Hammerton is a leading American designer/manufacturer of custom decorative lighting for the hospitality, commercial and residential markets. We are known as a major design innovator in our industry, and we’re rapidly growing. Our in-house blown and kiln-fired glass capabilities, combined with our expertise in metal fabrication and machining, make us uniquely capable of addressing the needs of the design industry’s most discerning clients. Hammerton lighting can be found in leading five-star hotels and resorts, award-winning restaurants and many of the most beautiful homes in North America.
The Buyer I is responsible for procuring raw materials, components, and supplies to support Hammerton's custom and catalog manufacturing environment. This role requires a proactive, detail-oriented professional who can manage vendor relationships, maintain optimal inventory levels, and leverage ERP/MRP tools to ensure materials are available when needed without excess carrying cost.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Managing Purchase Orders and Execution
The core function of a Buyer is the accurate execution of purchasing transactions
- PO Creation — Reviewing requisitions from internal departments and converting them into Purchase Orders using Odoo's MRP and purchasing modules
- Order Confirmation — Communicating with vendors to confirm they received the order and can meet the requested delivery date.
- Expediting — Monitoring open orders and proactively following up with suppliers to speed up deliveries when inventory runs low or production schedules change.
- ETA Verification — Maintaining accurate expected delivery dates on all open POs and updating internal stakeholders when dates shift.
2. Supplier Communication and Negotiation
Buyers are the primary point of contact for the vendor base regarding day-to-day operations.
- Price Negotiation — Negotiating pricing on spot buys or specific orders to secure the best value.
- Terms Management — Working with vendors to establish and maintain favorable payment terms, lead times, and service agreements.
- Issue Resolution — Handling discrepancies such as damaged goods, incorrect shipments, or invoice errors.
- Performance Monitoring — Tracking supplier lead times and quality to ensure they meet the company's standards.
3. Inventory and Demand Alignment
Buyers must work closely with planning teams to ensure stock levels remain healthy.
- Stock Monitoring — Reviewing inventory reports and MRP outputs to identify shortages, below-ROP items, or excess stock.
- Safety Stock Management — Adjusting order quantities based on changing demand forecasts and reorder point parameters to prevent stockouts.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration — Working with production, engineering, and sales teams to anticipate upcoming material needs.
- Cycle Counts — Performing scheduled cycle counts to verify inventory accuracy, investigating variances, and partnering with receiving and warehouse staff to resolve discrepancies in Odoo.
4. Reporting and Continuous Improvement
Buyers contribute to supply chain visibility and ongoing process improvement.
- Daily Status Updates — Providing clear, timely updates on open orders, material risks, and stockout exposure.
- Data Accuracy — Maintaining accurate item master data in Odoo including lead times, costs, and supplier assignments.
- Cost Reduction — Identifying savings opportunities through vendor consolidation, alternate sourcing, and order optimization.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
- Associate's degree with relevant purchasing experience will be considered.
- Equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute for a degree.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- 1– years of purchasing or procurement experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably custom or high-mix/low-volume.
- Hands-on experience with an ERP/MRP system; Odoo experience strongly preferred.
- Solid understanding of inventory management concepts including reorder points, safety stock, and min/max planning.
- Demonstrated ability to negotiate with suppliers and manage vendor performance.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
- Proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets for data analysis and reporting.
- Experience in lighting, furniture, or custom manufacturing.
- APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM or CSCP) or equivalent coursework.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.