Associate Buyer

Position SummaryThe Associate Buyer provides tactical purchasing support and assists Buyers in sourcing activities related to new model development and cost control initiatives. This role is responsible for issuing and tracking Requests for Quotation (RFQs), performing initial quote analysis, and maintaining accurate supplier and pricing data across various systems. The Associate Buyer plays a key role in supporting procurement strategies by ensuring timely and accurate data critical to decision-making and project success.ResponsibilitiesJob Responsibilities: Prepare and issue Request for Quotations (RFQ’s) in alignment with Buyer direction for new model development, sourcing events, and supplier benchmarking. Compile and summarize supplier quotations; perform preliminary cost analyses for Buyer review. Support new model development by managing sourcing documentation and tracking supplier responses. Monitor and follow up on outstanding RFQ’s, engineering changes, and supplier action items. Maintain and update internal tracking tools (e.g. cost tracking files, Smartsheet logs, ECN change logs). Assist with pricing documentations, cost registrations, invoice approvals, deviations, and credit memo processing. Follow up with suppliers for required documentation, clarifications, and other information requests. Help maintain and troubleshoot procurement systems and tools (e.g. QAD, Tableau, Smartsheet). Manage routine supplier communications and day-to-day interactions. Generate purchase reports; assist with data collection and analysis for cost reduction initiatives. Ensure compliance with company policies and applicable external regulations and law. Qualifications EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: High School Diploma or GED required Knowledge of purchasing and basic understanding of supply chain management Microsoft Excel for cost analysis, data manipulation, tracking tools (pivot tables, vLOOKUPs, etc.) SAP experience to create and manage purchase orders and payments Smartsheet/Sharepoint for project tracking and collaboration Excellent communication skills for supplier interaction and cross-functional coordination Attention to detail is critical when managing pricing, specifications, and tracking documents