Purchasing Agent/Buyer
2 days ago
North Salt Lake
Job Description Position Overview A manufacturer of electrical cable assemblies and wire harnesses is seeking a driven and detail-oriented Purchasing Agent / Buyer / Planner to support its fast-paced and quality-driven operations. This role is responsible for planning and procuring materials in support of Just-In-Time (JIT) manufacturing, ensuring production schedules are met efficiently, accurately, and cost-effectively. The ideal candidate will be experienced in manufacturing or electronics environments, possess strong planning skills and communication skills, and demonstrate a solid understanding of cost structures and how procurement Decisions impact inventory valuation and financial reporting. Key Responsibilities • Plan and procure raw materials, components, and production supplies aligned with build schedules and, • forecasts., • Generate and manage purchase orders based on MRP outputs or planning needs, ensuring timely and, • accurate delivery., • Coordinate closely with Production, Engineering, and Quality teams to support ongoing builds,, • prototypes, and engineering changes., • Maintain accurate item master data, including costs and units of measure, in the ERP system., • Manage supplier relationships and resolve delivery, pricing, or quality issues as needed., • Monitor inventory levels to support JIT objectives while minimizing excess., • Support vendor consolidation and cost-saving initiatives., • Track and report key performance indicators, including delivery accuracy, cost variances, and inventory, • turnover., • Collaborate with the CFO and accounting team during the month-end close to analyze material costs, • variances and ensure accurate reporting., • Understand and ensure proper use of standard cost, last cost, and unit-of-measure accuracy., • Demonstrate working knowledge of the cost rollup procedure and how material costs affect final product, • cost., • Ensure that incorrect cost entries are identified and corrected to protect inventory valuation accuracy., • Assist with compliance and documentation required for customer, audit, and regulatory standards., • At least 3 years of experience in purchasing, procurement, or planning within manufacturing or, • electronics., • Experience working with ERP/MRP systems (e.g., Epicor, SAP, Oracle) and maintaining item-level, • purchasing data., • Proficient in Microsoft Excel for procurement analysis, reporting, and inventory tracking., • Understanding of cost rollups, standard vs. last cost, and unit-of-measure impacts on inventory and cost, • reporting., • Strong organizational, analytical, and negotiation skills., • Collaborative mindset with a team-oriented approach and excellent communication skills., • Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines in a dynamic environment. Preferred Qualifications Manufacturing or Industrial Purchasing Experience • Sources electrical components (wire, terminals, connectors, housings, fasteners, etc.)., • Negotiates pricing, terms, and delivery with suppliers., • Ensure materials meet technical and quality specifications., • Monitors inventory and lead times to support production schedules., • Works closely with engineering, production, and quality departments., • Manages supplier performance and maintains accurate purchasing records., • Experience interpreting engineering drawings, bill of materials (BOMs), and technical specs is especially valuable., • Comfort with MRO (maintenance, repair, operations) or component-level purchasing, • Vendor qualification, cost analysis, and contract negotiation., • Experience using ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Epicor, NetSuite, etc.)., • Managing supplier lead times and delivery schedules., • Building and maintaining long-term supplier relationships., • Familiarity with inventory management systems and material planning (MRP) processes., • Ability to analyze usage trends and forecast material requirements., • Candidates from warehouse coordination, scheduling, or operations support can often bridge into buying roles with minimal retraining.