The Buyer at Aston Carter is primarily responsible for managing project materials and freight estimates to ensure timely delivery. This role involves monitoring purchase requests, analyzing offers for cost efficiencies, and collaborating with suppliers to resolve any delivery issues. You'll play a crucial role in maintaining reporting accuracy on delivery commitments and addressing any invoicing discrepancies that may arise.

To apply for the Buyer position at Aston Carter, candidates should ideally have a Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management or a related field, alongside 0-2 years of experience in a procurement or buyer role. Proficiency in Excel and ERP systems is crucial, as is experience in negotiating prices, terms, and conditions. Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills will also significantly enhance your application.

Success as a Buyer at Aston Carter hinges on several key skills, including strong analytical abilities for evaluating offers and making informed decisions. Effective communication and negotiation skills are critical for resolving supplier issues and optimizing costs. Additionally, organizational skills to handle multiple requests and a keen attention to detail for maintaining reporting accuracy are vital for this role.

While prior experience in procurement enhances your application for the Buyer role at Aston Carter, it is not strictly necessary. We welcome applicants with a strong educational background in supply chain management and a passion for learning and growing in the procurement field. Fresh graduates or candidates with transferable skills from related positions are encouraged to apply.

The work environment for a Buyer at Aston Carter is corporate and collaborative, located in St. Louis, Missouri. You will work regular business hours, from Monday to Friday, in a business casual setting. The culture emphasizes teamwork, continuous improvement, and the delivery of exceptional solutions in the electrical equipment manufacturing sector.

In answering this question, highlight specific experiences where you managed procurement processes, such as negotiating contracts or handling supplier relationships. Be sure to relate these experiences back to how they prepared you for the Buyer role at Aston Carter, emphasizing your analytical skills and ability to make data-driven decisions.

When responding, outline your organizational strategies, such as using tools for tracking requests or setting deadlines for each task. Explain how you assess the urgency and importance of each request, ensuring that team needs are met promptly while maintaining efficiency in the procurement process.

Share specific negotiation tactics you've used, such as preparing comprehensive research about market prices or understanding supplier constraints. Highlight your approach to building rapport and maintaining positive relationships, ensuring a win-win outcome for both parties involved.

Explain your problem-solving process when discrepancies arise, including how you communicate with suppliers to quickly resolve issues. Emphasize the importance of thorough documentation, follow-ups, and maintaining open lines of communication with your project team for effective resolution.

Provide a specific instance where you identified a potential cost-saving opportunity, detailing the research and analysis you conducted. Talk about the actions you took to implement a more cost-effective solution and the positive outcomes it produced for your team or organization.

In your response, list relevant software or systems you have experience with, particularly those directly related to procurement or inventory management. If applicable, mention specific functions you utilized within these systems, such as data analysis, reporting, or order tracking.

Discuss methods you've found successful for maintaining clear communication, such as regular check-ins, utilizing project management tools, and creating comprehensive reports. Highlight the importance of being proactive in reaching out for updates and ensuring everyone is aligned on project goals.

In your answer, mention metrics such as on-time delivery rates, quality of goods received, and responsiveness to issues. Explain why these metrics are important for maintaining a reliable supply chain and how you would utilize them in your role as a Buyer at Aston Carter.

Outline your approach to handling missed deadlines, including how you would first engage with the supplier to understand the reason for the delay. Discuss the importance of finding a workaround and communicating with your team to mitigate any potential impacts on your project.

Share your passion for procurement and what aspects of the role excite you, whether it's negotiation, problem-solving, or the dynamic environment. Relate your motivations to how they align with Aston Carter's mission of delivering exceptional solutions in procurement.