Buyer – Indirect Procurement & Capital

Description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Buyer – Indirect Procurement & Capital
Department: Finance
Reports To: Plant Controller
FLSA Status: Exempt
Employment Status: Full-Time, Salaried
Work Arrangement: On-Site

POSITION SUMMARY

LM Manufacturing, LLC is a Tier 1 automotive supplier responsible for manufacturing complete seat systems for the Ford Bronco and Ford Ranger.

The Buyer – Indirect Procurement & Capital is responsible for leading the competitive sourcing, procurement, contract management, and financial analysis of the Company's indirect expenditures. The position has primary responsibility for approximately $5–7 million in annual variable overhead (VOH) and indirect spend, in addition to significant capital expenditures associated with new product launches, plant improvements, and ongoing operations.

Reporting to the Plant Controller, the Buyer serves as the primary commercial purchasing resource for indirect goods and services across the facility. This position partners closely with department managers to understand operational and technical requirements while independently managing the commercial sourcing process, including supplier identification, competitive bidding, negotiations, financial analysis, and sourcing recommendations.

The Buyer is expected to challenge historical purchasing practices, increase competition within the supplier base, identify measurable cost-reduction opportunities, strengthen purchasing controls and separation of duties, and provide senior leadership with clear, data-driven sourcing recommendations.

Production raw materials are not within the scope of this position, as production material sourcing is directed by LM Manufacturing's customer.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Sourcing and Procurement

- Lead competitive sourcing activities for indirect goods and services, including capital equipment, MRO materials and equipment, tooling and fixtures, IT hardware and software, facility maintenance and construction, temporary labor, professional services, safety and PPE, office supplies, freight and logistics, utilities, janitorial services, security, landscaping, and other plant expenditures.
- Develop and issue RFQs and RFPs, establish bid requirements, solicit competitive quotations, and manage supplier bidding processes.
- Identify, evaluate, and develop new suppliers while maintaining effective commercial relationships with existing vendors.
- Negotiate supplier pricing, payment terms, commercial terms, service levels, and other conditions to achieve the best overall value for LM Manufacturing.
- Challenge historical purchasing practices and existing supplier relationships when competitive alternatives may provide improved cost, service, quality, or commercial terms.
- Develop detailed bid analyses and sourcing recommendation packages for presentation to senior leadership for final sourcing decisions.
- Create, release, and maintain purchase orders within SAP in accordance with established authorization and procurement requirements.
- Respond to plant purchasing needs with appropriate urgency while maintaining competitive sourcing standards and internal controls.

Capital Procurement

- Lead the commercial sourcing process for capital equipment and projects from initial RFQ through negotiation and sourcing recommendation.
- Partner with Engineering, Maintenance, Operations, and other stakeholders to ensure technical requirements and specifications are clearly defined prior to supplier solicitation.
- Develop comprehensive commercial comparisons of competing capital proposals, considering purchase price, installation costs, operating costs, payment terms, timing, and other relevant total-cost factors.
- Support ROI, payback, and other financial analyses associated with proposed capital investments.
- Negotiate commercial terms and coordinate contracts and purchase orders following final sourcing approval.
- Support capital sourcing associated with new product launches, plant improvements, and other major projects.

Contract and Supplier Management

- Maintain a centralized repository and tracking system for vendor contracts and commercial agreements.
- Proactively monitor contract expiration dates, renewals, pricing changes, insurance certificates, commercial obligations, and other contractual requirements.
- Lead vendor contract renewals and renegotiations to maintain competitive pricing and appropriate commercial terms.
- Negotiate vendor contracts, terms and conditions, service agreements, and other commercial documents in coordination with appropriate internal stakeholders.
- Ensure appropriate supplier documentation is maintained, including contracts, insurance requirements, NDAs, terms and conditions, and related records.
- Monitor supplier performance and work with internal stakeholders and vendors to address cost, delivery, service, quality, or contractual concerns.

Financial Analysis and Cost Reduction

- Develop and execute annual cost-reduction initiatives across indirect and variable overhead expenditures.
- Analyze spending by supplier, category, department, and commodity to identify cost-reduction and sourcing opportunities.
- Prepare detailed supplier bid comparisons, financial analyses, and total-cost evaluations to support sourcing decisions.
- Track and report realized cost savings and cost avoidance generated through sourcing and negotiation activities.
- Perform budget-versus-actual analysis and identify significant spending trends and variances.
- Support ROI and payback analysis for capital investments.
- Partner with the Plant Controller in annual budgeting, forecasting, capital planning, and analysis of variable overhead expenditures.
- Develop and maintain procurement KPIs and regular reporting covering savings initiatives, spending trends, sourcing activity, and contract status.
- Work toward established annual cost-reduction objectives, with an initial focus on identifying opportunities to reduce addressable variable overhead expenditures by approximately 15–20%.

Cross-Functional Support and Internal Controls

- Serve as the primary commercial purchasing resource for indirect goods and services across the facility.
- Partner with Maintenance, Engineering, Operations, IT, Finance, HR, Quality, EHS, and other departments to understand purchasing requirements and operational priorities.
- Establish consistent competitive bidding and sourcing practices across plant departments.
- Maintain appropriate separation of duties between requesting departments, purchasing activities, supplier selection, and financial approval.
- Ensure purchasing and sourcing activities comply with LM Manufacturing policies, authorization requirements, and internal controls.
- Promote cost consciousness, competitive sourcing, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
- Minimum of 3–5 years of purchasing, procurement, strategic sourcing, or related professional experience.
- Strong financial and analytical skills, including the ability to evaluate supplier proposals, spending data, budgets, and investment alternatives.
- Demonstrated experience negotiating supplier pricing and commercial terms.
- Strong Microsoft Excel skills and ability to analyze and organize financial and purchasing data.
- Excellent attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple sourcing activities, contracts, and projects simultaneously.
- Ability to work independently, exercise sound business judgment, and constructively challenge existing purchasing practices.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Purchasing or procurement experience within a manufacturing environment.
- Automotive manufacturing or Tier 1 supplier experience.
- Experience with SAP or a comparable ERP/purchasing system.
- Experience sourcing capital equipment, MRO, facility services, and other indirect spend categories.
- Experience with supplier contract management and commercial negotiations.
- Professional purchasing or supply chain certification, such as CPSM, CPM, or APICS certification.

CORE COMPETENCIES

- Financial and analytical capability
- Negotiation and commercial acumen
- Attention to detail
- Cost-reduction mindset
- Strategic sourcing
- Supplier relationship management
- Contract management
- Sound judgment and integrity
- Initiative and accountability
- Constructive willingness to challenge the status quo
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Clear communication with senior leadership
- Ability to balance cost, quality, service, timing, and operational requirements