Senior Buyer

About Our Family Of Companies

We are on a mission to bring learning to life! At our family of companies, Learning Resources® , Educational Insights , and hand2mind , we create a unique range of toys, educational products and supplemental curriculum trusted by teachers and loved by families alike. Voted among the Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces for the last four consecutive years, we are a 350-person strong, family-owned organization dedicated to helping kids succeed in school and develop a love of learning. In addition to high-quality, hands-on products like VersaTiles® and Cuisenaire® Rods, we make award-winning toys, including top sellers such as the Pretend & Play® Cash Register, the Farmer’s Market Color Sorting Set and Toy of the Year winner Botley® the Coding Robot as well as Educational Insights top sellers Kanoodle®, GeoSafari® Jr. series, and Playfoam™. We pride ourselves on being committed to our employee’s personal and professional development, a thriving culture and a diverse, creative atmosphere. Along with our culture and competitive benefits package, we offer opportunities for training and development by Harvard and UCLA professors as well as in-demand, motivating external speakers. We are looking for professionals who are truly just kids at heart! We hope you’ll come join our award-winning team today!

Team & Position Description

We are currently seeking a Senior Buyer in this key position who must understand and be able to execute procurement and sourcing best practices. This role is responsible for accurately and precisely planning and buying high-quality cost-effective products from both domestic and off-shore suppliers at the best possible price with a minimum of capital investment while achieving a high level of customer service. Individual must have an intimate working knowledge of MRP in order to successfully manage, control and optimize stocking levels of assigned products to achieve desired inventory turns, order fill rates and schedule attainment based on established objectives.

What You’ll Do Day To Day

• Expertise in using MRP and planning tools, analyze inventory order patterns and sales data to provide input for strategic purchasing decisions.
• Evaluate and measure vendors’ performance, initiating corrective action when expectations are not met ensuring maximum performance.
• Solicit and evaluate quotations, place and amend purchase orders, and follow up on supplier commitments for assigned products.
• Participate in evaluation, selection and presentation of new suppliers.
• Maintain the accuracy of purchase item data and planning parameters driving the MPS/MRP processes.
• Analyze and solve purchasing problems with other departments (Accounting, Receiving, Production Planning, Product Development, etc.) such as conformance to quality or design requirements, material scheduling, receiving, and price disputes.
• Recommends process improvements and innovative solutions to support achievement of goals as related to suppliers and products.
• Manage other team members and assist in training of new team members in department best practices
• Continuously evaluate and improve purchasing procedures.
• Other key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, ability to work cross-functionally, with other departments, to ensure that both internal and external service levels are met, reviewing and analyzing data to determine cost saving opportunities through vendor consolidation and/or contract renegotiations and effectively dealing with Asian factories and trading companies.
• Other duties for this role will be assigned as necessary/appropriate.
  
  

What We’re Looking For (Key Performance Objectives)

• Use your experience in supplier management to host business reviews to assure performance of assigned products on a quarterly basis.
• Communicate risk at hand within 48-hour window and actively work for solutions on a weekly basis.
• Analyze data and make recommendations related to supply chain KPIs (delivery, quality, cost, performance, etc.) in order to identify risks for the business within the first 30 days
• Play a key liaison role among Quality, Product Development, Warehouse, OEM, Sales/Marketing, engineering teams, escalate issues during business reviews on a quarterly basis.
• Being a change agent with proficiency in handling constructive conflict as it occurs.
  
  

Requirements/Ideal Attributes

• Must be a self-starter who can work under pressure, meet deadlines develop strategies and execute independently.
• Must effectively interact with various internal customers and other managers; communication ability and interpersonal skills are critical.
• Ability to work some night hours when there is a need for verbal communication, via phone, with Asian suppliers.
  
  

We are a drug-free workplace and an EEO employer.

Please note: This role will be filled by our internal recruitment team, so no assistance is needed from any outside staffing agency at this time.