Commodity Buyer

Job Summary

Commodity Buyer - Aluminum Coil & Commercial Metals will plan, direct and coordinate procurement/purchasing of Aluminum Coil, Structural Steel, Structural Stainless Steel, and other related products or services. Procurement duties include setting supplier expectations, drive best cost, create/release purchase orders, make purchases and manage optimum inventory levels. Additionally, the individual is responsible to work closely with suppliers to reduce lead time, improve on-time delivery, quality, continuously improve inventory turns and identify/execute cost reduction opportunities. The ideal candidate is responsible for maintaining an effective communication with a variety of suppliers as well as working cross-functionally within the company to prevent material shortage, resolve item/component issues, costing or invoicing concerns, new/substitute materials and reconcile three-way match issues related to receiving, price, quantity mismatch and/or invoicing errors. This position will follow up with suppliers on purchase orders, shipments, timing and deliveries while also being responsible for resolving any procurement, quality, invoice and inventory related issues including appropriate ERP/MRP transactions. Ability to perform demand analysis, prepare material usage and consumption trend reports and estimated delivery schedules are key success factors. Interface with internal/external stakeholders including commercial, engineering, manufacturing, shipping, receiving logistics is essential to ensure a high level of collaboration to deliver results. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong attention to detail, sense of urgency, bias for proactive action while possess excellent math, analytical, organization and communication skills.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Procurement/purchasing of Aluminum Coil, Structural Steel, Structural Stainless Steel, etc. necessary for company operations.
• Drive best costs, issue orders, and monitor timely deliveries of all raw materials and/or services to ensure continuity of supply and adequate inventory levels.
• Assure purchasing documents are properly completed, terms & conditions meet approved standards.
• Support direction and strategies regarding supplier demand forecasting, capacity planning, capability assessment, supply base inventory management, and supplier replacement.
• Manage supplier on time delivery performance, maintain system data integrity and measure performance on related key indicators.
• Work with Supply Chain organization to identify preferred, qualified and approved suppliers for key spend categories that support plant production targets and revenue objectives.
• Solicit and analysis new quotes, bid proposals, and negotiate within budgetary limitations and scope of authority.
• Recommend cost saving proposals including make-versus-buy analysis, alternative sourcing, step pricing for volume discounts, and supplier evaluation criteria.
• Proactively identify, communicate, and rapidly assist with resolving issues that delay material deliveries and material shortages.
• Interact with suppliers to communicate delivery expectations, forecasts, item changes, lead time management and material expedites or delays to ensure supply meet delivery targets
• Drive and execute cost reduction and cost avoidance opportunities.
• Review purchase requisitions, place purchase orders, issue change notices, review exception messages to ensure delivery of materials as necessary to adhere to production schedules.
• Maintain D365 material master records for assigned materials, ensure accuracy of records, source lists, and promptly reconcile supplier invoices for payment including invoice audit to resolve price discrepancies.
• Review part usage/consumption history to ensure planning parameters are maintained.
• Review and maintain internal/external Kanban replenishment, inventory min/max, reorder point, safety stock, vendor managed programs, scheduling agreements and blanket orders.
• Actively participate in NCR/MRB review of defective/nonconforming materials with quality, production, engineering, suppliers to eliminate root cause, implement corrective actions.
• Support Commodity Manager vision and strategy as requested.
• Other duties as requested.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Operations or Supply Chain Management and minimum 5 or more years of demonstrated supply chain experience as a Buyer in a manufacturing or assembly environment.
• ERP/MRP experience, application knowledge of purchasing, materials management modules.
• Microsoft Dynamics D365 working knowledge desirable.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, excellent interpersonal skill.
• Strong organizational and collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated record of successfully managing shifting deadlines and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite.
• Demonstrated skills in problem solving.
• Strong project management and analytical skills.
• APICS certification (CPIM) a plus.
• Demonstrated supplier negotiation skills/experience.
• Ability to coordinate, collaborate and work with all functional areas.

COMPANY PROFILE

CST Industries is a global leader in the manufacture and construction of factory coated metal storage tanks, aluminum domes and specialty covers. CST’s existing company portfolio consists of CST Storage, CST Covers and Vulcan Tanks. Five manufacturing facilities and technical design centers and multiple regional sales offices are located throughout North America and the United Kingdom. Manufacturing locations are located in the United States (Kansas City, MO; Conroe, TX; DeKalb, IL; Winchester, TN) and in the United Kingdom (Alfreton, England). International offices are located in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, India, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Singapore, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam. Currently, more than 350,000 storage tanks and 19,000 covers have been installed in 125 countries throughout the world.