Plant Buyer

Role Purpose

Responsible for assured supply of materials, equipment and services, (on time, best price, high quality) in addition to competitive costs, minimizing inventories while ensuring optimum materials utilization, and supplier performance supporting our Hemlock, Solar Wafer Facility. Sources and purchases machinery, equipment, tools, raw materials, packaging materials, parts, services, and/or supplies necessary for operation of a start-up facility. Compiles and analyzes statistical data to determine feasibility of buying products and to establish price objectives. Compiles information to keep informed on price trends and manufacturing processes. Confers with suppliers and analyses suppliers' operations to determine factors that affect prices and determines lowest cost consistent with quality, reliability, and ability to meet required schedules. Assists management in resolving problems concerning over shipments, shortages, and engineering changes. Contributes to the completion of organizational projects and goals. Errors in judgment or failure to achieve results would normally require a moderate expenditure of resources to rectify. Frequent internal company and external contacts. Represents organization on specific projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Assists with Business Global Supply Management (GSM) Strategy Development. Deploys GSM strategies and plans to make decisions necessary to purchase product or services, aligned with organizational objectives and sourcing strategies.
• Assures Contribution Metrics are updated and linked with site/business cost reduction portfolio.
• Key player for negotiations with Suppliers, including Contract Administration.
• Owns/Assists with Supplier Relationship Management Process (including supplier audits).
• Creates and maintains contractual documents (Supply Agreements, Pricing Agreements, Non-Disclosure Agreements, Certificates of Insurance, etc.).
• Assists with Commodity Reviews and Supply Intelligence
• Inventory Management (where applicable): Organizes, controls, and minimizes materials on hand, slow moving and obsolete materials. May manage storeroom operations.
• Acts as GSM liaison between plants, including materials and quality areas.
• Recommends changes to purchasing practices/supply management to ensure conformance with established laws, policies, and ethical principles activity-based costing). Participates in the planning and implementation of these changes.
• Acts as main contact for RTP to ensure invoicing issues are eliminated or resolved immediately.
• Participates in cross-functional teams focused on process improvements, cost reduction and supply chain issue resolution
• Protects Intellectual Property (IP).
• Ensures compliance with internal and external auditing requirements related especially to GSM or any other certification (if applicable)
• Makes sure that the suppliers are environmental compliance, and that the scrap is correctly disposed
• Champions and advocates for the Global Buying Policy. Ensures compliance.

Experiences/Education - Required

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Experience in manufacturing – operations, planning, quality, engineering, supply chain.
• Experience as a plant or corporate buyer.
• Experience with GSM processes and systems.
• Experience working in a matrix environment or on a cross-functional team.
• Yellow Belt Certification.

Experiences/Education - Desired

• Experience across multiple businesses, division and/or technologies.
• Experience with global manufacturing and business through work or project experience.
• Green Belt Certification.
• Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) or Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), APICS or certification related to Supply Chain.