Buyer - Senior

BE GREAT TOGETHER WITH US. Innovation, Efficiency and Ambition: this is what VAT has stood for over 50 years. With this passion, VAT has grown to become the leading international developer, manufacturer and supplier of high-performance high-end vacuum valves and vacuum sealing technology, employing over 2000 people worldwide. The headquarters are located in Haag (Switzerland), the production centers in Switzerland, Malaysia, Romania and Taiwan. Role Description Purchase goods, materials and services to ensure that the company operational needs are met, taking into account price, quality and delivery and to ensure continuity of supply. This role has greater responsibility and accountability than a Buyer and includes some people management responsibility. Principal Duties & Responsibilities Your responsibilities include, but not limited to:

• Responsible and optimize the procurement of the product/series.
• Issuance of Purchase Order per request or triggering from system (Microsoft D365).
• Plans, schedules and monitor all materials to ensure fulfilment of production build.
• Procures and negotiates all required parts, components, equipment, supplies and services from suppliers meeting delivery schedule within lead time.
• Responsible for Supplier's forecast and working with Supplier and Categories team to resolve the supply risk, gap and escalation in timely manner.
• Analyse forecast accuracy and capacity requirement and communicate with respective Stakeholders for necessary actions to support business and customer needs.
• Manage, control and optimizes stock levels/availabilities and review Min-Max for parts in BOM list.
• Responsible for Master Data maintenance and high integrity accuracy such as Lead-time, ROP, stock type etc. Ensure purchasing data integrity and accuracy with compliance to audit requirements.
• Working with Categories Management team on Supplier Frame Contract and periodic system update and revised plan when forecast change.
• To drive meeting department KPI – Supplier On Time Delivery (SOTD), Inventory Turns, Excess and Obsolesce materials, monitor and ensures 100% fulfilment of delivery dates of PO stated.
• Work closely with suppliers, Categories team (Purchasing), SQE, SDQ, Warehouse and Shipping in goods return/replacement if found any reject.
• Build, maintain and manage supplier relationships and effective communications.
• Reviewing Purchase Order claims for conformance to company policy and procedures.
• Work closely with Finance to close all challenges of Account Payable properly.
• Participate in change control process and make sure transition plan is in place to phase in new parts and phase out obsoleted parts to avoid or minimize impact on scrap cost.
• Ensures an effective supply chain, especially during ramp up / ramp down of business.
• Cooperates with Strategic Purchasing in the development and handover of new products and support inventory management for flawless transition to mass production.
• Manage supplier scorecard with Categories Team and coordinate supplier continuous improvement (development) initiative.
• Support Purchasing Leader with reports on and as needed.
• Provide support and assist in developing buyer's skills and knowledge.
• Proactively engage and collaborate with Business stakeholders, in order to resolve operational issues and problem related to Purchase Orders/Maintenance with speed and quality.
• Drive innovation and focus activities on continuous improvement within the Supply Chain Organization.

Minimum Qualification

• Minimum Bachelor's Degree holder with 5-8 years of experience in Purchasing (preferably in the field of metal machining parts assembly industries)
• Strong verbal and written communication skill
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Ability to function well in high-paced and at time, stressful environment
• Possess result oriented mind-sets
• Work independently with minimum supervision and possess the ability to work within a team structure.

Preferred Qualification

• Strong IT skill with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office and strong Excel skills
• Has experience in people management

VAT is an equal opportunity employer. We see ourselves as a responsible and far-sighted employer that offers not only jobs, but also career and personal development opportunities through various training programs. We recognize the value of employee diversity and provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified application that contributes to innovation, improves customer orientation and employee satisfaction. One-step in this direction is to ensure that people are recognized and fairly compensated for their contributions to the company. In 2021, VAT received the Fair-ON-Pay+ certificate as an acknowledgement for our commitment in ensuring equal pay for equal work between men and women. Purchasing, Inventory Management, Negotiation, Supply Chain, Microsoft Office, Excel, Forecast