Senior Buyer

Connecting and Protecting People, Microwave Products Group (MPG) is a leading global provider of mission-critical engineered electronic components and subsystems comprised of five business units in six manufacturing locations. Our brand names are recognized globally including: BSC Filters, York, UK; Criteria Labs, Austin, TX; Dow-Key Microwave, Ventura, CA; Pole/Zero, West Chester, OH; Espy, Austin, TX; and K&L Microwave, Salisbury, Maryland and Dominican Republic. Our expertise is the design and manufacture of communications-based specialty products – engineered components and subsystems – for demanding military, space, commercial aerospace/industrial, and telecom infrastructure applications where function and reliability are crucial.

 

Why work for us?

The backbone behind our collection of outstanding businesses is a team of dedicated employees who protect and enhance our valued reputation for quality and delivering what we promise. It’s our values that defines us to all of our key audiences: our shareholders, customers, prospective employees and especially ourselves.

 

Summary:

As a Senior Buyer at Microwave Products Group – Pole/Zero Corporation in West Chester, OH, you will be responsible for developing, implementing, and managing assigned Dover and Pole/Zero purchasing category strategies.  These strategies must reduce the total cost of materials and services, reduce overall supply base risk, and support supply base performance improvements.

 

Primary Responsibilities:

• Prepares bid packages, conducts bidder conferences, analyzes and evaluates proposals, negotiates terms and conditions, selects or recommends suppliers, writes awards, administers resulting subcontracts, and expedites orders when necessary
• Confers with suppliers and analyzes supplier operations to determine factors that affect prices and determine the lowest cost consistent with quality, reliability, and ability to meet required schedules
• Participates in developing negotiation strategy and skillfully utilizes techniques to achieve negotiation targets
• Works with various functions within the company to select suppliers and establish alternative sources of supply
• Administers and manages supplier contracts to ensure compliance externally and internally
• Monitors and adjusts purchase orders to maximize quality and service level while minimizing inventory
• Keeps abreast of market trends, changes in business practices in the assigned commodity, and new or altered types of materials
• Tracks cost savings, cost avoidances, and cost increases
• Assist in the transition of new products from product development to the manufacturing process by working with program management
• Participates in selection of suppliers who have the ability to meet delivery, quality, and cost requirements; integrating suppliers early in the design process; and eliminating barriers with suppliers that would negatively affect the manufacture of the end product
• Must respond to daily ERP message notifications to ensure continuity of part supply
• Reacts to daily shortages, ERP reschedules, and adjusts purchase orders accordingly
• Assures balance of supply and demand to meet customer’s expectations
• Generates purchase orders (discrete, consignment, blanket) through the ERP system
• Manages system attributes to ensure data integrity
• Processes RMAs on a daily basis
• Complies with all quality policies while continuously identifying opportunities for improvement
• Resolves delivery and/or quality issues through problem solving and supplier performance improvements
• Identifies and eliminates non value-added steps using lean methodology
• Promotes continuous improvement culture by identifying opportunities for improvement and applies proven tools in implementing sustainable fixes

 

 Knowledge, skills and abilities strongly preferred include:

• Ability to lead teams and positively influence peers and other cross-functional teams
• Energetic and self-motivated
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Sound knowledge and application of negotiation skills
• Strong communication skills
• Solid knowledge of supply chain requirements, systems, supplier development, and process improvement