Position Type: Direct Hire
Shift/Hours: 1st shift
Location: Vernon Hills, IL

Responsible for proactively managing the Purchasing team, and overseeing all day-to-day Purchasing transactions, US Customs information and reporting. Determines purchasing strategies that are in line with the Global and local business strategies to ensure timely and cost-efficient supply of all goods, components, materials, etc., requested qualities, either from company sources or third-party sources.

REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• In conjunction with the purchasing team, the Purchasing Manager will perform daily, weekly and monthly purchasing tasks including but not limited to:
  • Process for generation of RFPs based upon inquiries from in-house departments and obtains and processes vendor quotations.
  • Preparation and issuance of purchase orders based upon approved purchase requisitions received from in-house departments and based on SAP MRP requisitions.
  • Establish a process to ensure that proactive actions are taken to address all SAP MRP exception reports.
  • Receipt and review of vendor order acknowledgements. Ensures that vendor order acknowledgement conforms to RWMIC purchase order, volumes, delivery time and product/service quality. Negotiates and resolves any discrepancies proactively, informing all internal stakeholders frequently.
• Participates in the make or buy decisions for components and gives recommendations.
• Proactively runs vendor analysis, constantly seeking for optimized vendor portfolio and makes recommendations for new vendors, aligns with internal key stakeholders. Performs a thorough due diligence of pre-selected vendors. Completes vendor site audits as required.
• Continuously monitors the supply base and external events to proactively address and correct potential issues and avoid any supply disruptions.
• Works closely with the Supply Chain Manager in determining Minimum Order Quantities (MOQ) and contributes to weekly SIOP Meetings.
• Establishes Terms and Conditions (T&C’s) for vendors and suppliers and aligns those with the Head of Finance.
• Conducts preliminary negotiations with different vendors regarding the best possible price, quality requirements, payment terms and delivery.
• Works with in-house departments for comparative vendor sourcing, if feasible.
• Responsible for definition, actualization of purchasing processes in alignment with company policies and key stakeholders.
• Manages inbound Freight-Forwarder companies, their performances and compliances with our requirements. Ensures proper alignment with colleagues from GmbH to guarantee smooth operation and transparent communication, especially in cases of urgent needs/deliveries, strives for constant optimization of service and conditions.
• Reviews supplier contracts for conformance with company policies and maintains active vendor contract files; all agreements – Master Purchase Agreements, Service Level Agreements, and other applicable agreements.
• Maintains and updates a contract matrix, which allows to have an overview of contract type, contract due dates, list of involved stakeholders with the objective to prepare in a timely manner for upcoming contract renegotiations.
• Builds and maintains professional stakeholder management/communication with vendors at all times.
• Conducts regular on-site visits at key vendors together with members from the QA/QC team.
• Works closely with materials management and quality departments to quickly resolve any discrepancies in quantity or quality received from vendors.
• Prevents and resolves vendor issues, seeks (internal and external) legal support as needed.
• Personnel management duties for the Purchasing team including but not limited to hiring, staffing, performance management, training and career development, ensures proper backup options in absence of personnel.
• Promotes and models RWMIC Core Values in all interactions and responsibilities.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Delivers highest degree of ethics in receiving and passing on vendor “incentives”, following guidelines and policies of Richard Wolf.
• SAP Key User for Purchasing related processes. Develops SAP training documents and trains Buyers on SAP Purchasing related topics.
• Prepares monthly KPI’s and reports on purchasing activities for the Supply Chain Manager.
• Responsible for all Purchasing department record-keeping, including the occasional destruction of records per Company policies.
• Develops, implements, and maintains Purchasing targets as well as short and lo