Lead Buyer/NAM Category Manager

Lead Buyer / NAM Category Manager

Position Description

Job Summary

Lead buyer for MRO, Sales and Marketing, headquarters operations, facility services, human resources and other administration departments.

In this role the lead buyer is responsible for all aspects of purchasing, such as strategic planning, RFPs, supplier development, supplier performance, contract management, cost and working capital management, single source risk mitigation, project management, communication with internal customers, ERP master data, etc.

The Lead Buyer is directly responsible for category management of high value and / or complex materials and services across multiple locations and Abrasives headquarters.

The incumbent works in a team oriented work environment, coordinating closely with stakeholders at all levels of the company.

He / she works closely with others to establish goals & objectives and develops and implements action plans to achieve desired results.

The incumbent analyzes quotations for materials and services and evaluates current vendor pricing, using all ethical means to achieve the best total cost position for the company.

He / she also leads the process each year to re-set standard costs for assigned materials, forecasts purchase price variances for the coming year, analyzes actual results monthly, and reports to management.

The incumbent must acquire and maintain a strong knowledge of vendor capabilities, specifications, and trade practices for his / her assigned categories and may be called upon to advise and assist other locations or business units to resolve problems of mutual concern or maximize corporate cost / service opportunities.

The incumbent must also be familiar with programs for improving or developing new products in order to provide any related information derived through vendor contacts.

The Lead Buyer serves as Saint-Gobain Abrasives representative to suppliers and maintains the companys reputation for integrity and the highest ethical standards in all dealings with suppliers.

He / she coordinates, conducts, and participates in meetings and discussions between supplier representatives and internal personnel concerning subjects other than price, delivery, or quality negotiations (i.

e., value analysis, engineering, new methods, techniques, processes, etc.). He / she represents the company position with suppliers and establishes pricing strategies, short and long-term goals, and value as a customer with the top management of those companies.

To do this, he / she must establish effective business relationships with suppliers key personnel in order to know their capabilities.

Required Qualifications

The Lead Buyer requires a high degree of problem solving ability. His / her involvement with major national and international sources requires a commitment to the highest ethical standards.

This position requires an individual who has the ability to perform well under pressure. The ability to recognize problems at suppliers prior to general market knowledge is also required in order to affect plans for the continued supply to the company.

He / she must be able to develop and maintain a high level of credibility and the active cooperation of the key people with whom he / she interacts.

This position requires a minimum of 5 years of purchasing or related supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment.

A college degree in business, engineering, or related studies is preferred. The incumbent must be knowledgeable and have demonstrated abilities in effective negotiating techniques.

This person must have excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communications skills and must be able to demonstrate excellent analytical and organizational skills.

The incumbent must possess the ability to achieve a high level of performance with little day to day supervision and work effectively in a team oriented work group.

He / she should be proficient in the use of personal computers and various PC spreadsheet applications. SAP Purchasing experience is preferred.

Company Summary

Saint-Gobain Abrasives manufacturers and distributes high quality abrasive products to engineering, distribution and retail markets.

We are the worlds leading abrasives manufacturer and the only international supplier of abrasives that manufacturers each of the 3 major types of abrasives : Bonded Abrasives, Coated Abrasives and Diamond products.

With a strong presence in every continent the Abrasives Division serves its customers through structured sales operations in over 26 countries and employs nearly 16,000 people globally.

Abrasives forms a key part of the High Performance Materials Division of Saint-Gobain, which is one of the 5 key areas of activity in which Saint-Gobain operate.

Legal Statement

Saint-Gobain provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

Saint-Gobain is an equal opportunity employer of individuals with disabilities and supports the hiring of veterans.*

Lead Buyer / NAM Category Manager

Location : Worcester

Posting Date : 09 / 30 / 2021

Job Code : 587961