CATEGORY BUYER RESUME EXAMPLE

Updated: July 27, 2024 - The Category Buyer plays a pivotal role in developing and executing sourcing strategies across assigned categories, focusing on optimizing costs and streamlining procurement processes. This includes managing all commercial aspects such as spend analysis, tendering, and securing business awards, as well as sourcing innovative products that drive cost savings and efficiencies. Additionally, the Category Buyer is instrumental in maintaining supplier performance through regular reviews and implementing supplier programs that align with organizational goals and supply chain initiatives.

Tips for Category Buyer Skills and Responsibilities on a Resume

1. Category Buyer, Johnson Industrial Supplies, Cedar Rapids, IA

Job Summary:

  • Identify strategy relevant for region and category or specific site
  • Perform market research for Category
  • Monitor suppliers spend, cost, performance, contract and TCO
  • Coordinate strategies with Procurement Managers and Global Buyers
  • Develop, implement and report cost improvements and performance metrics
  • Work with cross-functional teams to implement and manage category strategies
  • Obtain stakeholder approvals prior to initiation of category strategies
  • Manage multiple suppliers for long term relationship and performance improvement
  • Work with legal to develop and execute contracts related to managed categories
  • Effective communication to all stakeholders of contract related or market related changes


Skills on Resume:

  • Strategic Procurement (Hard Skills)
  • Market Analysis (Hard Skills)
  • Supplier Management (Hard Skills)
  • Team Leadership (Soft Skills)
  • Cost Reporting (Hard Skills)
  • Contract Negotiation (Hard Skills)
  • Stakeholder Communication (Soft Skills)
  • Supplier Coordination (Hard Skills)

2. Category Buyer, Maxwell Distribution, Topeka, KS

Job Summary:

  • Analyze and determine project’s requirements, cooperating with other Departments
  • Procure new and manage existing mechanical parts, materials or services suppliers
  • Submit, analyze and negotiate Supplying Proposal Requests
  • Execute and monitor the purchasing process
  • Drive supplier compliance for best practice procure to pay processes 
  • Ensuring invoices are paid in line with supplier payment terms & proactively review reason codes and route causes to prevent failures.
  • Assist Finance with queries relating to goods or services supplied
  • Support finance during budget process with spend information for good or services purchased


Skills on Resume:

  • Project Analysis (Hard Skills)
  • Supplier Management (Soft Skills)
  • Proposal Negotiation (Soft Skills)
  • Purchasing Execution (Hard Skills)
  • Supplier Compliance (Soft Skills)
  • Invoice Management (Hard Skills)
  • Finance Assistance (Soft Skills)
  • Budget Support (Hard Skills)

3. Category Buyer, Greenfield Manufacturing, Albany, NY

Job Summary:

  • Manage a portfolio of suppliers of parts across all industrial clusters
  • Lead the supplier relationship (directly or with category management team)
  • Support the plants procurement execution
  • Lead / Participate in supplier negotiations
  • Identify improvement opportunities (Re-designs, Changes of Suppliers) 
  • Follow the implementation with plants and Lines of Businesses
  • Monitor the suppliers KPIs and drive continuous improvement actions.
  • Understand and support the development of Category Strategies for assigned (sub-)category 
  • Review preferred suppliers and ensure that suppliers from low-cost regions are identified 
  • Review gaps in the criteria for preferred suppliers.


Skills on Resume:

  • Supplier Portfolio Management (Hard Skills)
  • Relationship Leadership (Soft Skills)
  • Procurement Support (Hard Skills)
  • Negotiation Leadership (Soft Skills)
  • Opportunity Identification (Hard Skills)
  • Implementation Monitoring (Hard Skills)
  • KPI Management (Hard Skills)
  • Strategy Development (Soft Skills)

4. Category Buyer, Harbor Enterprises, Tacoma, WA

Job Summary:

  • Responsible and accountable for development and implementation of category sourcing strategy
  • Provide leadership for sourcing decisions
  • Negotiate and source all production materials in alignment with the category sourcing strategy
  • Utilize sound negotiation and value analysis skills to reduce overall costs
  • Develop, maintain and promote sound relationships with suppliers
  • Maintain accurate and complete records related to purchasing activities
  • Work closely with suppliers to correct all supplier delivery problems
  • Work closely with Supplier Quality to monitor and correct all supplier PPM problems
  • Work closely with Logistics to ensure suppliers’ compliance with packaging and logistics specifications
  • Work closely with Product Engineering on new product development 
  • Ensure timely procurement of prototype and production parts from the best supplier for the product / company


