Category Buyer - Cleveland-Cliffs

Cleveland-Cliffs has an immediate opening for a Category Buyer in the Purchasing Department in our Cleveland, Ohio Headquarters. The successful candidate will utilize the ERP system in use at the Cliffs Tek/Kote (New Carlisle, Indiana) plant and be responsible for developing and managing suppliers, negotiating pricing, developing and maintaining supply contracts for various electrical, mechanical, fluids and other commodities as well as other MRO equipment categories as assigned.  This position will report to Corporate Purchasing but will interface with Plant Management, Plant Technicians, Maintenance personnel and peers within the Procurement organization.

Summary of Responsibilities:

• Provide effective purchasing of all items within the commodities assigned, securing the best value for the company. 
• Perform contract oversite and management including contract renewal and termination notice timing; understand the contract process and make decisions in a timely manner to allow enough time to gather competitive bids and execute new contracts in a timely manner.
• Continuously strive to reduce the total cost of procured goods and services.  Negotiate favorable pricing, terms, FOB location, warranty limits, and price protection to obtain best value for Cliffs.
• Recommend adequate and satisfactory sources of supply and evaluate supplier performance; instruct suppliers through purchase orders, verbal communications or correspondence regarding plant requirements and deliveries of assigned commodities.
• Gather, analyze, and track data on supplier performance, pricing, quality, and other areas as needed.
• Actively seek and help develop new and existing diversity suppliers. Reports supplier diversity status to Supplier Diversity program coordinator as required.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Maintenance and Operating supervision to secure best services, material substitution, and value.
• Initiate action to resolve minor and major plant emergency purchases.
• Provide information to Purchasing Management and plant personnel as required to effectively purchase assigned commodities; make plant and vendor visitations as directed and required to maintain an effective liaison.
• Review assigned incoming requisitions and determine best buying methods. Initiate aggressive purchasing action required to secure assigned items and commodities; maintain records, reports, and files for proper control of assigned purchasing activities and consult with management on problems requiring major considerations.
• Update ERP systems to reflect current prices, terms, and conditions.

Minimum Qualifications:

• At least three years of procurement experience
• Strong negotiation and analytical skills
• Strong research skills and knowledge of market trends
• Highly organized and able to handle multiple projects at the same time

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in:  Supply Chain Management, Business Administration with a focus on Procurement, or military equivalent
• Demonstrated proficiency using a Purchasing/Sourcing system
• Steel Mill or Heavy Industrial/Manufacturing experience
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints
• Effective communication skills, both oral and written
• High attention to detail
• High standard of ethics

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is the largest flat-rolled steel company and the largest iron ore pellet producer in North America. The Company is vertically integrated from mined raw materials, direct reduced iron, and ferrous scrap to primary steelmaking and downstream finishing, stamping, tooling, and tubing. We offer an excellent total compensation package including top pay with variable compensation opportunity, health insurance, retirement plan, education assistance, paid time off and more!