Buyer - Supply Chain Management

What you’ll do:

•    Help build and launch the MRO purchasing, inventory, and storeroom processes for the new Little Rock manufacturing facility.
•    Establish new part numbers and accurate item master data for maintenance parts, tools, safety supplies, production consumables, and facility operating supplies.
•    Coordinate initial stocking requirements with Maintenance, Engineering, Operations, EHS, and Supply Chain to support equipment installation, commissioning, start-up, and production ramp-up.
•    Analyze usage, lead times, equipment criticality, and service risk to set and maintain appropriate minimum/maximum levels, reorder points, and safety stock.
•    Create accurate purchase requisitions and purchase orders; monitor open orders and confirm timely delivery to support facility readiness and daily operations.
•    Identify, evaluate, and onboard suppliers; negotiate pricing, lead times, freight terms, and service expectations in coordination with Supply Chain leadership.
•    Develop direct supplier relationships and maintain dependable sources for critical and frequently used items.
•    Maintain pricing records and the supplier price increase/update log; identify cost-saving opportunities and support implementation.
•    Resolve purchase order, delivery, receiving, quality, and quantity discrepancies, including shortages, damaged material, and late orders.
•    Partner with Accounting to resolve invoice and three-way-match issues and maintain complete purchasing documentation.
•    Maintain accurate inventory records through cycle counts, transaction discipline, standardized labeling, and storeroom organization.
•    Coordinate deliveries and material availability with Maintenance and Operations while communicating supply risks and recovery plans.
•    Support supplier performance reviews using measures such as on-time delivery, quality, responsiveness, lead time, and cost.
•    Develop standard work, operating procedures, reports, and visual controls for MRO purchasing and inventory management.
•    Use ERP and Microsoft Excel data to monitor inventory, spend, stockouts, excess and obsolete items, and purchasing performance.
•    Participate in continuous improvement and cost-reduction projects supporting the Little Rock facility launch and ongoing operations.
•    Perform special projects, reporting, and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Required (Basic) Qualifications: 
    • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
    • Two (2) or more years of experience in purchasing, supply chain, inventory control, MRO, maintenance materials, or a related manufacturing role.
    • Eaton will not consider applicants for employment immigration sponsorship or support for this position. This means that Eaton will not support any CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT plans, F-1 to H-1B, H-1B cap registration, O-1, E-3, TN status, I-485 job portability, etc.

Preferred Qualifications:

•    Bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, operations, engineering technology, or a related field.
•    Experience supporting a greenfield facility, manufacturing start-up, equipment commissioning, or rapid production ramp.
•    Experience with Epicor ERP or a comparable enterprise resource planning or computerized maintenance management system.
•    Experience with MRO storeroom controls, item master setup, cycle counting, min/max planning, and supplier performance management.
•    Experience in an engineered-to-order, industrial, electrical, modular construction, or discrete manufacturing environment.
•    Knowledge of Lean manufacturing, 5S, standard work, and continuous improvement methods.

Skills:

•    Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and common business applications.
•    Experience creating purchase orders, working with suppliers, and managing inventory records.
•    Clear and concise written and verbal communication, including the ability to present facts, risks, and recommendations.
•    Strong organization and attention to detail while working under time constraints and managing multiple priorities.
•    Supplier negotiation, relationship management, and problem-solving skills.
•    Ability to analyze inventory, purchasing, and supplier data and translate findings into practical actions.
•    Self-motivation and the ability to work independently in a fast-changing start-up environment.
•    Ability to collaborate effectively with peers, leaders, cross-functional teams, and external suppliers.
•    Professional judgment, a positive attitude, and a strong customer-service orientation.
•    Comfort working through ambiguity and adapting priorities as the facility moves from construction and commissioning into steady-state operations.
•    Travel: Up to 25%