Skills on Resume:

  • Strategy Development (Hard Skills)
  • Sourcing Leadership (Soft Skills)
  • Materials Negotiation (Hard Skills)
  • Cost Analysis (Hard Skills)
  • Supplier Relations (Soft Skills)
  • Record Maintenance (Hard Skills)
  • Delivery Management (Hard Skills)
  • Prototype Procurement (Hard Skills)

5. Category Buyer, Sterling Components, Augusta, ME

Job Summary:

  • Driving Direct Material Purchasing activity in the factory for the assigned components/service
  • Provide input on production needs (e.g. volume increase) 
  • Report on possible bottleneck at operative level (e.g. production/tool capacity etc.)
  • Ensure proper administration in the factory by maintaining right up-to-date administration
  • Manage billing discrepancies in cooperation with central accountancy
  • Participate and support in build-up of purchasing strategies ensuring their execution and helping to reach and record KPI result
  • Developing good relationships with preferred suppliers with performance follow-up
  • Ensure that the suppliers meet set agreements, and drive corrective actions
  • Coordinate new suppliers / parts and engineering changes with Materials, Engineering, Quality Assurance, and external suppliers
  • Continuously analyze supplier quality, delivery, and cost metrics to develop and engage for improvement 


Skills on Resume:

  • Material Purchasing (Hard Skills)
  • Production Reporting (Hard Skills)
  • Administration Oversight (Hard Skills)
  • Billing Management (Hard Skills)
  • Strategy Participation (Soft Skills)
  • Supplier Relations (Soft Skills)
  • Supplier Coordination (Hard Skills)
  • Quality Analysis (Hard Skills)

6. Category Buyer, Peterson Motors, Erie, PA

Job Summary:

  • Ensuring appropriate suppliers are engaged early, and ensure parts are designed to cost and designed for manufacture.
  • Support /lead Global Supplier Nomination for components and systems.
  • Work in conjunction with Engineering to deliver the cost targets and delivery of NPI processes.
  • Responsible for negotiating Development Agreements and setting up reviews that deliver in line with Category Strategy.
  • Support Quality teams to ensure supplier meet Group and Category targets.
  • Responsible for compiling and delivering annual budgets for their category
  • Supporting the execution of the global elements of the budget.
  • Negotiate Long Term Agreements and preferred payment terms
  • Conduct continuous risk assessment process and ensure Business Continuity plans are in place.
  • Negotiate Warranty Agreements with nominated suppliers for NPI programmes.
  • Conduct supplier evaluation reviews and drive key improvement actions.


Skills on Resume:

  • Supplier Engagement (Hard Skills)
  • Supplier Nomination (Hard Skills)
  • Cost Management (Hard Skills)
  • Agreement Negotiation (Hard Skills)
  • Quality Support (Soft Skills)
  • Budget Management (Hard Skills)
  • Risk Assessment (Hard Skills)
  • Supplier Evaluation (Hard Skills)

7. Category Buyer, Union Tool Works, Springfield, IL

Job Summary:

  • Main purchasing representative in NPI & PIP projects with responsibility to perform the purchasing activities in the process.
  • Responsible for cost and lead time estimations in early project phase in cooperation with Category cost estimators
  • Follow project plan to support PPAP and SOP timings set by project
  • Assure supplier selections are made on time in accordance with project time-lines and that recommendations are in line with approved Category strategies.
  • Map future needs and leverage KA spend to maximize benefit for KA
  • Develop and propose category strategy for assigned categories and region
  • Analyse and negotiate offers to assure best cost for project/KA
  • Use the total cost of Ownership (TCO ) concept as a foundation for decision making and applies best practice sourcing methodology
  • Define & implement saving opportunities by negotiation, VAVE idea, etc. to contribute the cost reduction.
  • Perform PPV & Non PPV report for responsible area
  • Contract management including general frame contracts, frame price contracts, single PO
  • Support on daily delivery & quality issue solving from purchasing function.


