BestDrive Sr. Purchasing Specialist

Company Description

BestDrive, a wholly owned subsidiary of Continental, is quickly becoming the top choice among commercial trucking fleets for our high-quality products and exceptional service. BestDrive Commercial Tire Centers specializes in providing fleet customers with innovative tire solutions including award winning Continental and General Tire brand products, innovative commercial solution products such as ContiPressureCheck, and a wide array of multi-brand truck tires to address all market segments. Since our founding in 2012, we presently have 25 locations throughout the United States and continue to rapidly expand our footprint throughout the country

Job Description

The Senior Purchasing Specialist at Best Drive, a prominent retail truck tire company, plays a pivotal role in the procurement operations of the organization. This position is responsible for overseeing and executing strategic procurement initiatives, managing supplier relationships, and optimizing the procurement process to ensure the availability of high-quality truck tires while maintaining cost efficiency. The Senior Purchasing Specialist collaborates with cross-functional teams, analyzes market trends, negotiates contracts, and contributes to the overall success of the company's purchasing function.

Essential Duties:

• Strategic Procurement: Develop and implement procurement strategies that align with Best Drive's goals and objectives. Identify cost-saving opportunities, streamline processes, and enhance the overall procurement efficiency.
• Supplier Management: Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and vendors. Conduct supplier evaluations, negotiate terms, and establish partnerships that guarantee timely delivery of quality products while managing costs.
• Market Analysis: Stay abreast of industry trends, market fluctuations, and technological advancements related to truck tires. Analyze data to make informed decisions regarding sourcing, pricing, and supplier selection.
• Contract Negotiation: Lead contract negotiations with suppliers to secure favorable terms, pricing, and conditions. Ensure compliance with contractual obligations and manage any disputes that may arise.
• Inventory Management: Collaborate with inventory and demand planning teams to ensure optimal stock levels of truck tires. Balance inventory turnover, lead times, and demand forecasts to prevent shortages and excess stock.
• Risk Mitigation: Identify potential risks in the supply chain and develop strategies to mitigate disruptions. Create contingency plans to handle unforeseen circumstances affecting the availability of truck tires.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with various departments, including logistics, sales, and finance, to ensure seamless coordination of procurement activities. Provide input and insights to enhance overall business operations.
• Process Improvement: Continuously assess and enhance the procurement process by identifying areas for improvement, implementing best practices, and leveraging technology to streamline operations.
• Data Analysis: Utilize data analytics to monitor key performance indicators, evaluate supplier performance, and track procurement metrics. Generate reports to provide insights into purchasing trends and cost savings.
• Compliance and Ethics: Adhere to company policies, industry regulations, and ethical standards in all procurement activities. Ensure that procurement practices are transparent, fair, and aligned with corporate values.
• Business Case Creation: Develop and present comprehensive business cases for procurement initiatives, outlining potential benefits, risks, costs, and ROI. Collaborate with stakeholders to gain approval and ensure alignment with strategic objectives.
• Adherence to Internal Controls and Procedures: Ensure strict compliance with company policies, internal controls, and procurement procedures. Implement measures to prevent fraud, maintain data accuracy, and uphold ethical standards in procurement activities.
• Collaborative Projects: Lead or participate in cross-functional projects aimed at improving overall supply chain efficiency, optimizing inventory turnover, and enhancing customer satisfaction.
• Forecasting and Demand Planning: Collaborate with demand planning teams to accurately forecast truck tire demand, align procurement strategies with sales forecasts, and prevent overstock or stockouts.
• Benchmarking and Best Practices: Research and benchmark industry best practices to continuously improve procurement strategies, supplier engagement, and overall supply chain management.
• Budget Management: Develop and manage the procurement budget, tracking expenses and ensuring alignment with financial goals. Implement cost-control measures and identify areas for cost reduction.
• Market Intelligence: Maintain a comprehensive understanding of market dynamics, competitive landscape, and industry trends in truck tires. Use this knowledge to anticipate changes in supply and demand and adjust procurement strategies accordingly.
• Systems Development: Support the implementation of the digital procurement platform that will be rolled out within the organization.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
• 7+ years’ experience in purchasing
• Several years of experience in procurement, preferably within the retail or automotive industry.
• Proven track record of successful supplier management, contract negotiation, and cost optimization.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and trends to make informed decisions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for building effective relationships with internal teams and external suppliers.
• Proficiency in procurement software and tools, as well as Microsoft Office Suite.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy and problem-solving.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
• Experience in accounting and/or bookkeeping
• Experience in purchasing and/or supply chain

 

Additional Information

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Work hours are generally 8-5 Monday – Friday.  Saturday and evenings as needed
• General office environment; prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Required to lift 5-15 lbs. routinely
• Travel of 0-15%

Why you should apply:

• Immediate Benefits
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Discounts
• Employer 401(k) Match
• And more benefits that come with working for a global industry leader!

EEO-Statement:

EEO / AA / Disabled / Protected Veteran Employer. Continental offers equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals, without regard to unlawful consideration to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. In addition, as a federal contractor, Continental complies with government regulations, including affirmative action responsibilities, where they apply. To be considered, you must apply for a specific position for which Continental has a current posted job opening. Qualifying applications will be considered only for the specific opening(s) to which you apply. If you would like to be considered for additional or future job openings, we encourage you to reapply for other opportunities as they become available. Further, Continental provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance in the application process, please reply to Careers@conti-na.com or contact US Recruiting at 248.393.5566. This telephone line and email address are reserved solely for job seekers with disabilities requesting accessibility assistance or an accommodation in the job application process. Please do not call about the status of your job application, if you do not require accessibility assistance or an accommodation. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or non-disability related technical issues, will not receive a call back.

 

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