Buyer

Position Summary:

IEM is currently seeking a Buyer for our San Antonio, TX locations and will report into the Purchasing Supervisor. The Buyer is responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and purchasing materials, goods, and services to meet the company's operational requirements. This mid-career role supports cost-effective purchasing, quality standards, and reliable material availability while partnering with suppliers and internal stakeholders, including Engineering, Quality, Customer Service, and Program Management.

Key Responsibilities:

• Understand and interpret demand requirements to make strategic and informed procurement decisions
• Analyze and quantify supply chain risks, develop mitigation plans, and escalate risks or recommendations to the Purchasing Manager as appropriate
• Manage procurement activities, including issuing purchase orders, expediting orders, and resolving discrepancies
• Participate in and lead assigned projects with internal and external stakeholders to drive continuous improvement of the procurement process
• Collaborate with internal departments to understand their purchasing needs, resolve supply challenges, and improve material availability
• Analyze vendor performance based on quality, delivery, price, and other data to maintain a strong and sustainable supply chain, and make data-informed recommendations to support supply chain decisions
• Coordinate nonconformance issues with internal teams and suppliers in a timely manner
• Interface with vendors and build relationships to maintain a high level of support throughout the procurement process
• Flexible and adaptable team player who operates with agility and resourcefulness and thrives in an often-changing environment. You will be operating with a start-up mindset and must be willing to help wherever needed - "not my job" is an unacceptable response.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain, or operations management from a four-year college or university
• 3 to 5 years of purchasing or buying experience in a manufacturing environment
• Strong written and verbal communication and organizational skills, with the ability to collaborate across all levels of the organization, drive continuous improvement, and apply a fundamental understanding of Lean principles
• Demonstrated career ambition with a track record of growth and increasing responsibility; highly promotable with the potential to take on broader leadership roles within a fast-paced, high-growth organization

Workplace Conditions:

Physical Demands

• Activities: Sitting 70%, Walking/Standing 30%
• Lifting: Occasionally lift up to 10 lbs
• Vision: Long periods of close work

Mental Demands

• Interpret, analyze, and handle multiple tasks simultaneously

Environment

• Climate-controlled office space

Compensation actually offered for this role will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.