Technical Buyer Jobs

Candidates having experience with Electronic Control Units, Wire harness assemblies, Motors and Sensors will be preferred.

COMPANY JTEKT North America DEPARTMENT Purchasing
LOCATION Greenville, SC (Hybrid) CLASSIFICATION Salaried Exempt
Manager Direct Material Purchasing GRADE 105 or 6 depending on exp.
Summary/Purpose
This position has overall responsibility for sourcing direct material commodity-specific parts and/or services to support business needs for JTEKT North America manufacturing facilities. This position is responsible for developing and executing a purchasing strategy that ensures that these commodity items are purchased at the best total cost, while meeting quality and delivery performance requirements. Responsibilities also include administering and maintaining commercial relationships with manufacturers/suppliers of these components.

Essential Duties and Accountabilities:

• Become an expert in his/her commodities, familiar with the potential worldwide supply base of these commodities and know the strengths and weaknesses of major ones. The specific commodities for which this position will be responsible for are not yet decided.
• Develop and issue request for quotations (RFQ’s) to potential suppliers of these commodities.
• Familiarity with the main cost drivers of his/her commodities and communicate internally within JTEKT/Koyo to support design or initiate sourcing decisions.
• Analyze supplier quotations and propose or make selection of supplier of product to JTEKT.
• Draft, negotiate, and implement long term contracts.
• Assume leadership role in cost reduction activities from beginning of product design stage, through production life of the product purchased.
• Support the Supplier Advancement Engineer in VAVE and Kaizen supplier workshops by defining cost reduction targets and negotiating cost sharing rules with suppliers.
• Assess supplier base and propose a long-term strategy to develop and improve according to the company’s long-term needs and the market situation.
• Responsible for the overall performance of his/her suppliers and their Quality, Cost and Delivery performance.
• Stay abreast of market trends and new technology and communicate with Engineering and management based on such information.
• Business reporting to JTEKT management.
• Travel to suppliers, including overseas travel possible.
• Work over when and as necessary, to complete essential job duties.
• Participate within cross functional groups, contribute to innovative teams, and perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
This position has no direct report responsibilities.

Experience, Job Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Minimum of 3 years of direct material purchasing experience in OEM or tiered automotive industry,
ability to manage project(s), and ability to provide general guidance to support employees.
Ability to identify key purchasing related issues, and then apply problem solving skills to creatively resolve complex procurement related issues.

• Ability to understand and anticipate technical issues in order to interface internally within JTEKT and with suppliers to implement corrective actions at the earliest possible stage.

Ability to function successfully with considerable latitude and require technical guidance only on unusually complex problems or issues.
Ability to work in a participative management environment and maintain a drive for accomplishment of responsibilities.

• Strong PC skills, including proficiency with Excel, Word, and other Microsoft suite products
• Experience operating in Oracle is a plus.
• Good communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to travel, with little or no notice.
• Basic knowledge of applicable quality, health, safety, and environmental management systems.

Professional certification is a plus, but not required.

Education:
Bachelor of Science in Business, Supply Chain, or Engineering.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work is mostly performed in a normal office setting with minimal exposure to health or safety hazards, and with substantial time spent working on a computer. Requires sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate computer keyboard and other office equipment.
The performance of this position may occasionally require exposure to manufacturing areas which require the use of personal protective equipment such as safety glasses with side shields and mandatory hearing protection.
Travel by automobile and plane required approximately 20% of time.