Skills on Resume:

  • Project Purchasing (Hard Skills)
  • Cost Estimation (Hard Skills)
  • Project Support (Hard Skills)
  • Supplier Selection (Hard Skills)
  • Strategy Development (Hard Skills)
  • Offer Negotiation (Hard Skills)
  • Cost Management (Hard Skills)
  • Contract Management (Hard Skills)

8. Category Buyer, Delta Building Supplies, Boise, ID

Job Summary:

  • Responsible for sales/margin performance and customer proposition across all channels for selected categories
  • Owns deep range performance analysis with frequency and consistency incl rotation, high stock, tail, attachment, project completion, price, margin, etc
  • Negotiate acquisition prices, local commercial conditions, manage the local contracting process with vendors
  • Drive yearly improvements according to established targets Manages relationship with other sourcing offices
  • Deliver in time and full products agreed upon in the implementation or trading plan
  • Manage local vendor performance, maximise profitability while mitigating risk
  • Analyse product components and manufacturing processes, define costing of products
  • Follow raw material price evolution and impacts, constantly search for cost price reduction opportunities
  • Work with Supply & Logistics to exit plan old ranges from DC and stores
  • Protecting margin, and agree stock requirements for new ranges


Skills on Resume:

  • Sales Performance (Hard Skills)
  • Performance Analysis (Hard Skills)
  • Price Negotiation (Hard Skills)
  • Relationship Management (Soft Skills)
  • Product Delivery (Hard Skills)
  • Vendor Management (Hard Skills)
  • Cost Analysis (Hard Skills)
  • Margin Protection (Hard Skills)

9. Category Buyer, Echo Textiles, Charleston, SC

Job Summary:

  • Lead procurement activities towards suppliers
  • Secure close cooperation with the Category Manager(s) for projects being executed
  • Support in maturing ideas and pipeline
  • Control the issuing of Purchase Orders
  • Review requisitions against standard rules
  • Identify appropriate purchase route for delivery of service / goods to include supplier selection and commercial terms / payment method
  • Approval of contracts to be undertaken by Head of Procurement or appropriate Legal Director
  • Achieve strong, collaborative, and sustainable relationships with key stakeholders and suppliers
  • Monitor and deliver added value saving initiatives that support the attainment of department/business objectives
  • Identify all opportunities to progressively rationalise and reduce the total number of suppliers to an optimum level


Skills on Resume:

  • Procurement Leadership (Hard Skills)
  • Cooperative Planning (Soft Skills)
  • Idea Support (Soft Skills)
  • Purchase Order Control (Hard Skills)
  • Requisition Review (Hard Skills)
  • Supplier Selection (Hard Skills)
  • Contract Approval (Hard Skills)
  • Stakeholder Relations (Soft Skills)

10. Category Buyer, Bison Retail Solutions, Fargo, ND

Job Summary:

  • Handle Spare Parts, Vehicles and heavy equioment Procurement category.
  • Responsible for sourcing and evaluating suppliers.
  • Devise & implement best practice methods.
  • Receiving and evaluating Requisitions and request for quotation (RFQ) from the different projects/operating areas.
  • Coordinating with the various Project Managers for Technical approvals on products.
  • Evaluating supplier’s quotation for techincal and commercial compliance.
  • Preparing LPO’s and obtain approval from the management.
  • Coordinating with Finance teams for timely payments to the suppliers.
  • Coordinating with the Logistics and warehousing teams for timely delivery of goods and services to the projects/operating areas.


Skills on Resume:

  • Parts Procurement (Hard Skills)
  • Supplier Evaluation (Hard Skills)
  • Best Practices Implementation (Hard Skills)
  • RFQ Management (Hard Skills)
  • Technical Coordination (Soft Skills)
  • Quotation Evaluation (Hard Skills)
  • LPO Preparation (Hard Skills)
  • Logistics Coordination (Soft Skills)

11. Category Buyer, Oceanic Parts Corp, Biloxi, MS

Job Summary:

  • Communicate verbally and in writing with external suppliers as well as internal resources to successfully sell initiatives and develop / deliver on actionable objectives
  • Review and analyze materials supplied to identify more cost-effective opportunities
  • Determine how to react to trading performance issues through tactical trading activity working with relevant functions
  • Negotiates and delivers in time spot buys, bundle deals, end caps deals and vendor contribution in line with the Trading plan laid out
  • Internal expert in procurement systems assisting business users in effective use of the systems
  • Responsible and accountable for all documentation and paperwork related to procurement, including document and filing for procurement files.
  • Recommends the best methods to be used to ensure timely & quality delivery.
  • Monitors compliance to RA International’s standards by suppliers and shippers.
  • Actively stays abreast of all developments in the industry.


