Buyer - MRO in Eden Prairie, Minnesota at Anagram International LLC

Company Overview:

Anagram leads the world in making balloons fun with consumer-inspired - and inspiring - product development, industry-expanding innovation, and strong, value-added partnerships. We proudly offer many products you'll only find with an Anagram label.

Job Description
The Buyer / Planner MRO is responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the procurement process are performed in a timely and accurate manner from finding and evaluating sources of supply, coordinating specification documentation and testing, negotiating costs and contracts, creating purchase orders, expediting delivery, coordinating engineering change information, and resolving any quality issues.
This buying position is responsible for all non-production related purchasing requirements.

Responsibilities and Duties
• Support Anagram corporate contracts, while develop alternate sources of supply to specific Anagram needs. Tasks include: source items, prepare quote specifications, and analyze bids, recommend changes to our supply base, qualify suppliers as future sources.
• Partner with Anagram procurement and operations to develop specific suppliers. These agreements are the framework for the business relationship and would include the agreed upon purchase price, market indices, estimated annual volume, payment terms, production specifications, inventory and warehouse agreements, and any other additional requirements.
• Develop, understand, and monitor market indices to ensure fair pricing for purchased commodities.
• Analyze supplier total cost (unit price, quantity, delivery time, quality, freight) and develop cost savings / cost avoidance strategies.
• Correspond with suppliers regarding various types of information, examples include Engineering Change Orders (ECO’s), product specifications, supplier capability & costs, delivery status, transport method, etc.
• Manage material flow to ensure inventory is maintained at the optimum level to support on time customer deliveries while keeping inventory investment at appropriate levels.
• Review MRP system reports for recommended production material replenishment for assigned commodities. Negotiate the best value for Anagram considering price, quality, quantity, terms, and delivery based on requirements and inventory strategies. Create purchase orders as required to support Anagram’s needs.
• Ensure purchase orders exceeding authorized limits are reviewed and approved. Once approved communicate via fax or email all purchase order information ensuring order acknowledgement from the suppliers.
• Monitor purchase order need dates and expedite materials as needs change. Communicate with invested parties any changes or pertinent information such as shipping updates, order changes, tracking information, etc.
• Coordinate return of nonconformance material to suppliers. Communicate rejection status to supplier requesting return authorization. Process RA ensuring the return and replacement of defective material. Monitor supplier credits as required.
• Evaluate supplier performance, working with suppliers to improve as necessary.
• Work with accounting to maintain product costing information, establish new standard costs, and provide solutions regarding supplier invoice discrepancies.
• Maintain supplier and item data in required systems.
• Develop policies, processes, and procedures to continually improve procurement operations.

This job specification should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as required by their supervisor.

Knowledge/Skills Required:
1. BA/BS is recommended or equivalent five yrs professional work experience: Degree in business and /or related field preferred.
2. CPM and/or APICS certification preferred.
3. Five years + professional work experience in Procurement/Sourcing.
4. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
5. Excellent planning and organizing skills with the ability to coordinate multiple projects and deadlines.
6. Highly detail oriented with excellent analytical skills.
7. Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills.
8. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.