
2. Experience:a. 3 years of previous experience in a similar role requiredb. Internal candidates are highly preferredc. Experience with Purchasing, Demand and Supply planning, inventory management, Supply Chain or a related field is highly desired
3. Licenses / Certifications:a. Valid driver's license - required
4. Language:a. Proficiency in English requiredb. Bi-Lingual - Spanish or Portuguese is a plus
5. Cultural Experience:a. Global / International organization - preferredb. Similar size organization - preferred

Work Environment / Conditions:The work environment/conditions described herein are representative of those that an incumbent may experience, and therefore

1. Must be adaptable to work in a shared space, with constant noise, with/or without the use of a private office.
2. This position is a hybrid in-office and work-from-home role
3. May be required to travel to office locations in the USA as well as other countries based on the businesses involved in e-commerce sales

Physical Requirements / Demands:The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an incumbent to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. *Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions & physical demands of this role.

1. While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to communicate verbally, read, and comprehend information, type on a consistent and daily basis.
2. Push, pull, and lift to 40lbs on a weekly basis.
3. While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to travel by foot, car, bus, airplane, or other means of transportation which require sitting, waiting, and standing for long and short periods of time.
4. Ability to setup desk equipment including setting up equipment on top of desks and connecting cables and power cords under desk (requiring lifting, bending, pushing, pulling).

Acknowledgement:This job description is not an exhaustive list of areas of responsibility or tasks that an incumbent in this position may be asked to perform. All Employees are required to deliver the desired results intended for their role, at the designated level of knowledge, skill, and ability commensurate with their job title and level within the organization.