Skills on Resume:

  • Initiative Communication (Soft Skills)
  • Cost Analysis (Hard Skills)
  • Tactical Trading (Hard Skills)
  • Deal Negotiation (Hard Skills)
  • System Expertise (Hard Skills)
  • Documentation Management (Hard Skills)
  • Delivery Optimization (Hard Skills)
  • Compliance Monitoring (Hard Skills)

12. Category Buyer, Summit Industrial Products, Cheyenne, WY

Job Summary:

  • Support Category Directors with all purchasing related activities.
  • Develop category strategies to meet business objectives for cost, quality fulfillment, and innovation
  • Continuous, sustainable optimization of purchasing costs, delivery quality and delivery performance 
  • Conducting negotiations on prices, delivery and payment terms, quality agreements and framework agreements
  • Development and implementation of strategic projects for continuous cost reduction
  • Development of commodity group and supplier strategies
  • Support in the event of quality and delivery problems and the enforcement of resulting claims
  • Connection of suppliers to the supplier portal
  • Execute the category strategy in the region by developing the regional APOP (Annual Procurement Operation Plan) and executing Supply Base Optimization actions


Skills on Resume:

  • Strategy Support (Soft Skills)
  • Strategy Development (Hard Skills)
  • Cost Optimization (Hard Skills)
  • Contract Negotiation (Hard Skills)
  • Project Implementation (Hard Skills)
  • Supplier Strategy (Hard Skills)
  • Quality Support (Soft Skills)
  • Strategy Execution (Hard Skills)

13. Category Buyer, Pinnacle Foods Distribution, Dover, DE

Job Summary:

  • Provide superior Supplier relationship management.
  • Prepare and submit RFQs related to new projects and current business benchmarks.
  • Support supplier negotiations and select suppliers in accordance with defined process and strategy.
  • Monitor adherence to commercial agreements, performance, and capacity of suppliers.
  • Manage tooling cost improvements, orders, and registration processes.
  • Review sourcing strategies for the assigned categories.
  • Perform Purchase Price Variance (PPV) / Non PPV reporting for area of responsibility.
  • Check blocked invoices, investigate reasons, and drive resolution with suppliers and internal stakeholders (finance, logistics and buyers)
  • Escalation management support - logistics shortages, quality issue, etc.
  • Updating ERP system with changes (monthly, quarterly price, 1/2 year or annually)
  • Support the data consolidation for management approval meetings - SBA, PIR, K-Brief, etc.


Skills on Resume:

  • Relationship Management (Soft Skills)
  • RFQ Submission (Hard Skills)
  • Supplier Selection (Hard Skills)
  • Performance Monitoring (Hard Skills)
  • Cost Management (Hard Skills)
  • Strategy Review (Hard Skills)
  • PPV Reporting (Hard Skills)
  • Invoice Resolution (Hard Skills)

14. Category Buyer, Quantum Tech Solutions, Hartford, CT

Job Summary:

  • Category buying and sourcing for raw materials and chemicals
  • Engage with stakeholders to drive initiative and quality deliverables
  • Sound understanding of contract management
  • Utilise a commercial or technical background to manage supplier negotiations
  • Identify and recommend potential future suppliers.
  • Create internal & external networks to ensure best practice suppliers are sourced and selected.
  • Prepare an assessment of current supplier/product/service performance, price, and outstanding issues to be reviewed with Purchasing & Supply Manager and senior stakeholders.
  • Prepare tender documents to include all headings as per issued Standard Tender Practice Guide 
  • Prepare for each selected supplier a financial and commercial appraisal, including supplier site visits 
  • Obtain initial ‘ballpark prices’ as part of the commercial appraisal.


