Senior Buyer

Company Overview:

BTD is a fast growing metalworking company. We provide custom metalwork services for some of the world's top brands. Our 1300+ employees work from four facilities throughout the Midwest and Southeast. We invest in our people, our equipment, and our facilities to offer our clients the best value possible. We are also a wholly owned subsidiary of Otter Tail Corporation, a publicly traded company on NASDAQ.

Summary: Manages assigned categories of raw materials, fabricated parts and other goods and services to include Supplier Relations, Contract Negotiation, Management of Cost Savings Initiatives, and Continuous Quality Improvement. Proactively works with Sales and other Departments as needed to meet Customer demands. Develops purchasing and customer service strategies supportive of customer/supplier partner shipping, JIT (Just In Time), required quality levels, and financial profitability. Analyze raw material market conditions as they relate to the Company.

Safety is #1 at BTD: Our expectation is that every employee: 1) Strictly follows safety policies, rules and safe work methods. 2) Promptly corrects or reports safety hazards or unsafe conditions. Promptly reports injuries for prompt diagnosis and treatment. 3) Makes regular suggestions for safety process improvements to support continuous improvement in safety.

Essential Functions:

1. Researches and subsequently qualifies new Supplier sources for the purpose of obtaining improved pricing, delivery, quality, and service for BTD raw material/services.

2. Keeps abreast of relevant market trends and conditions to ensure awareness of potential changes in the market place that may affect price, availability, or quality of product purchased.

3. Purchases assigned items from qualified sources to include the interpretation and negotiation of favorable terms and conditions.

4. Maintains purchase order, quotation, and quality records in accordance with departmental policies.

5. Aggressively obtains and prepares quotations, evaluates same and selects Suppliers providing the best position for the Company.

6. Reviews and interprets requests for purchases to include requirements generated via ERP/MRP Manufacturing system.

7. Resolves all exceptions taken to issued/negotiated purchase orders.

8. Coordinates supplier visits on and offsite; maintains open and honest business relationships with Suppliers and subcontractors.

9. Participates in the development and implementation of systems which measure, track, and analyze supplier and material effectiveness, including Supplier delivery performance, price and product quality.

10. Develops Supplier Performance Reports and conducts Supplier Performance Reviews semi-annually.

11. Conducts on-site Supplier surveys and quality audits to ensure Supplier compliance with ISO Requirements and meets BTD Manufacturing, Inc. expectations.

12. Issues Supplier Corrective Action Reports/Nonconformance Debit Memos to Suppliers and follows up on corrective action and verification as required by departmental process.

13. Coaches specific buyers in areas such as Supplier Qualification and Development, Continuous Quality Improvement, Cost Savings Initiatives, and Advanced Purchasing Practices.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: We are looking for someone with experience in the Steel Industry. Graduation from high school and a minimum of two years of post high school training with an emphasis on purchasing, a four year degree or five years work experience in the field of Purchasing.

Experience and Skills Required: At least three years of recent related purchasing experience in a manufacturing environment which includes the following skills and abilities:

1. Strong working knowledge of manufacturing industry purchasing MRP/ERP systems, supply chain management, contract administration, negotiation and inventory control.

2. Experience working with Steel, either with a mill, service center or manufacturing.

3. Working knowledge of general accounting principles, production control, quality control and traffic management.

4. High level knowledge of product costing, internal accounting controls, and financial analysis of revenues and expenditures.

5. Knowledge of engineering and manufacturing as they relate to the purchasing function to include basic blueprint reading.

6. Ability to organize, direct and coordinate manufacturing purchasing programs.

7. Ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with Suppliers, Internal customers, and co-workers and to present ideas effectively, orally and in writing.

8. Ability to coach specified personnel, developing their ability to eventually purchase at the Senior Buyer level.

9. Considerable knowledge of modern office practices and procedures.

10. Ability to operate general office equipment including related purchasing applications on a microcomputer.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of the job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of the job, the employee may be exposed to weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

(EO/AAMet/Disability Employer)