Sr Buyer

Westlake offers you the potential to enrich your work life and career experience in an entrepreneurial environment. We work together to enhance peoples' lives through our products and presence in the communities in which we operate.​

SUMMARY

Organizes, supervises, and monitors purchasing records distribution, recording, and files retention, and actively performs purchasing activities. Cultivates new and long-standing vendor relationships to attain the mutual professionalism required to assure timely deliveries. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

May include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Reviews production schedules, supplier lead time, and related information and utilize Company ERP system to determine direct material Procurement requirements for the plant.
• Trains, monitors, mentors, and assists team members in performance of their duties.
• Negotiates purchases to the most economical advantage to the Company.
• Recognizes market trends and capitalizes on advantageous buying situations.
• Assist Category Managers in developing category strategies.
• Leverage yearly purchases to achieve lowest total cost by establishing yearly or multi-year Contracts for the purchase of goods and services through the identification of repeatable purchases, potential supply base and an appropriate sourcing strategy.
• Prepare, issue, and evaluate RFP/RFQs to include coordinating with Engineering/Operations/and maintenance to develop scope of work and technical specification. 
• Determine the type of contract in conjunction with the legal department and in accordance with good business practices that would be appropriate various services and materials requirements.
• Coordinate with legal, treasury, and risk to resolve vendor exceptions to Company terms and conditions.
• Purchases materials and services for the Plants in a manner which assures that the most economical advantage to the Company has been attained.
• Expedites orders that are critical to the operation of the Plants and those orders that are behind schedule.
• Prepares and maintains preferred Vendor database based on previous cost, quality of service, reliability and types of goods and materials.
• Assists Accounting in resolving purchase/billing discrepancies; warehouse stores and other departments in expediting, scheduling, contracts, and specifications.
• Assures that purchase requisitions have had the proper D.O.A. approval levels applied.
• Develops thorough knowledge of the Company’s ERP tools.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• B.S. / B.A. in Business related or Engineering field
• Minimum 7 years’ of purchasing experience, preferably in a related industry.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate as normally based in an office. Some of the work may be required in the operating units which can require usage of required PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, etc. May also result in exposure to outside elements and may require usage of stairs and elevators. Up to 10% travel including air travel or auto travel may occasionally be required.

Westlake is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable legislation.

If you are an active Westlake employee (or an employee of any Westlake affiliates), please do not apply here. You will apply via the Jobs Hub application in Workday.