Cedar Rapids, IA, USA
1 day ago
Buyer/Planner_AJD127
KT Pacer

Come join a team where People make the difference!  As a part of Marmon Holdings, Inc., a highly decentralized organization, we rely heavily on people with the aptitude, attitude, and entrepreneurial spirit to drive our success, and we're committed to attracting and retaining top talent.

Under broad supervision, responsible for procurement of assigned items and executing buying strategies in accordance with agreed upon material buying plans at the optimum cost/quality relationship. Analyzes market and industry conditions and develops supply recommendations. Interviews sales representatives and vendors. Role typically requires between 3 and 5 years of experience.

The Buyer/Planner is responsible for purchasing, tracking, and expediting materials, services, and equipment. This position involves working closely with both established and potential new suppliers, leading strategic sourcing initiatives to identify, qualify, and align suppliers with KT Pacer’s procurement strategy. Daily interaction with the manufacturing, engineering, and shipping/receiving teams ensures timely, accurate, and quality delivery of materials, services, and equipment.

Key Responsibilities and Essential Functions

Identifies, manages, escalates, and mitigates risks in the supply chain, such as delivery delays, quality issues, and cost fluctuations, to ensure operational goals are met and aligned with business strategy.Drive dedicated efforts to identify and implement significant cost reduction opportunities through data driven analysis, sourcing events, supplier rationalization and consolidation, bulk buy initiatives, payment term negotiation, and other supplier negotiation/resourcing initiatives.Identify and develop strategic supplier partnerships to leverage buying power, foster mutually beneficial relationships, and optimize costs.Stay informed about key industry trends and raw material fluctuations and provide actionable recommendations for strategic sourcing decisions to minimize cost impacts.

Generate and issue purchase orders to suppliers based on sales orders, production schedules, and demand forecasts to maintain inventory levels and prevent shortages.Coordinate cross-functional supply chain activities, working closely with internal teams to ensure on-time fulfillment of customer requirements.Obtain competitive quotes, evaluate value and reliability, and negotiate terms to secure the best pricing while meeting quality and delivery standards.Assess and select suppliers based on capability, capacity, and alignment with KT Pacer’s standards. Visit supplier facilities to evaluate their ability to meet production requirements.Monitor and assess supplier performance based on KPIs such as delivery time, quality, and cost. Initiate corrective actions when necessary to maintain supply chain efficiency.Collaborate with internal teams to enforce inventory management policies and procedures, ensuring effective stock levels and minimizing excess or shortage.

Required Skills

Customer focused.Able to conduct themselves appropriately and professionallyDrive for continuous improvement.Strong communication and interpersonal skillsAbility to build strong relationships with customers, suppliers and co-workers.Detail-oriented.Mechanical aptitude and strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.Self-motivated.Ability to multi-task and juggle multiple priorities with strict deadlines.Ability to analyze, identify & then follow up to resolve discrepancies.Ability to make sound decisions and seek buy-in from others.Strong work ethic with a positive attitude.Ability to decipher the immediacy of problems and determine an effective resolution for the issue.

Desired Qualifications and Experience Levels:

Associate’s degree or higher5+ years’ Experience in a Manufacturing EnvironmentKnowledge of inventory databases and shipping programsGood customer service & communication skillsStrong analytic / problem solving skillsMust be able to pass background and drug screening

Following receipt of a conditional offer of employment, candidates will be required to complete additional job-related screening processes as permitted or required by applicable law.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all applicants will be considered for employment without attention to their membership in any protected class. If you require any reasonable accommodation to complete your application or any part of the recruiting process, please email your request to careers@marmon.com, and please be sure to include the title and the location of the position for which you are applying.

Confirm your E-mail: Send Email