Associate Buyer

The Associate Buyer is the primary facilitator for procurement activities for their assigned portfolio, ensuring optimal customer service. Daily interactions with suppliers are a must to guarantee the correct quantity of finished goods or materials are procured. This role also involves adjusting procurement plans based on supply planning and production scheduling reviews. The Associate Buyer collaborates closely with Supply Planners, Production Schedulers, Sourcing, Customer Service, Incoming Inspection, and Accounts Payable teams.

Business Expertise and Job Function Knowledge:

• Basic procurement knowledge.
• Task-focused, primarily responsible for order processing and supplier communication.

Strategic Impact:

• Limited strategic impact.
• Contributes to day-to-day procurement operations.

Responsibilities:

• Maintain master data set up in the transactional systems, including e.g., but not limited to: suppliers lead time, lot size,  buyer purchasing group.
• Communicate forecast requirements to suppliers based on information from production schedulers and supply planning.
• Ensure all POs are placed according to the rules and execute Order Confirmation from supplier. 
• Act as the first line of contact for suppliers and provide information based on the current supply net requirements.
• Work cross-functionally to support Stryker initiatives and support activities to improve business processes.
• Prepare reports.
• Raise ideas for improvements.
• Ensure very good communication with supply planning, production schedulers and customers service when delivery issues may appear.
• Review of back order and safety stock health in order to manage deliveries from suppliers.
• Point of contact for Accounts Payable for invoice resolution: price mismatch, quantity mismatch etc.
• Other activities indicated by supervisor.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree level in Business/Engineering/Supply Chain Management. 
• Entry level Graduate may be considered for role. However, some previous experience in supply chain or procurement would be an asset, preferably 1 year.
• Fluent in written and spoken English. A second language may be required, depending on the supplier base.
• Good knowledge of MS Office: Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Word, Teams.
• Team worker.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with ERP systems i.e., SAP, Oracle, JDE, AS400.
• Previous experience in supplier relationship management.
• Previous experience in medical devices or other regulated industry.
• Ability to effectively communicate and present information to suppliers, team members, team leaders, and top management.