Senior Buyer

• Provides overall strategic direction, implementation and continuous improvement for Supply Chain's Cost Management initiatives. These encompass the specification, procurement, delivery, storage and disposition of materials and equipment, as well as services, for operations, maintenance and capital projects needs of the Enterprise Business Units.

Key Accountabilities

• Leads innovative and creative cross functional teams to develop and drive cost competitive procurement strategies.
• Leads company procurement processes to ensure quality, cost effectiveness, and delivery from Company's supplier business partners.
• Cultivates and builds internal and external alliances and partnerships with customers and suppliers to drive cost reduction, process improvement, and best practices.
• Studies market trends, conducts and applies benchmarking/competitive assessments, as well as promoting industry standards.
• Represents the Company in supplier relationships which include negotiations, commercial terms and conditions.
• Maximizes assets and specific inventory investments to balance Business Unit needs with total cost management.
• Provides mentoring and direction to Buyers and Associates Buyers to implement buying plans and achieve goals.
• Supports DTE and SCM goals and measurements; and understands and complies with all DTE and SCM corporate policies and procedures.
• Understands and supports the SPM processes and goals

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• 5 years of experience in supply chain management

Other Qualifications

Preferred

• Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or Economics
• Industrial Project Management and Construction Management experience
• Experience in industrial or utility industry vendor management
• Experience in negotiating services and construction agreements
• Knowledge and experience of commercial terms and conditions in coordination with internal or external counsel

Other Requirements

• Demonstrate strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
• Intermediate-to-advanced skills in Microsoft applications (i.e: Excel, PowerPoint, & Word)
• Effectively manages workload level, as demonstrated by handling complex multimillion dollar contracts, consistent positive business unit and warehouse feedback, little rework, meetings deadlines, taking on additional work, working independently on routine tasks, and effectively prioritizing tasks to meet business needs and deadlines.
• Strong negotiation and contract writing, as demonstrated by successfully and independently handling complex contracts, including proficiency in considering multiple long term and short term variables, building relationships with our business unit partners and vendors, and crafting contracts that are uniquely tailored to fit business needs.
• Assist in the development of scope of work, making recommendations for legal review, generating creative and innovative solutions, and reviewing peers' contracts for compliance with DTE Energy requirements.
• Understands risk management, value analysis and proper decision making, as demonstrated by ensuring terms and conditions are complete and accurate, utilizing appropriate costing models to project risks and reward, appropriately analyzing tradeoffs, consequences and liabilities of actions, knowing when to escalate issues to leadership or experts, and independently making good decisions in unique situations.
• Strong business acumen; with the ability to understand business needs and the organization as a whole, as demonstrated by participation in business unit meetings, recognized by the business unit as adding value, recognizing impact of market trends, demonstrating expert knowledge in assigned areas of products or services, and identifying points of leverage across the business unit and organization.
• Demonstrated application of continuous improvement tools, systems & processes.

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