Buyer I (Remote) LOOKING FOR Buyer I (Remote) JOB AT Remote

Responsibilities:

• Award, and contract for goods and services.
• Research product and service requirements with internal departments to establish appropriate parameters for product, projects, and suppliers.
• Solicit competitive proposals from qualified suppliers.
• Assist with negotiations, RFXs (RFQs, RFPs, RFIs), bidding events, and spot buys, evaluating alternatives and awarding business to achieve best value for TDS. Prepare bid summaries for analysis and determine lowest total cost solutions.
• Analyze and identify purchased goods or services where pricing or service can be improved.
• Processing of routine purchases in SAP to specified vendors according to awarded contracts in Ariba.
  Source and procure goods and services in support of TDS Telecom operations and business needs.
• Serve as TDS Agent Buyer and primary internal point of contact for the purchase of assigned goods and services.
• Maintain knowledge of supply base and pre-qualify supply sources (when applicable) to assure market competitiveness.
• Coordinate with end users to identify and specify requirements and select the appropriate sourcing strategy for the purchase need.
• Source the goods/services needed with potential vendors and negotiate and verify availability, cost, lead times, and delivery logistics that are required.
• Make award decisions and coordinate documentation through Purchase Requisitions, and POs and agreements with internal departments in compliance with policies.
• Expedite orders and coordinate delivery as necessary.
• Research, evaluate and resolve any arising issues of incorrect fulfillment or shipping.
• Assure that all aspects of the purchase to payment process are maintained.
• Participate, counsel and support internal departments and operating locations in the selection and procurement of goods & services.
• Develop and foster relationships with internal departments, and maintain open and regular communication regarding preferred vendors, pricing and purchases of new or existing goods or services.
• Participate in discussions on development of product and service requirements, forecasts, estimated usage and availability needs, and process requirements.
• Work with internal departments and customer to forecast and plan (1) sourcing of goods, (2) improve sourcing pricing, quality and service, (3) processing returns, and (4) minimizing costs.
• Work with internal customers (departments) on special projects requiring sourcing or procurement.
  Establish relationships with suppliers and potential suppliers in support of sourcing and procurement requirements and evaluate their capabilities and ongoing performance.
• Develop relationships and maintain open and regular communication with suppliers through emails, phone calls, meetings and visits.
• Evaluate potential new suppliers and capabilities, either seeking them out, or fielding inquiries.
• Work with new and existing vendors on all aspects of sourcing and procuring; issues, pricing, forecasts, lead times, policy changes, new product rollouts, returns, process improvements, etc.
• Collaborate with suppliers to ensure adequate stocking and availability of awarded goods to meet TDS forecasted product requirements.
• Maintain a working knowledge of vendor products, capabilities, processes and circumstances that may affect sourcing and procurement.
• Work with vendors to streamline, enhance, and implement process improvements, improve pricing, quality or service.
• Measure and monitor compliance to sourced supplier agreements and document results.
  Support internal departments, operating locations and vendor relations through regular communication, training, and dissemination of product and pricing information.
• Promptly answer e-mails and phone calls, both vendor and customer related.
• Provide product information to the business office including pricing, specifications, and where purchased.
• Provide additional SAP training for requisitioners.
  Research, evaluate and resolve issues regarding sourcing/procuring.
• Answer questions regarding RMA’s, deliveries, and repairs/spares.
• RMA’s and advance replacements: (1) process return authorization requests, (2) process advance replacement/exchange requests, (3) process requests for repair orders, (4) facilitate resolutions for any of the above
• Repair/return and advance replacements: work with TDS employees and vendors to get equipment fixed and back to them.
• Process return authorization requests.
• Maintain knowledge of industry, company, sourced goods and service, and vendors.
• Work towards certification in purchasing, project management, quality, etc.

Qualifications:

• Associates degree (or higher) -OR- 2+ years professional work experience.
• 2+ years of procurement, negotiating, contracting, materials management, network operations, engineering, accounting, or related experience.

• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Willing to take courses to achieve the ISM CPSM Certification or equivalent.
• Network management, engineering, project management, business ownership or
• customer care experience a plus.
• Telecommunications or experience in managing technical projects a plus.
• E-Sourcing experience a plus.
• SAP Microsoft Windows, Word and Excel.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, customer service, organizational skills.
• Strong verbal and written communications skills.
• Strong analytical, reasoning, creative problem solving, and decision-making ability.
• Ability to multi-task and continuously reprioritize.
• Experience in the area of supplier or contractor management is a plus.
• Ability to work independently, demonstrate initiative and responsive to needs of end users.
• Must be able to work independently, and as part of teams comprised of various departments and experience levels.
• Ability to analyze and document product, market and company information.
• Ability to present analysis, provide sourcing counseling and make recommendations to various individuals and management levels.
• Ability to establish sourcing initiatives regarding assigned goods & services
• Attention to detail and sense of urgency.
• Willing to take company courses on fundamentals of telecom and data.
• Some limited travel to training, company or vendor locations.