Assistant Buyer

ASR Group is the world’s largest refiner and marketer of cane sugar, with an annual production capacity of more than 6 million tons of sugar. The company produces a full line of grocery, industrial, food service and specialty sweetener products. Across North America, ASR Group owns and operates six sugar refineries, located in Louisiana, New York, California, Maryland, Canada and Mexico. In the European Union, the company owns and operates sugar refineries in England, Portugal and Italy. ASR Group also owns and operates mills in Mexico and Belize. The company’s brand portfolio includes the leading brands Domino®, C&H®, Redpath®, Tate & Lyle®, Lyle’s® and Sidul®.

**OVERVIEW**

Under general supervision of the Purchasing Manager, the Assistant Buyer supports spare parts category through processing multiple buying transactions, researching Purchase Orders, and communicating and following up with suppliers accordingly. In this role, the Assistant Buyer will be introduced to market analysis, reporting, and developing a more in-depth knowledge of SAP. The Assistant Buyer will work in a collaborative team environment and must have the ability to handle a large volume of transactions while adhering to specified process requirements. The Assistant Buyer is also responsible for maintaining positive business relationships with both internal and external customers.

**REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE**
- Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university plus 1-2 years of applicable Purchasing experience
- Degree major in Supply Chain, Business, or related field is preferred but not required
- At least 1 year of experience utilizing an ERP system (SAP, Buying, Researching, Reporting, etc.)

**DETAILED ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Responsible for processing a high volume of requisitions from multiple sites under assigned categories
- Assists Buyers and/or Purchasing Manager in preparing and coordinating agreements for assigned commodities and/or services
- Utilizes the company ERP (SAP) system to assist with researching assigned customers/categories
- Releases orders in a timely fashion while closely adhering to established company guidelines
- Focuses on learning established processes and building knowledge of potential suppliers and their capabilities
- Assists Buyers and/or Purchasing Manager in evaluating, qualifying, and selecting suppliers based on quality, service, cost and capability
- Ensures all agreements, purchases, and initiatives are approved by Purchasing Manager prior to action on behalf of the company
- Completes special projects as assigned
- Maintains confidentiality of proprietary business information at all times
- Performs other duties as assigned

**ESSENTIAL ABILITIES & CRITICAL SKILLS**
- Ability to research and understand the company’s supplier base and the supplier’s individual capabilities
- Ability to communicate in a clear and concise manner both verbally and in writing
- Ability to provide excellent customer service to both internal and external customers and foster strong, open lines of communication across all levels of the organization
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of proprietary business information at all times
- Ability to effectively manage time, including the ability to prioritize, work within assigned deadlines, and work independently or collaboratively to accomplish organizational objectives
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects while maintaining quality & accuracy standards
- Ability to utilize Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Excel, Word, and Outlook on an Intermediate Level
- ** Supplier Negotiations (Novice)**:

- ** Supplier Contracts (Novice)**:

- ** Enterprise Resource Planning (SAP - moderate)**:

- ** Analytical Thinking (Novice)**:

- ** Purchasing Procedures (Novice)**:

- ** Supply Chain Management (Awareness)**

**PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES**

**Accountability**: Takes accountability for delivering on commitments; owns mistakes and uses them as opportunities for learning and development; openly discusses his/her actions and their consequences both good and bad.

**Customer Orientation** - Addressing internal and/or external customer needs by providing and delivering professional, helpful, high quality service and support

**Acting with Integrity**:Clearly states goals and beliefs; lets people know his/her true intentions; does what he she said they would do; follows through on commitments; Understands and follows company policies

**Communication & Interpersonal Skills**:Expresses ideas and information in a clear and concise manner; tailors message to fit the interests and needs of the audience; delivers information in a manner that is interesting and compelling to the listener

**Energy & Initiative**:Takes action on his/her own without being prompted; handles problems independently; able to resolve issues without relying on extensive help from others; does more than is expected or asked; asserts one's influence over events to achieve