Category Buyer

**Please read all duties and requirements for this role prior to applying**. Those who do not meet minimum requirements will not be considered.

**Category Buyer**:
The role of the Category Buyer is to execute the category strategy for assigned categories, with categories rotating between buyers at regular intervals.

The Buyer supports all assigned locations for the products and services in scope, solves the needs of the business relating to procurement, and manages key suppliers.

**Overview of Duties**:

- Participates in end-to-end procurement processes, from receipt of purchase request, to receiving budget approvals, to sourcing vendors, to signing contracts, to placing vendor orders, to verifying shipments are received as expected, to initiating payments, through to closing the P.O.s, and everything in between.
- Implements and maintains corporate overhead and operational supply agreements.
- Leverages opportunities to deliver the business unit needs.
- Facilitates ongoing supplier business and strategic alignment, including management of supplier relationships and quality initiatives
- Ensures that the supply chain is safe, sustainable, and appropriately managed.
- Delivers targeted savings and performance improvement benefits and assumes accountability for the cost reduction and performance of the supply chain in assigned categories.
- Prepares and supports the placement of subcontract and material supply orders.
- Achieve targets set by the department head.
- Adhere to the Purchasing Department's policies, processes & procedures.
- Works closely with Category Management colleagues and with cross-functional teams to implement agreements across the business.
- Prepares and presents timely and accurate reports.
- Identifies ways to reduce costs and improve service.
- Conducts regular category reporting, supplier reviews, forecasting, and budgeting savings and rebates.
- Supports Category Management financial performance strategy and targets.
- Focuses on effective communication and relationship building with internal clients and external suppliers.
- Acts as the liaison between Operational clients and key suppliers.
- Demonstrates business professionalism that is in line with Atlantic Packaging's core values.
- Presents a positive attitude at all times, while working to build and maintain long-term, sustainable relationships with customers, suppliers, and team members.
- Problem-solves complex issues, finding effective solutions which are acceptable for all stakeholders involved.
- Completes any additional related tasks as assigned by Management.

**The above duties are guidelines to the general requirements of the job and are not intended to constitute the full requirements.**

**Requirements**:

- Some post-secondary technical training from an accredited institution, or minimum 3 years of experience in direct buying and sourcing, or a mix of experience and education.
- Experience managing high-spend buying categories.
- Experience in redistribution would be a major asset.
- Proven experience negotiating and managing contracts.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication (in English)/documentation skills
- Ability to efficiently multi-task and schedule priorities
- Self-motivated, detail oriented, and possessing the ability to process confidential and/or controlled information.
- Intermediate to expert level ability with MS Office (particularly Microsoft Excel) and an ERP system.
- Effective management of the quality and on-time delivery evaluations.
- Proven success in sourcing, purchasing, and partnering with suppliers.
- Excellent interpersonal and problem solving skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
- Superior organizational and planning skills.
- Ability to work autonomously and with little direction from Management.
- Ability to present in a manner that is deemed professional at all times.
- Ability to represent the business interests of Atlantic Packaging, and have conduct that would be deemed appropriate for such whenever client or vendor-facing.
- Ability to understand the importance and benefits of fostering collaborative relationships with direct peers and managers.