Skills on Resume:

  • Material Sourcing (Hard Skills)
  • Stakeholder Engagement (Soft Skills)
  • Contract Management (Hard Skills)
  • Supplier Negotiation (Hard Skills)
  • Supplier Identification (Hard Skills)
  • Network Creation (Soft Skills)
  • Performance Assessment (Hard Skills)
  • Tender Preparation (Hard Skills)

15. Category Buyer, Alpine Equipment, Helena, MT

Job Summary:

  • Undertake second stage negotiation to move forward from the initial ‘ball park’ prices utilising eSourcing online tool.
  • Prepare formal contract and SLA in conjunction with legal team to ensure legality & ‘correctness’.
  • Establish detailed KPIs and associated penalties for non-compliance
  • Formally measure Supplier performance against SLA & KPIs.
  • Undertake operational reviews with Supplier as appropriate
  • Undertake strategic reviews supported by the Purchasing & Supply Manager
  • Complete standard, weighted average scorecards and rank suppliers. Discuss the scorecard and scoring direct with suppliers.
  • Monitor and review accuracy, appropriateness & timely manner of MI
  • Ensure Vendor Management at administrative and operational level.
  • Ensure Suppliers are implementing best practices.


Skills on Resume:

  • eSourcing Negotiation (Hard Skills)
  • Contract Preparation (Hard Skills)
  • KPI Development (Hard Skills)
  • Performance Measurement (Hard Skills)
  • Operational Review (Soft Skills)
  • Strategic Review (Soft Skills)
  • Scorecard Management (Hard Skills)
  • Vendor Management (Soft Skills)

16. Category Buyer, Riverside Chemicals, Baton Rouge, LA

Job Summary:

  • Be up to date on industry/product developments through all media sources.
  • Regularly meet with all relevant internal parties to ensure that any issues are being identified and acted upon.
  • Manage expectations with respect to service or product specification, price and delivery timescales.
  • Act as a conduit between users and suppliers to facilitate that appropriate action is taken on non-conformance issues (both product and service performance).
  • Facilitate attendance of appropriate internal parties at Supplier reviews
  • Regular visits to warehouses/branches/suppliers to obtain feedback on product/services/market developments.
  • Be up to date on market developments, new services, processes and ensure these are offered for consideration by relevant parties.
  • Undertake Competitor analysis on all category products/services and feedback to the wider business 
  • Ensure purchase orders are raised accurately, pre-approve all orders and manage authorisers on a timely basis.
  • Update NPPG (Purchasing System) in a timely manner of price, product or supplier change.


Skills on Resume:

  • Industry Monitoring (Hard Skills)
  • Internal Collaboration (Soft Skills)
  • Expectation Management (Soft Skills)
  • Issue Mediation (Soft Skills)
  • Supplier Review Facilitation (Soft Skills)
  • Market Feedback (Soft Skills)
  • Competitor Analysis (Hard Skills)
  • Order Management (Hard Skills)

17. Category Buyer, Gateway Manufacturing, Jefferson City, MO

Job Summary:

  • Perform and support sustainable strategic sourcing of Assigned Segments
  • Handling RFP’s, qualify, approve, and implement new logistics Suppliers 
  • Proactively identify and collaboratively work with the businesses units to achieve value creation opportunities
  • Work in synergy with the global Procurement team, aiming to identify opportunities for savings, optimization, simplification of Procurement processes
  • Contribute to the definition and implementation of Procurement strategies
  • Keeping informed of Purchasing needs through regular contacts with requisitioned (internal customer) and suppliers
  • Being an innovation agent implementing new Procurement practices and market knowledge
  • Analysis Market, Definition of Procurement Strategy and Selection of Suppliers
  • Share market intelligence for the logistics modes, helping in the company strategies


Skills on Resume:

  • Strategic Sourcing (Hard Skills)
  • RFP Management (Hard Skills)
  • Value Creation (Soft Skills)
  • Global Collaboration (Soft Skills)
  • Process Optimization (Hard Skills)
  • Strategy Implementation (Hard Skills)
  • Market Analysis (Hard Skills)
  • Intelligence Sharing (Soft Skills)

18. Category Buyer, Crestline Auto, Bismarck, ND

Job Summary:

  • Develop and manage a network of reliable and financially stable suppliers.
  • Introduce a category strategy and identify opportunities for optimizing the supply chain process.
  • Manage relationships with various internal stakeholders (business units, projects, etc.) 
  • Participate in cross functional teams that work on sourcing projects and continuous improvement.
  • Manage and guide high value purchases and strive for TCO reductions.
  • Ensure internal and external compliance with sourcing procedures and contracts.
  • Take the lead in negotiating, drafting and maintaining sourcing contracts, service level agreements, price lists, etc.
  • Ensure standards for price competitiveness, product quality, delivery performance, safety and sustainability are met by all suppliers and corrective actions are initiated
  • Perform root cause analysis towards re-occurring supply issues and take the lead in initiating corrective actions towards structural operational issues.


