Associate Buyer at Sportech, LLC – Elk River, Minnesota

Sportech is a rapidly growing company in Elk River, MN. We are looking for talented people who wish to join a values-based company that desires to help our people and customers win. We design, manufacture, and assemble cab components and systems for the powersports, golf and turf, industrial and agricultural end markets. Our design and engineering capabilities allow us to provide complex components and assemblies to our original equipment manufacturer customers. We are always on the gas and seeking dynamic, enthusiastic, and motivated individuals to join our extraordinary team.

Sportech offers eligible full-time employees a robust and competitive benefits package, which includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision plan options, including flexible spending accounts (HSA, FSA, and DCA)
• Short-term and long-term disability benefits
• Basic life insurance and voluntary life insurance
• Hospital indemnity plans, pet insurance, and legal/identity theft services
• 401k plan with up to a 4% employer match
• Paid company holidays, paid vacation, and paid volunteer time
• Sportech Learning Academy (SLA) with courses offered onsite quarterly, focusing on personal and professional growth and development for employees, and tuition reimbursement options for courses completed outside of Sportech

Further benefits information is provided as part of the offer process for any offer extended by Sportech. Pay varies by position and is based on multiple factors including labor market data and, depending on position, may include education, work experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, and/or certifications. Additionally, Sportech takes into account the internal equity of current employees when considering compensation. Sportech’s reasonable and good-faith estimate for the range of new hire compensation at the time of posting for this position is between $55,000 - $65,000 annually. Pay may also include variable compensation from time to time such as overtime for non-exempt positions, shift differential for specific shifts, and/or bonus targets (subject to plan eligibility and other requirements).

Job Summary

The Associate Buyer reports to the Purchasing Manager and is responsible for procurement of materials, inventory levels, supplier management, and analytic reporting in support of production operations.

Essential Job Functions

• Procure materials & equipment in support of production and internal operations.
• Manage material flow and inventory levels, of assigned commodities, to ensure proper flow of materials to production.
• Understand and communicate specifications, as well as design changes, to suppliers.
• Maintain and update costs in the system to ensure accurate reporting.
• Monitor supplier performance and communicate performance results.
• Follow-up with suppliers on continuous improvement activities including corrective actions related to performance.
• Manage communications of non-conforming materials to and from suppliers.
• Participate in and support continuous improvement efforts to increase efficiency, reduce costs and achieve company goals.
• Maintain & distribute reports to support the purchasing group.
• Process all defective material requests & get supplier credits, when necessary

• BA or BS degree (Business, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, related focus) preferred
• In lieu of a degree, 2- 5 years’ experience in a similar role.
• Hands on experience with ERP/MRP systems and demand-base planning systems is essential. Experience with Epicor strongly preferred.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, and/or Six Sigma strongly preferred.
• Experience using Microsoft Office Suite required.
• Minimal travel may be required.

Abilities required

• Requires strong problem solving, analytical and decision-making skills.
• Excellent organizational and multitasking skills.
• Must display excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to work with all levels of an organization.