Buyer
PURPOSE
Evaluates wood commodities pricing and suppliers and purchases lumber and / or structural panels to meet company’s goals in quality, delivery and cost.
Negotiates with sawmills and various secondary distribution sources to obtain competitive costs, including logistics. Maintains on-going relationships with suppliers, including securing bids and placing purchase orders.
Replenishes distribution center lumber inventory as needed and facilitates outbound order management from internal distribution sites to corporate lumber yards and component plants.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Analyzes wood and panel commodities prices in current cash and futures markets to enable acquisition of products at optimum cost to enable locations to sell at lowest pricing while maximizing gross margin, turns, and sales volume for both direct shipments and reload / DC inventory.
- Interviews key wood and or panel commodity sources to obtain information about short and long term market prices.
- Purchases wood commodities and place special orders with consideration as to cost and market timing so as to increase turns, margins and sales volume.
- Develops market information and advises supply chain personnel as to current pricing, market trends, availability, freight information, order status, and product location.
- Solicits, analyzes, and recommends vendor products and programs for wood and panel merchandise such as dimension lumber, OSB and plywood.
- Processes claims / complaints regarding defective merchandise.
- Prepares and maintains appropriate records of purchases and freight by use of purchase order and filing system.
- Places special orders as requested.
- Communicates market fluctuations and any related commodities problems.
- Provides functional advice to less experienced buyers.
- Other duties may be assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and / or ability required.
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management or related field
- Five (5) years related experience;
- Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience using JDA helpful or other ERP statistical software packages.
COMPETENCIES
- Comprehensive knowledge of material management and procurement function
- Skill in analyzing market trends
- Strong analytical, quantitative, problem solving, and technical skills
- Ability to plan, organize, and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
- Knowledge of market and business and commodity management
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Excellent negotiation skills
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Exhibit proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and an enterprise resource planning (ERP) program