Category Buyer

ELANTAS North America Inc. is seeking a Category Buyer to develop and implement category-specific strategies to manage the supply of goods and services within their assigned categories. They are key in achieving cost savings, ensuring supplier performance, and maintaining alignment with company goals. This role is based on-site in Schenectady, NY and requires some travel to other US facilities.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement category strategies in line with the company goals.
• Develops and maintains supplier relationships to aid in cost reductions, quality improvements, on time delivery and innovation.
• Responsible for cost management by analyzing spending data, negotiating favorable terms, and supporting cost reduction initiatives.
• Monitoring KPIs and implementing process improvements.
• Manage the source to contract process for the assigned categories.
• Accountable for supply risk management related to the area of responsibility.
• Utilize MRP to purchase requirements of assigned materials at lowest cost for the quantity, quality, and delivery requirements.
• Reviews requisition for completeness, obtains competitive bids, selects reliable sources, evaluates quotations, and makes final award based on quality, price, and delivery capabilities.
• Coordinates and makes necessary arrangements for processing of rejected material and initiate corrective action with the supplier to ensure the reason for the reject is resolved. Works with finance to verify credit have been received for rejected products.
• Seeks and recommend cost saving possibilities based upon new sources of supply, substitutions, or new items.
• Find new materials based on specific technical requirements.
• Performs follow up on orders and expedite supplier’s deliveries and provide lead-time information to required departments.
• Works closely with receiving personnel to resolve all supplier delivery discrepancies.
• Product valuation including transfer pricing and reconciliation.
• Implement and manage shipping, receiving, warehouse and material movement schedules.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, chemistry, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of purchasing experience.
• Experience in international markets.
• Skilled in SAP and Microsoft Office
• Experience working with diverse teams.
• Familiarity with global trade agreements is a plus.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Base Salary: $75,000–$80,000/year, commensurate with experience.
• Eligible for yearly bonus.
• Full medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Retirement plan with employer contribution.
• Holiday, Vacation and Sick Pay.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong negotiation skills with a proven track record of driving down costs.
• Leads effectively in constant change.
• Analytical mindset to identify savings opportunities through data.
• Assertiveness and persistence in supplier management and contract negotiations.
• Experience with strategic sourcing and vendor performance management.
• Comfortable challenging the status quo and pushing for better terms.
• Upholds high ethical standards.
• Handles all shipping and documentation tasks associated with all incoming/outgoing orders.

Physical Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk; reach, lift, push, pull and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Other abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and color vision.

Work Environment:

• On-site 5 days a week.
• This position will operate in a chemical manufacturing environment, however primarily in an office setting.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of the level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

ALTANA AG and its subsidiaries are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $75,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person