To help us drive excellence, you’ll get to:Provides input into the development of departmental strategic goals.Responsible for meeting purchasing metrics and providing the information for the purchasing performance metrics.Actively participates in the resolution of commercial issues as they relate to the assigned commodities.Implements innovative and effective purchasing activities to meet and exceed purchasing objectives.Develops and manages supplier relationships with assigned suppliers.Responsible for preparing requests for quotations (RFQ’s) based on projections for combined plant quantity and material requirements.Analyzes and assess quotes for timeliness, accuracy, quality, price and service as necessary to meet program and customer requirements.Based on quote analysis, recommends or selects suppliers according to purchase policy guidelines and consistent with commodity strategies.Responsible for understanding all plant requirements for the assigned commodities in order to leverage buying power.Pursues cost saving initiatives and supports engineering change management system with required commercial information.Purchases materials from suppliers at the lowest cost consistent with quality, reliability of source and urgency of need.Negotiates vendor contracts including price, quality, payment terms and service, along with customization of the contract to fit the needs of the plants.Collects, analyzes and monitors category specific information relating to spending, supplier performance, user adoption and compliance, standards and specifications and applicable industry benchmarks.Responsible for purchasing large amounts of commodities and must be knowledgeable of marketplace cost drivers.Close interaction with corporate and plant personnel is required.Possesses a strong knowledge of the OEMs as well as plant operations.Utilize purchasing terminology.Utilize supplier relationship management programs that focus on quality, productivity and innovation.Assists the plants in following up to expedite delivery and shipment.Must be knowledgeable of marketplace cost drivers. This salary-exempt contract role is a part of our Corporate Purchasing team and reports to the Purchasing Manager.Required experience:Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in purchasing.Minimum eight (6) years’ experience in purchasing.Effective negotiating skillsAbility to learn a purchase order system.Ability to use creative methods to manage inventories and supply agreements.Ability to understand complex equipment and production projects.Solid presentation and communication skillsStrong finance, quantitative, and analytical skillsUnderstanding of manufacturing processes and techniques (TQM, Six Sigma, etc.)Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.Excellent leadership, organizational and interpersonal skills.Ability to work well with others in a team environment.Proficient in Microsoft Office software.