Description ABOUT HAWKINS Hawkins, Inc. is a formulator, manufacturer, blender, distributor, and sales agent for thousands of industrial chemicals and reagent grade laboratory chemicals sold to municipalities and businesses throughout the Central United States. Thousands of organizations across a variety of industries have depended on Hawkins for the chemical products they need since 1938. Learn more about us at www.hawkinsinc.com/careers. ABOUT THE JOB Buyer/Planners at Hawkins are responsible for planning and procuring equipment and supplies from vendors. The position works closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Inventory Control, Sales, Transportation, Customer Service and Leadership to purchase and maintain raw material inventory while ensuring production, customer, and quality requirements are achieved. This position manages the operational flow of goods for purchased items including new product setup, raw material acquisition, inventory management, and margin management. Responsibilities Supplier Relationship Management Responsible for collecting and gathering data on potential suppliers and executing supplier performance initiatives to improve vendor accountability. Prepare for, participate in, and/or lead supplier negotiations. Resolve customer service or product quality issues and complaints by identifying root cause and ensuring appropriate actions are taken with suppliers as needed. Planning Parameters and Inventory Management Utilize MRP to plan the procurement of materials for production and service requirements while monitoring and controlling inventory levels. Submit purchase orders for raw materials, monitor the movement of product to receipt, establish priorities to meet customer orders, and resolve shipping or billing issues Communicate supplier cost information to sales, production and other departments. Communicate and coordinate any schedule changes with Operations, Sales, Customer Service and Production. Product Analysis and Process Improvement Optimize material costs through vendor analysis and identify and implement cost savings initiatives including product cost, order quantity, transportation, and freight terms. Analyze safety stocks and re-order points, manage raw material inventory, support demand planning, and provide backup coverage for other purchasing functions Customer Support Resolve customer service or product quality issues and complaints by identifying root cause and ensuring appropriate actions are taken ABOUT YOU Bachelor's Degree in supply chain, distribution, logistics, materials management, or related field preferred Minimum of 3 years directly related experience in production planning/scheduling, purchasing, or inventory management, preferably in a specialty chemical, food, or pharmaceutical manufacturing environment APICS certification (CSCP or CPIM), CPP or CPM certification preferred Familiar with procure-to-pay cycle and knowledge of contract law Experience and proficiency within MRP/ERP systems and MS-Office applications. J.D. Edwards experience preferred Previous negotiating experience Ability to organize and prioritize tasks, work collaboratively in a cross-functional environment, and ensure timely completion of responsibilities Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills Proficient written and verbal communication, team building, and interpersonal skills Some travel between Hawkins' sites is required (less than 5%) WORK FOR THE BEST Hawkins offers a competitive compensation and benefit package and is an award-winning employer and organization! Learn more about us at www.hawkinsinc.com. (NASDAQ: HWKN) Ref 2024- 071 All applications must be received online. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by law. Hawkins is a Drug Free workplace. Equal Opportunity Employer/Prote ted Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c) Hawkins, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran or disability status.