Skills on Resume:

  • Supplier Network Development (Hard Skills)
  • Strategy Introduction (Hard Skills)
  • Stakeholder Management (Soft Skills)
  • Team Participation (Soft Skills)
  • High-Value Management (Hard Skills)
  • Compliance Oversight (Hard Skills)
  • Contract Negotiation (Hard Skills)
  • Quality Assurance (Hard Skills)

19. Category Buyer, Titan Hardware, Annapolis, MD

Job Summary:

  • Regular meetings with suppliers to purchase goods and services, creation of stock
  • Participate in the creation and implementation of supply chain strategy
  • Negotiate supply contracts and their subsequent management
  • Analysis of pricing proposals and other data in order to negotiate their profitability for Carrier Corporation
  • Evaluation of suppliers and sellers, especially in terms of reliability, quality and prices
  • Survey of suppliers to ensure compliance with relevant standards of quality, price, timing and reliability
  • Understand the legislation, industry, and customer requirements around the category range
  • Defining the range offering for the category
  • Searching out new suppliers whilst maintaining the current supplier database through proactively communicating the benefits of working with Inivos
  • Managing the supplier compliance, documentation, and certification


Skills on Resume:

  • Supplier Meetings (Soft Skills)
  • Strategy Development (Hard Skills)
  • Contract Negotiation (Hard Skills)
  • Profitability Analysis (Hard Skills)
  • Supplier Evaluation (Hard Skills)
  • Compliance Surveying (Hard Skills)
  • Industry Understanding (Hard Skills)
  • Supplier Management (Soft Skills)

20. Category Buyer, Vanguard Supplies, Concord, NH

Job Summary:

  • Supporting the sales team to ensure we grow the sales of products in accessible markets
  • Provide ongoing technical support and training of the products/services throughout their life cycle
  • Providing and supporting the marketing output documents to support the product/service category
  • Managing the product compliance, documentation, and certification
  • Understanding the relevant product certification and specification
  • Managing the tender process of product groups with approved suppliers
  • Negotiating with suppliers for cost reductions
  • Supplier contract performance monitoring, management, and dispute resolution.
  • Understanding different production method concepts to enable piece cost reduction
  • Controlling stock value and quality in line with business requirement
  • Supporting the submission of tenders and bids


Skills on Resume:

  • Sales Support (Soft Skills)
  • Technical Training (Soft Skills)
  • Marketing Support (Soft Skills)
  • Compliance Management (Hard Skills)
  • Certification Understanding (Hard Skills)
  • Tender Management (Hard Skills)
  • Cost Negotiation (Hard Skills)
  • Stock Control (Hard Skills)

21. Category Buyer, Neon Lighting Systems, Phoenix, AZ

Job Summary:

  • Responsible for creating and implementing category sourcing strategies using the Category Management process
  • Responsibility for all commercial aspects of sourcing- spend analysis, tendering and business award
  • Sourcing and evaluating new products while promoting cost saving and efficiencies
  • Undertake supplier performance reviews to maintain Supplier performance levels for quality, cost, and delivery
  • Driving and implementing Supplier programmes for category preferred suppliers
  • Supply chain lead and support to cross divisional projects and initiatives
  • Obtain written confirmation of agreed delivery dates by means of securing formal purchase order acknowledgments
  • Updating the SAP system, identifying agreed delivery dates from all materials
  • Take proactive steps to mitigate and recover any potential impacts to planned production requirements.


Skills on Resume:

  • Strategy Creation (Hard Skills)
  • Commercial Management (Hard Skills)
  • Product Sourcing (Hard Skills)
  • Supplier Review (Hard Skills)
  • Supplier Development (Hard Skills)
  • Supply Chain Leadership (Hard Skills)
  • Order Confirmation (Hard Skills)
  • SAP Updating (Hard Skills)

22. Category Buyer, Maple Leaf Textiles, Pierre, SD

Job Summary:

