Buyer/Planner II

Experience with Developing Category Strategies - With support of the Category Manager/Lead, work with Stakeholders to evaluate and establish business needs, apply forward thinking skills establishing flexible long-term category strategies with value options & clear supplier performance criteria, while thinking “out of the box” longer term to minimize and mitigate risks. Through business partnering the procurement group enhances the relationship and from collaborative efforts bridges the gap of applying critical thinking, helping drive the goals of the company forward, providing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and risk mitigation efforts, while further evaluating our supplier base.

Job Title: Buyer/Planner II
Location: Waltham, MA 02451
Duration: 6+ months contract
 
Job Description

• Senior Buyer is a key role at our client, working with suppliers, stakeholders, and procurement colleagues to run bids, negotiate agreements, category strategy development, with a focus on driving savings benefits and efficiencies.
• They develop and own key supplier and stakeholder relationships, able to evaluate supplier risks and develop mitigation plans.
• As a key member of our procurement group, they deliver innovative thinking supported by detailed analytics, data science, market research, and subject matter expertise, to help our category teams and stakeholders make effective sourcing decisions.
• Through business partnering the procurement group enhances the relationship and from collaborative efforts bridges the gap of applying critical thinking, helping drive the goals of the company forward, providing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and risk mitigation efforts, while further evaluating our supplier base.

Key Accountabilities: The following competencies are core to the Senior Buyer role:
 
Category Management:

• The Senior Buyer must have the ability to think independently and bring viable solutions to the forefront that are actionable
• Experience with Developing Category Strategies - With support of the Category Manager/Lead, work with Stakeholders to evaluate and establish business needs, apply forward thinking skills establishing flexible long-term category strategies with value options & clear supplier performance criteria, while thinking “out of the box” longer term to minimize and mitigate risks
• Supplier Engagement - Regularly engage with suppliers to seek feedback, discuss improvement opportunities, and resolve issues, while ensuring continuous enhancement of supplier performance and alignment with client’s objectives
• Analytics - Utilize varied and complex data sets to identify gaps and new opportunities to drive benefits through the contracts End to End lifecycle, while implementing analytics as part of the Category Strategy
• Market Research - Conduct industry analysis and evaluate supplier performance, incorporating the research into the Category Strategy and associated contract initiatives/bidding events

Procurement/Strategic Sourcing Process (SSP)

• Source Events (RFx, Sole Source, Direct Negotiate) – Leads the execution of multiple sourcing initiatives using tailored procurement strategies to optimize value, mitigate risk, and support business objectives
• Stakeholder Coordination - Develops and maintains relationships with business units and suppliers, while furth understanding the needs and issues that each side faces. At times acting as the interface/bridge between both parties
• Bid Analysis - Analyzes responses to complex bid requests, points out commercial differences, and makes succinct recommendations in selecting appropriate suppliers for contract awards
• Process Management and Improvement - Drive continuous improvement to identify and eliminate waste in the extended E2E Supply Chain. Identify innovative procurement solutions that provide savings benefits and process efficiencies for the organization. Ability to take those ideas and clearly articulate the change solution/improvements to various stakeholders and change board
• Total Cost of Ownership - Evaluate and apply the concept of total cost of ownership (TCO) and supplier/ contract switching costs to support decision making options
• Commercial Negotiation - Capable of preparing negotiation strategies with clarity of desired outcomes and conducting complex negotiations successfully under aggressive time demands
• Understanding Counterparty - Has comprehensive understanding of supplier's position, desired outcomes, and leverage points with the ability to maximize the benefits to the company while maintaining a good working relationship with suppliers
• Build KPI – Work with contract management to evaluate and build appropriate supplier performance measurements (KPls) into contractual frameworks
• Supplier Relationship Management: The Senior Buyer will regularly engage with category suppliers to seek feedback, discuss improvement opportunities, and resolve issues, ensuring continuous enhancement of supplier performance and alignment with client’s objectives
• Foundation Criteria - Identifies critical suppliers and creates appropriate engagement plans to ensure our Supply Chain risk profile and inputs to continuous improvement are proactively managed
• Drive Value - Demonstrates a collaborative approach with supply base and develops integrated plans to drive appropriate value for business and customer requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (B.A or B.S) required; in supply chain or business management degree preferred, masters degree
• Professional Certification in Supply Chain or Contract Management (I.E. CPSM and APICS)
• 5+ Years experience in a procurement role
• Experience in the $10 – 20M spend range with contract and framework/multiyear agreements
• Strategic sourcing, contract negotiations and vendor management, as is a strong working knowledge of ERP systems such as SAP and ARIBA. Also, working knowledge of Power Bi, etc.
• The candidate must have strong interpersonal skills, specifically in communications across a multi-national and matrixed organization.
• Candidate should be proficient in planning, project management, stakeholder engagement, and business analysis
• Ability to clearly articulate one’s position and be able to influence others
• Act as a mentor to other buyers in the organization
• An equivalent combination of education and extensive subject matter expertise along with procurement process experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education requirements listed above