Buyer & Sourcing Engineer

 NFW is a material science innovation company giving industries plastic-free material platforms to create responsibly. NFW invents and manufactures shockingly sustainable products from nature. Beginning with naturally circular ingredients, NFW is making a material-rich, plastic-free future possible. NFW was founded in 2015 and is based in Peoria, Illinois.  

NFW is a company of trailblazers, innovators and bold thinkers, committed to reinventing the way things are made. We never stop learning. We are fiercely curious about the world and how to improve it for everyone. We offer competitive salary, paid vacation and sick time, flexible work-life schedules, great colleagues and more!  On-site:  Location:  Peoria, IL.   Salary range:  90-115K. 

Buyer & Sourcing Engineer

The Buyer & Sourcing Engineer is responsible for handling all daily sourcing activities for various commodities and equipment for the organization. They must ensure appropriate purchases are made by leading or participating in the RF(x) process, recommending options, reviewing and negotiating costs, delivering lowest Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), and assuring suppliers meet their obligations to our organization. The Buyer & Sourcing Engineer is expected to apply strategic sourcing and purchasing practices and manage supplier relationships to ensure full benefits are realized and sustained. This position will have extensive responsibilities for communicating and working with colleagues across engineering, sales, operations, finance and the supplier representatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic and acquisition related sourcing and contracting activities and cost improvement initiatives.  
• Ensure purchases for required goods or services are made by recommending appropriate supplier/s, costs, processes, etc. 
• Evaluate & analyze supplier proposals, including technical specifications. 
• Manage spend categories and develops supply chain strategies in partnership with management and key stakeholders for high risk and highly complex products, services and suppliers who have significant business impact.
• Perform analysis of supplier spend data and processes metrics to proactively recommend improvements.
• Analyze supply markets, identify industry trends and evolve supplier trends and spot opportunities to extract value out of the supply base.
• Develop and maintain the should-cost model for purchased materials.
• Develop appropriate logistics solutions for the procurement of goods and delivering finished product to customer sites.
• Drive TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) process to improve cost, quality and delivery.
• Proactively identify and manage risks to avoid supply chain disruption.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with both production and non-production teams to ensure that materials and production supplies are provided in a timely manner.
• Develop performance metrics and monitors supplier performance.
• Develop new suppliers as needed to improve cost, quality and delivery of final product to meet customer expectations.
• Monitor industry trends and regulatory changes that may impact the availability or cost of materials, proactively recommending changes to procurement strategies as needed.
• Develop and implement plans to reduce inventory levels while meeting production demands.
• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Travel as required, including international travel (25-35%).

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or textile engineering, or related discipline required. Advanced degree such as MBA highly preferred. 
• Minimum 6 years of sourcing, project management experience in a manufacturing environment required.  
• Minimum of 4 years of strategic sourcing and procurement experience including category/commodity level experience within textiles, chemicals, rubber, highly engineered equipment, logistics, general services, etc. 
• Minimum 4 years of experience in subcontract management.
• Automotive and chemical industry experience high preferred. 
• Experience with sourcing raw materials, chemicals, and/or textiles high preferred. 
• NAPM (CPM) Certification preferred.
• Proven experience and expertise leading negotiations, supplier contracting, sourcing, providing cost analysis.
• Demonstrable experience leading cost reduction initiatives that deliver the lowest TCO.
• Knowledge of contract terminology, proven ability to review contracts, and create Statements of Work.
• Proven negotiation skills and project management skills.
• Analytical and technical skills with focus on data analysis and decision support tools
• Experience developing global logistics solutions.
• Ability to work on a cross-functional team and in a matrixed environment.
• Strong Microsoft office skills.
• Must be flexible and able to adapt easily to change.
• Self manages; takes initiative and able to collaborate across geographies and functions.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to fluently communicate in Asian languages highly preferred. 
• Ability to use ERP / MRP systems, is highly preferred.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. This position primarily operates within an office or manufacturing environment, which may be loud, dusty, hot, or cold. Additional physical requirements include frequent talking, hearing, and seeing. Frequent use of hands to grasp, handle, or feel objects. Pushing and pulling on work objects with hands. Working with hot and cold surfaces. Safely working with job related sharp objects. Regular standing, walking, sitting, and reaching. Regular stooping, kneeling, crouching, occasional climbing, typically on a stepladder or stairs. Routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and walkie-talkies. Regularly required to use PPE. This position requires travel both domestically and internationally at least 25% and up to 50% when demand requires. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The Company is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive team in which members of all backgrounds can contribute and thrive. In compliance with state and federal law, the Company does not discriminate in employment or administration of its programs and policies on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, or military service. Our policy reflects and affirms the Company’s commitment to the principles of fair employment and the elimination of all unlawful discriminatory practices.