  • Manage the sourcing and supplier selection process
  • Creating a sourcing project, researching and developing supplier shortlist
  • Assembling and managing RFI project team through RFX/RFI process
  • Plans, coordinates, and executes sourcing related activities (RFI/RFP, Auctions) 
  • Supplier selection & negotiations, implementation plan, and agreed upon performance metrics. 
  • Monitor current category market conditions, technology roadmaps and identify supply/demand challenges and opportunities
  • Tracks their assigned categories of spend to ensure saving targets are being met.
  • Write reports on the project for management on a regular basis 
  • Help drive contract negotiation and management
  • Drafting agreements according to standard or non-standard services in conjunction with contract team


Skills on Resume:

  • Supplier Sourcing (Hard Skills)
  • Project Creation (Hard Skills)
  • Team Management (Soft Skills)
  • Sourcing Coordination (Hard Skills)
  • Supplier Negotiation (Hard Skills)
  • Market Monitoring (Hard Skills)
  • Savings Tracking (Hard Skills)
  • Contract Drafting (Hard Skills)

23. Category Buyer, Liberty Industrial Goods, Richmond, VA

Job Summary:

  • Reviewing counter changes from counter party and approving or rejecting with input from Legal
  • Securing approval from appropriate signatories before validating and publishing
  • Updates, verifies and publishes contract content in the Contract Management Systems 
  • Serves as a source of knowledge regarding company contracts policy, templates, and procedures
  • Support purchasing terms compliance, including providing necessary contract guidelines
  • Develop key performance measures for chosen suppliers and negotiate on multiple variables to award longer-term strategic contracts that result in significant cost reduction and improved service levels
  • Determine if agreement needs to be setup in ERP or Ariba for contract compliance
  • Determines when a formal contractual agreement is needed 
  • Manages and coordinates the process of drafting, reviewing and approving the agreement


Skills on Resume:

  • Contract Review (Hard Skills)
  • Approval Management (Hard Skills)
  • Contract Publishing (Hard Skills)
  • Policy Knowledge (Hard Skills)
  • Compliance Support (Hard Skills)
  • Performance Negotiation (Hard Skills)
  • ERP Implementation (Hard Skills)
  • Agreement Coordination (Hard Skills)

24. Category Buyer, Pioneer Building Materials, Olympia, WA

Job Summary:

  • Develop and implement appropriate procurement strategies for project spend.
  • Managing the commercial aspects of sourcing, including market analysis, spend analysis, tendering, negotiation, contract negotiation and management.
  • Ensure supplier contracts are finalised and signed before project commencement and periodically renewed 
  • Source and evaluate new products and suppliers to promote supply chain improvements.
  • Complete supplier audits at their facility.
  • Drive cost reduction through negotiation, benchmarking and VAVE activity against agreed targets.
  • Support and engage with cross functional supply chain projects.
  • Resolve invoice queries with suppliers and seek to minimise their occurrence.
  • Ensure compliance with purchasing policies and ethical practices and local laws and regulations
  • Meeting audit requirements for ISO 9001 and various internal audits


Skills on Resume:

  • Procurement Strategy (Hard Skills)
  • Sourcing Management (Hard Skills)
  • Contract Management (Hard Skills)
  • Supplier Evaluation (Hard Skills)
  • Audit Coordination (Hard Skills)
  • Cost Reduction (Hard Skills)
  • Project Collaboration (Soft Skills)
  • Compliance Oversight (Hard Skills)

25. Category Buyer, Horizon Electronics, Denver, CO

Job Summary:

  • Negotiate with suppliers and discuss the commercial benefits to bring the best value products. 
  • Identify opportunities to reduce or optimize costs and processes
  • Coordinate suppliers and evaluate alternatives to optimize cost, quality, OTIF and other criteria of efficiency
  • Advice internal stakeholders in developing process as customer’s requirements
  • Collect and analyse data and use that information to recommend/implement cost or efficiency savings opportunities and organize changes of L2 price and manufacturer information on SAP
  • Have ownership over & take the lead on European/Local Core product categories
  • Develop & roll outsourcing strategies according to the European procurement and quality policy.
  • Be an expert on the product categories and monitor key market commodities
  • Prepare & lead local or European tenders and negotiate best conditions.
  • Set up & manage contracts with suppliers.


Skills on Resume:

  • Supplier Negotiation (Hard Skills)
  • Cost Optimization (Hard Skills)
  • Supplier Coordination (Hard Skills)
  • Stakeholder Advising (Soft Skills)
  • Data Analysis (Hard Skills)
  • Category Ownership (Hard Skills)
  • Outsourcing Strategy (Hard Skills)
  • Contract Management (Hard Skills)