Capital/MRO Buyer

Cargill

This is a 2 year position (with the potential to extend beyond that period of time).

Cargill Kitchen Solutions is the leading marketer of further-processed egg products in the U.S. Its major product lines are pasteurized liquid egg and cooked entrees. Its customers include premier quick-service restaurant chains as well as food manufacturers. The business operates five processing plants located in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Ontario, Canada, producing approximately 400 million pounds of egg products annually. The business also manufactures flour tortillas through its Catalina Mexican Foods joint venture. Cargill Kitchen Solutions is a two-time winner of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

The Capital/MRO Buyer is responsible for providing BU procurement support and planning related to competitive bidding of Capital & MRO spend, managing supplier events and relationships, implementing sourcing strategies and ensuring compliance to Corporate Select Supplier Agreements.  This is a 2 year position (with the potential to extend beyond that period of time).  

Activities also include but are not limited to; supporting the strategic procurement process, execution of national/regional, and /or local agreements to include bid processes, negotiations, supplier selection/development, and contract management. This particular position will focus on supporting Capital/MRO goods/services procurement activities throughout the BU, working closely with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, Center Of Excellence (COE) and Strategic Sourcing teams.

This position is located in Moniticello, MN.

Principal Accountabilities:

60% - Manage/Execute Capital Procurement Transaction Processes.

• Coordinates capital procurement and distribution of materials, parts, equipment, and supplies by performing the following duties:
  • Coordinates procurement activities related to capital projects from the beginning of the project with intent to purchase through delivery.
  • Analyzes the requirements of the capital project, including preliminary specifications, preferred supplier, and date material/service is needed.
  • Investigates and/or interviews potential suppliers to determine if they meet the specified requirements
  • Advises team members or management on the appropriate supplier to be used
  • Negotiates the best cost for the capital expenditure balanced against the optimum quality and schedule needs.
  • Assures that the capital is delivered on schedule, at the negotiated price, and meets the quality standards of the company.
  • Tracks capital expenditures and requests for reporting, analytical, and decision making activities.
• Update Major Equipment List, in conjunction with Engineering Lead, to include specifications
• Support Engineering to identify Cargill parts specifications on OEM equipment (ex. preferred bearing, gearboxes, etc)
• Identify construction contractor list by trade in conjunction with Engineering Lead and Sr. MRO Buyer
• Identify potential suppliers for equipment, including Select Suppliers in conjunction with the Engineering Lead/Sr. MRO Buyer
• Explore opportunities for intra-company transfers, or used equipment in conjunction with the Engineering Lead
• Prepare bid packages in conjunction with the Engineering Lead.  Follow Cargill compliance policy while preparing bid packages and negotiating with suppliers.
• Develop funding plan (Support Accounting) and sourcing plans for long lead-time equipment on the critical path for engineering (vendor info) or construction (equipment delivery).
• Review bid packages with Engineering Lead/Sr. MRO Buyer prior to awarding the contract and issuing the purchase order to confirm the proposal meets the required codes and specification, acknowledgement of the owner approval requirements, and the vendors schedule
• Support Engineering to identify Goods or Services for TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) analysis
  • Determine cost drivers for input into TCO Models
  • Support Engineering and Reliability to populate TCO models to evaluate alternative options
• Negotiate logistics with equipment suppliers. Contact Logistics Select Suppliers
• Monitor supplier progress toward delivery expectations
  • Collaborate across project team to execute logistics plan
• Get budget estimates for equipment and construction, including BCC suppliers in conjunction with the Engineering Lead 

20% - Support BU Functions (Maint., Finance, Safety, etc.) With Procurement Processes and Standardization.

• Support Engineering and Reliability to establish a spare parts strategy (capitalized vs. expensed, etc)
• Include spare parts strategy when developing supplier negotiation strategy and bid packages.
• Follow contractor safety pre-qualification process
• Determine need for confidentiality agreements in conjunction with the Engineering Lead.  Issue prior to, or with, bid packages as appropriate.
• Support Project Accountant or buyer in establishing requisition and PO procedures.
• Support Project Accountant in managing PO receipts and vendor payments
• Support Maintenance by providing documentation of equipment & parts to input in plant maintenance system
• Drive implementation of standardization of equipment/parts/manufacturers
• Work with plants to improve inventory management, processes and tools

10% - Provide MRO Procurement & MRO Data Support.

• MRO Procurement support and coverage for procuring MRO materials and services for CKS plant locations as needed
• Support MRO data and vendor initiatives with continuous improvement

10% Drive Continuous Improvement & Capture Cost Savings.

• Implement CSS (Cargill Strategic Sourcing) projects
• Implement and document cost savings
• Support & drive Cargill select supplier use and vendor consolidation efforts
• Provide support to the Capital and MRO Purchasing Manager thru execution of strategic initiatives that deliver cost effective solutions and continuous improvement

Other Requirements:

• Maintains on-going tracking mechanisms for performance metrics, reporting on value captured at the local level
• Negotiate and execute all contracts.  Document all aspects of the negotiation in the contract.
• Document evaluation criteria and award decisions
• Some travel required to meet with suppliers, plant operations, and engineering.
• Must be able to go into plant production areas to gather project information as appropriate 

• Bachelor’s Degree preferably in Engineering, Supply Chain or related
• Must have manufacturing experience working with capital equipment, materials and services
• Experience procuring Capital and MRO products and services
• Advanced knowledge of purchasing/accounting processes
• Excellent critical thinking, strategic, problem solving and analytical skills
• Experience negotiating with suppliers
• Strong communication – written, verbal, presentation and listening ability
• Strong organizational skills and multi-tasking ability
• Proficient skills using Microsoft Suite – Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

• Working knowledge of procurement software - SAP
• Knowledge of the key markets and suppliers in these markets
• Food manufacturing experience
• Comprehensive knowledge of advanced principles, concepts and practices in following areas:  procurement, computer based inventory systems and manufacturing operations