Direct Material Buyer

CSP is the industry leader in the formulation and molding of lightweight, advanced composite components for the transportation industries. As an innovative, full-service Tier One supplier, we offer an entrepreneurial environment where you’re only limited by your own imagination. In addition to our team-focused environment, we provide industry-leading benefits, called BENEfits4U. Our comprehensive offering includes: affordable medical, dental, and vision care; flexible spending accounts; life insurance; 401k with company match and much, much more.

Job Description

Essential Job Functions:

Sourcing & Supplier Management

• Evaluate and select sources for production components/materials based on technical fit, capacity, quality, and total cost
• Develop and maintain deep knowledge of assigned commodity markets (e.g., resin/SMC, metals, chemicals) including pricing drivers, index tracking (e.g., PPI, resin indices), and supply/demand trends
• Develop Long Term Agreements (LTAs) with suppliers as appropriate
• Manage pricing at a corporate level across CSP plants, including inflation/deflation tracking and index-based pricing mechanisms
• Support CSP facilities in resolution of supplier issues; lead negotiations as necessary
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with suppliers supporting CSP plants
• May participate in Supplier Quality audits and financial health assessments of critical suppliers

Analytical & Cost Management

• Identify and execute cost savings opportunities using data analysis (e.g., spend analytics, should-cost modeling, PPV and BIP tracking)
• Analyze supplier quotes and proposals using structured cost breakdowns to determine most competitive and lowest-risk suppliers
• Build and maintain reporting/dashboards (e.g., Power BI, Excel) to track commodity pricing trends, savings pipelines, and supplier performance
• Monitor and forecast commodity price exposure; support rolling forecast reconciliation (e.g., 6+6, 3+9) across programs

Program & Systems Execution

• Place purchase orders (via QAD EE) with suppliers
• Work closely with Engineering to understand program requirements and coordinate Engineering Changes
• Participate in program kickoff meetings; work with Sales, Engineering, CSP plant personnel, and suppliers to ensure duties and timelines are met; expedite as necessary
• Participate in development of new or enhanced Purchasing policies and procedures
• Ensure customer requirements are met throughout the sourcing and program lifecycle
• Perform a variety of complex tasks with a wide degree of independence and decision-making latitude
• Adhere to all CSP company policies, guidelines, and procedures

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 2-4 years of direct material purchasing experience in an automotive or manufacturing environment
• Working knowledge of assigned commodity category(ies) — material properties, cost drivers, and supplier landscape
• Strong analytical skills, including proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, modeling) and familiarity with BI tools (Power BI preferred)
• Experience with ERP/procurement systems (QAD, Coupa, or similar)
• Strong negotiation, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills

Travel: Up to 15% domestic and 5% international

If you enjoy innovation, and an opportunity to learn and contribute to a growing organization, CSP is the place for you!