Buyer - Direct Materials

**Foxconn System LLC** **Job Description – Buyer- Direct Material** **FSLA Status** **:** Exempt **Location:** Lordstown, OH **Reports To:** Director of Procurement **Primary Function:** As a key member of the Procurement team, the Buyer will be responsible for issuing purchase orders, ensuring uninterrupted material supply, managing and strengthening supplier relationships, and driving improvements in cost, quality, and delivery performance. This on-site role supports the procurement of direct materials for the Foxconn Ohio (FOH) facility in Lordstown, Ohio, and reports directly to the Director of Procurement. The successful candidate will manage a diverse portfolio of commodities, products, and components, overseeing end-to-end purchasing activities that support FOH's manufacturing and assembly operations. Responsibilities also include supplier identification, qualification, and strategic sourcing initiatives to support business objectives. **Core Skills:** - Strong negotiation skills to secure favorable pricing and terms - Supplier relationship management to maintain reliable supply sources - Cost analysis and budgeting to control material expenses - Inventory management understanding to balance supply with production needs - Analytical and problem-solving abilities for managing shortages, pricing fluctuations driven by market conditions and demand changes - Strong communication skills for coordination with suppliers, production, engineering, quality and logistics teams - Attention to detail in contracts, purchase orders, and specifications **Technical Knowledge** - Understanding of Bill of Materials (BOMs) - Material Requirement Planning (MRP) - Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, especially SAP - Production scheduling and manufacturing process - Supplier quality requirements - Contract and purchasing terms - Knowledge of Data Center products and associated suppliers a plus! **Key Responsibilities** - Source and qualify suppliers - Issue and manage purchase orders - Negotiate pricing, contracts, and delivery terms - Monitor supplier performance KPIs (quality, delivery, cost) - Ensure material availability to support production with special attending on long lead items - Manage inventory levels and reduce excess stock - Identify cost-saving opportunities and supply chain risks **Specific Duties and Responsibilities:** - Lead end-to-end supplier onboarding activities, ensuring timely qualification and integration of new suppliers. - Create, issue, and maintain Purchase Orders (POs) in SAP, including supplier, pricing, and part master updates. - Negotiate supplier pricing, delivery schedules, payment terms, confidentiality agreements, and master purchase agreements to optimize cost, quality, and service. - Implement, monitor, and continuously improve purchasing policies, procedures, and processes to drive operational excellence. - Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate supply chain risks to ensure continuity of supply. - Develop and manage strategic supplier relationships, conducting regular business and performance reviews to drive continuous improvement - Collaborate daily with Production Control teams to manage BOM releases and changes, demand fluctuations, material shortages, obsolescence notifications, and other operational requirements - Partner with Legal to negotiate and execute commercial contracts and supplier agreements - Work closely with Accounting to resolve invoice discrepancies, payment issues, and other supplier-related financial commitments - Identify underperforming suppliers and lead cross-functional corrective action initiatives to improve performance and reliability - Establish, track, and analyze supplier key performance indicators (KPIs), driving accountability and continuous improvement across the supply base **Required Education** - Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Finance, Business Administration, Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering, or a closely related field, from an a…