Supply Chain Assistant, Buyer

**Primary Work Location**:
Bad Homburg

**Overview**:
Facilitate, organize, and execute the purchase of materials and services through administration of purchase orders. Prepare and administer purchase orders to achieve quality, cost and delivery requirements; resolve differences in terms. Help implement corrective actions necessary to maintain a reliable, cost competitive, supply management environment. Help expedite and uncover problems associated with purchase orders placed with suppliers; and support other personnel in the department as needed.

**Professional Qualifications**:
**Education and Experience**:

- Associate degree in business or related field, or equivalent knowledge and/or experience is required.
- Experience in supply chain activities is preferred but not required.
- Experience in receiving, shipping, accounts payable, documentation, configuration management or any other business-related activities which allows you to understand the manufacturing processes and flow of materials is preferred to support this position.
- Familiarity with ERP, MRP, and Quality control systems preferred.

**General**:

- Excellent communication (verbal/written), interpersonal, organization, and presentation skills in German, English and Czech or Polish.
- Able to manage multiple projects at one time; prioritize tasks and achieve timely results.
- Able to work and communicate well with a wide variety of people and departments.

**Position Responsibilities**:
**Specific**:
**Sourcing and Supplier Relationship Management**:

- In collaboration with others, research, source, and evaluate suppliers based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, capacity, production capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history.
- Solicit, obtain, evaluate, and compare pricing of parts, materials, and services using the Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quote (RFQ) and other methods as appropriate. Recommend options and alternatives in collaboration with Category Manager.

**Purchase Order Management**
- Facilitate, organize and execute the purchase of materials, equipment, and services as assigned in the respective Category to achieve quality, cost, and delivery requirements.
- Review acknowledgements for agreement with purchase orders and resolve any discrepancies with the supplier to optimize LI-COR's position.
- Maintain sufficient and proper product supply/inventory levels to ensure uninterrupted and timely supply of products and services.
- Execute all purchase orders (Vendor Actions/Expedites) directly with Suppliers and resolve order placement problems in deliveries, invoicing, shipping and specifications.
- Process all internal requisitions as assigned; remediate all issues with requisitions.
- Analyze and communicate price changes; collaborate with other Supply Chain members to mitigate price increases.
- Commit funds and spending based on direction of Supply Chain Management.
- Manage purchasing record keeping process to meet procedural requirements.
- Collaborate with internal departments to optimize LI-COR's buying position.
- Verify receipt of items by comparing items received to items ordered; resolve shipments in error with Suppliers.
- Authorize payment for purchases.

**Quality Management**
- Directly address and resolve all part quality problems and corrective actions.
- Implement corrective actions with supply base to maintain a reliable, cost competitive, supply management environment.
- Serve as the primary Supply Chain contact for quality issues discovered in Manufacturing, Engineering, and Incoming Inspection.

**Production Planning**
- Assist in estimating, analyzing, and ensuring the amount of material, equipment, and labor required for production,
- Compile status and performance reports and submit them to the Planning, Manufacturing and Supply Chain teams.
- Provide assistance in dispatching and releasing work orders to support the production plan and sales order need.
- Promptly address and resolve manufacturing issues to minimize delays in production.
- Assist in picking of parts into work for work orders to be available to production team.
- Assist in implementing changes to production schedules to ensure that production deadlines are met.
- Promptly inform relevant departments of changes to current production schedules.
- Participate and assist in planning process. Actively track and monitor sales, orders and production history.
- General administration of ERP and associated system(s).
- Assist with modifications and improvements to workflow, lot sizes, cycle times, bill of material structure, and general manufacturing practices.
- Assist with monitoring, and reporting inventory levels for all categories of stocked items, work-in-process, and finished goods.
- Help to coordinate estimated 'to-stock' dates of finished goods in order to provide visibility for allocations to future sales orders.
- Assist with tracking, reporting, and publishing all pertin