Purchasing Buyer I

Company Overview

Nippon Seiki is a world-class manufacturer of instruments for vehicles, agricultural, and construction equipment. Established in 1945, Nippon Seiki Co.

Ltd. is headquartered in Japan, with numerous facilities worldwide. N.S. International, Ltd. ("NSI"), a group company of Nippon Seiki, located in Troy, MI, is a tier one supplier of instrument clusters and head-up display units for FCA US, General Motors, BMW, Honda, Harley Davidson, Suzuki, Polaris, Arctic Cat and other OEM's.

Purpose of Job

Direct support for NSNA Purchasing Department with process definitions, strategic and administrative support. Purchasing Buyer ensures the delivery of business outcomes through a structured approach to problem solving, leveraging lean techniques, and data analyses.

This role also brings outstanding skills in leadership, analysis, critical thinking, conflict management, and risk management.

Purchasing Buyer’s will work across the organization to ensure upstream and downstream impacts are identified, communicated, and aligned.

Purchasing Buyer will be responsible for defining and creating standard operating procedures within the Purchasing organization and supporting the assigned commodity in the day-to-day activities.

This role requires exceptional communication and organizational skills. A successful candidate needs to thrive in a pressurized environment using data and facts to help identify risks, manage resources, and solve problems quickly and effectively.

A dedicated team ethic with the ability to interact at all levels and across business boundaries is required to be successful in this position.

Major Duties / Responsibilities

Top duties or activities in a given year. Not all tasks / steps performed are listed.

• Support the supplier selection (RFQ, sourcing process, negotiation) per the NSNA internal procedure.
• Participate in the supplier contract management / agreement during sourcing process.
• Support cost reduction initiatives and process improvement projects.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders and suppliers to ensure smooth deliverable of key program milestones.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers.
• Support achieving component cost targets defined at customer program award.
• Populate, Maintain and Update supplier sourcing tracker.
• Responsible to report weekly on purchasing deliverables by commodity.
• Support negotiation of LTA’s with supplier for new programs.
• Monitor and access key market trends (resin, metal) from ISICs.
• Gather and support the supplier requested changes internally.
• Work with suppliers on creating VA / VE ideas.
• Support obtaining quotes / cost breakdown / kick-off of customer and internal changes to suppliers.
• Support bi-weekly meetings with NSHQ to share commodity best practices and key project timelines.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality on new products / design, and investigate new technical partners needed for the specific development by focusing on early supplier involvement for new products and customer quotes.
• Support legal process review of supplier contracts. Improve and enhance existing process.
• Monitor supplier performance and attend daily / weekly supplier meetings (including APQP).
• Act as purchasing representative inside project teams and actively support projects from Acquisition to end of life.
• Support supplier escalations identified by internal stakeholders.

Education, Experience and Knowledge

Required and / or preferred level of education, knowledge and skills that are necessary.

Education

Associate Degree (A.A.), technical school; or 5 years related experience and / or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience

Related Experience

• 3 or more years of negotiation experience with raw material suppliers
• Self-motivated, independent, initiative-taker, punctual and dependable
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to interact with suppliers and key stakeholders within the organization
• Excellent communciation skills (verbal, written) and organizational skills
• Strong problem solving skill set (creating and utilizing best practices)
• Good working ethic and team collaboration
• Proficient in Microsoft, Word, Powerpoint, proficiency in Plex a plus
• Observation, understanding, and execution of applicable company ISO / IATF certification standards related to the role and impact on the overall organization.

Special Training or Competency

Observation, understanding, and execution of applicable company ISO / TS / IATF certification standards related to the role and impact on the overall organization.

NSI Competencies

Adaptation / Flexibility : Includes keeping an open mind regarding new ideas and ways of doing things. Willing to consider alternative interpretations or ways of looking at the situation.

Demonstrating flexibility.

Initiative / Results Driven : Includes setting high standards of performance for self and others. Striving to accomplish goals even if it means personal sacrifice.

Putting the goals of the organization above own goals.

• Judgment / Decision Making : Includes making decisions and takes actions that have beneficial impact. Effectively evaluating information in order to come up with sound conclusions and recommendations.
• Resource Management : Includes setting clear objectives to guide action for self or others to accomplish goals. Organizing or adjusting information, people and materials to meet those goals.
• Team Work : Includes encouraging and supporting the ideas and effort of others. Finding ways to help the team or group perform effectively.

Additional Information

Work Hours

Monday-Friday, 8 am 5pm. Off-hours as needed.

Travel

25% international and / or domestic.

If domestic travel is necessary, valid drivers’ license is required.

If international travel is necessary, valid passport is required.

Additional Information

DISCLAIMER

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

N.S. International, Ltd. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and / or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

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