Buyer

**Position Summary** The Buyer/Planner is responsible for the strategic sourcing, procurement, and inventory planning of Maintenance, Repair & Operations (MRO) materials and packaging supplies that support Essex Solutions’ North American manufacturing facilities (Fort Wayne, Franklin IN/TN, Torreon, Simcoe, and JCP). This role operates with a customer first mindset, treating plant operations as primary customers and ensuring supply continuity, cost discipline, and compliance with procurement policies and financial controls. The Buyer/Planner serves as a key partner to plant operations, maintenance, production planning, and corporate sourcing, balancing responsiveness with strategic execution to support uninterrupted manufacturing performance. **Key Responsibilities** Procurement & Strategic Sourcing - Lead sourcing activities for MRO and packaging categories, ensuring alignment with corporate strategies and compliance requirements. - Conduct RFQs, evaluate supplier bids, and negotiate pricing, terms, and service levels to secure competitive advantage and supply reliability. - Validate requisitions for compliance with MRO Purchasing Policy prior to approval. - Ensure purchase order accuracy and alignment with approved specifications and all applicable policies - Maintain proactive communication with Corporate Sourcing and Supply Chain regarding risks, gaps, or supplier performance issues. - Escalate urgent procurement situations requiring expedited approval or action. - Develop project charters for assigned initiatives, including goals, KPIs, and timelines. - Assuring that the plant(s) consistently sources from the most competitive suppliers and secures cost‑efficient purchasing outcomes. Customer Service & Plant Partnership - Serve as a trusted partner to plant operations, providing responsive, solutions-oriented procurement support. - Maintain strong communication with maintenance, operations, and plant leadership to understand priorities and upcoming needs. - Respond urgently to critical or unplanned MRO requirements to minimize production risk. - Provide timely updates on order status, delays, and issue resolution. - Balance responsiveness with adherence to sourcing strategy and cost discipline. Cost Savings and Financial Impact - Deliver weekly cost savings and cost avoidance aligned with departmental goals; maintain accurate documentation in the savings tracker. - Identify cost‑reduction opportunities through data analysis, supplier negotiations, standardization, and material optimization. - Support corporate sourcing initiatives and cross‑functional cost‑saving projects. - Collaborate with internal stakeholders to evaluate and implement cost‑saving ideas and process improvements. Packaging Planning & Inventory Management - Manage packaging inventory levels to ensure supply reliability while minimizing excess and avoiding obsolescence. - Collaborate closely with production planners to anticipate requirements based on schedules, changes, ramp‑ups/downs, and shutdowns. - Establish and maintain min/max levels or safety stock based on demand patterns, lead times, and operational variability. - Support implementation of new packaging solutions, materials, and suppliers. Systems, Compliance & Process Discipline - Ensure all procurement activities comply with corporate strategies, policies, and KSOX requirements. - Maintain complete and accurate documentation for new supplier setup per Sourcing Work Instructions. - Ensure purchase order pricing accuracy and maintain up‑to‑date due dates in iPurchase. - Close purchase orders for materials not being delivered to maintain system accuracy and audit readiness. - Demonstrate strong process discipline and adherence to procurement workflows. Cross‑Functional Collaboration - Collaborate with fellow buyers on projects, coverage, best practices, and continuous improvement initiatives. - Share tools, insights, and process enhancements to strengthen team performance and consistency across s…