UGN, a world class manufacturer of acoustic, interior trim, and thermal management products for the Japanese transplant automotive industry in North America, is seeking a Corporate Senior Buyer to join our team in Tinley Park, Illinois.

The Corporate Senior Buyer manages the cost of commodities assigned, develops strategies to implement departmental goals of reducing overall cost, reducing the supplier base, negotiating long-term contracts, increasing business with minority suppliers and meeting internal customers needs and objectives. This position provides guidance to support purchasing administrative activities and to see they are accomplished in a timely manner and identify ways to improve overall efficiency in UGN’s current processes.

Job Duties and Responsibilities include:

• Establish and maintain a capable supply base for raw materials and components, controlling costs of purchased materials through: use of cost targets, cost downs, negotiations, material tests, design and/or process changes, and material substitutions.
• Source, analyze, review, develop and finalize sourcing decisions, conduct major negotiations, including planning and development of strategy and tactics to reach objectives, and negotiate long-term contracts as appropriate. Manage achievement of department’s cost avoidance and reduction objectives.
• Interact with all levels of management both inside the company and outside in supplier company organizations. Works closely with Product Development, Program Management, Manufacturing, Process Engineering, Quality Engineering, Quality, Sales, Materials, and cost improvement committees as required.
• Act at the appropriate time to take whatever actions are required when a supplier problem threatens UGN production. Is resourceful in protecting the company’s interests, balancing both short-term and long-term requirements.
• Provide the company with well-rounded industry knowledge in the commodity groupings assigned to his/her buying assignment.
• Travel to various supplier locations as required to become familiar with different manufacturing processes and to meet and develop relationships with supplier organizations.
• Travel as required to supplier facilities to build relationships, review operations, expedite parts, troubleshoot, and help evaluate total management and manufacturing capabilities to increase the number of certified suppliers.
• Perform assigned administrative duties and assist the Director of Purchasing in managing Purchasing Team
• Members toward the achievement of department and company objectives, including filling in on other buying assignments when a need arises, providing guidance to new buyers, assisting in training and development of systems and procedures. Develop and promote teamwork relationships between Corporate Purchasing and the rest of the Organization.
• Keep abreast of new technology and best practices within the procurement arena in ordered to provide input to the development of corporate strategies.
• Communicate, monitor, and maintain procurement policies and procedures.
• Protect the integrity of the procurement process design.
• Promote the procurement vision and continue to develop and enhance the processes that have been put in place.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor degree (B.A. or B.S.) from accredited four-year college or university; and three to five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications–Word, Excel, Access, Power Point; Microsoft Outlook, Internet software and knowledge of Inventory software.
• Strong facilitation skills, capable of dealing with areas of ambiguity. Ability to communicate with all levels in the organization. Must have a sound business understanding, good organizational and leadership skills, good mathematical aptitude, and have some knowledge of ISO quality programs, practices, and techniques.

UGN, Inc. offers competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits in a state-of-the-art work environment.

For consideration, please click here to submit your resume in Word (.doc) or Adobe (.pdf) format.

EOE M/F/D/V