Buyer

Auburn Gear is a leading designer and manufacturer specializing in planetary gears. Our products serve various applications in markets such as agriculture, construction, forestry, and marine. We pride ourselves on delivering reliable, high-quality solutions to meet the unique needs of our customers. Auburn Gear employees enjoy meaningful work rewarded by competitive compensation and growth opportunities. They support their families and build long term careers they are proud of.

Exempt

Reports to: Purchasing Manager

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS and RESPONSIBILITIES: 

1. Preparation and issuance of purchase orders and change notices
2. Reviews purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policy
3. Manages the supplier base to minimize total cost while meeting all corporate requirements for quality, delivery, and service
4. Visits supplier’s offices and plants to investigate facilities, capacity, and ability to meet quality requirements, specifications, and delivery dates
5. Secures supplier quotations and conducts cost analysis culminating in selection of material supplier
6. Coordinates supplier contract development, vendor analysis, negotiation, and finalization
7. Carries out varied purchasing assignments requiring exercises of judgment and a good working knowledge of materials purchased and sources of supply to satisfy customer requirements
8. Edits purchase requisitions, reviews purchase orders, maintains files of purchasing records, product specification, supplier blueprint, supplier correspondence
9. Participates in customer/company/supplier problem solving meetings and ensures fair settlement to all parties
10. Maintains an open and candid working relationship with immediate supervisor/manager discussing all matters of importance
11. Maintains cost files, communicates cost changes timely and accurately, and resolves invoice cost discrepancies
12. Performs other job functions as requested to support the effective and efficient operation of the organization

JOB COMPETENCIES:

Analytical: Is able to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret data to solve problems and make decisions.

Communication: Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the message.

Continuous Learning: Actively identifying new areas for learning; regularly creating and taking advantage of learning opportunities; using newly gained knowledge and skill on the job and learning through their application.

Decision Making: Identifying and understanding issues, and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences.

Innovation: Generating innovative solutions in work situations; trying different and novel ways to deal with work problems and opportunities.

Stress Tolerance: Maintaining stable performance under pressure or opposition (such as time pressure or job ambiguity); handling stress in a manner that is acceptable to others and to the organization.

Technical/Professional Knowledge and Skills: Having achieved a satisfactory level of technical and professional skill or knowledge in position-related areas, keeping up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise.

Customer Focused: Exceeds customer expectations, seeks out voice of the customer, creates value for the customer, understands and anticipates customer needs.

Contributing to Team Success: Actively participating as a member to move the team toward the completion of goals.

Initiating Action: Taking prompt action to accomplish objectives; taking action to achieve goals beyond what is required; being proactive.

Negotiation: Effectively exploring alternatives and positions to reach outcomes that gain the support and acceptance of all parties.

Planning and Organizing: Establishing courses of action for self and others to ensure that work is completed efficiently.

EDUCATION AND / OR EXPERIENCE/ KNOWLEDGE OR QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university; or one to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Working knowledge of computers such as MS Word, MS Excel and e-mail
• Experience with inventory management software
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Note: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.