Buyer

Position Summary

This position is responsible for the procurement of a wide variety of materials and services in support of NPPD business unit needs. Primary duties include day-to-day procurement activities associated with the acquisition and replenishment of goods and services, and the issuance of purchase orders with appropriate terms and conditions.  The incumbent provides accurate, timely and cost-effective procurement services for their assigned NPPD's business unit(s)., coordination of request for quotations and the evaluation of the bidder quotations, expediting/follow-up of deliveries and logistics (freight) in accordance with NPPD policies and procedures.

The incumbent must demonstrate high potential and be a self-starter capable of handling multiple assignments with a high degree of initiative, accountability, and accuracy. Positive success working with vendors and internal staff at all levels and business units is critical.

Education, Training and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in business or related program and two years of procurement or business-related experience.

OR

Associates degree (or equivalent accumulation of college credit hours in business or a related program) and four years of procurement or business-related experience.

OR

High school diploma/GED and six years of experience in procurement or business-related experience is required.

Licenses and/or Certifications

Institute of Supply Management (ISM) certification is desired.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Execute standard purchasing processes through Request for Quote/Bid creation, evaluation of quotes/bids, purchase order creation, issuance, maintenance, acknowledgements, and expediting.

Conduct purchasing activities in compliance with the appropriate codes, standards, or commitments. T&D Buyers: comply with NERC CIP-013 procurement process, perform Risk assessments, and ensure Cyber security terms are executed with vendor, when applicable.

Maintain accurate procurement data in SAP. Build and maintain strong working relationships with key vendors and internal customers.

Provide accurate and timely communications with both internal and external customers. Provide technical leadership to business unit personnel relative to NPPD procurement processes, policies, and activities.

Conduct purchasing activities exercising sound judgment in compliance with appropriate statutes, policies, and procedures, including any special regulatory requirements applicable to specific business unit purchases.

Work with internal customers to ensure material procurements meet existing specifications. Perform research and incorporate existing requirements into new procurement documents.

Manage projects through the appropriate procurement process, complying with NPPD Procurement procedures and Nebraska State bid statues,

Maintain contacts with suppliers to identify the current availability, quality, and pricing.

Proactively identify, communicate, and assist with resolving issues that delay material deliveries. Perform expediting/follow-up of deliveries, coordinating logistics and supplier management.

Resolve delivered quantity discrepancies, invoice discrepancies, GR/IR issues, maintain accurate purchasing data in SAP, and perform close out of procurement documents.

Support Strategic Sourcing in development/implementation of sourcing strategies.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities (Continued)

Support best practices including supplier alliances, blanket order purchasing, and logistics management by aggressively pursuing discounts (quantity, delivery, long-term agreements, payment terms, etc.). Lead and/or participate in cost saving or value-added initiatives or teams with the various business units within NPPD.

Participate in project work to identify, document, and lead cost down initiative projects yearly.

Maintain system data integrity and measure performance on related key indicators (examples: past due purchase orders, open PO acknowledgements, PO expedites, non-conforming material return, and supplier invoice resolution).

Manage key vendor relationships to include performance evaluations, performance improvement, and risks assessments.

Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal customers and key suppliers, focusing on cost savings, supplier management, and diversity.

Provide technical leadership to business unit personnel relative to NPPD procurement process and activities.

Work closely with the A/P and Procurement Coordinators to resolve problems with invoices or vendors.

Identify and recommend process changes to improve workflow efficiencies and effectiveness.

Utilize materials management information systems to provide inventory management information to internal customers, including working with the business unit to reduce inventories and dispose of surplus or obsolete materials and perform other materials management activities, as assigned. In addition, assist in development of strategies to balance inventory to meet forecasted demands, as well as emergent work.

Be available for required on-call duty, storm restoration, and outage support duty (weekend and backshift).

Accountable for other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies