Lead Buyer

53704 Job posted on: 4/1/2008 At Covance, you can make a difference by helping to deliver life-saving and life-enhancing medicines to people around the world. Our commitment to this mission has resulted in Covance’s impressive history of company stability and growth. We’ve achieved these results by fostering a work environment that encourages, develops and leverages our team’s capabilities. Covance’s ongoing success offers team members unsurpassed growth and career development opportunities. There is no better time to join us!  Professionalism --- corporate casual dress --- flexibility in work options --- stimulating professional collaborations --- surprising autonomy --- a true desire to help you build your career with us... are just some of the intangible benefits that Covance offers. But our benefits don’t stop there. We are vigilant in ensuring our dedicated professionals are compensated beyond the industry standard offerings. We are seeking Sr. & Lead Buyers for our Madison, Wisconsin Location. JOB OVERVIEW:  Responsible for sourcing, supplier relations and contract management activities for an area where the product(s) and/or services sourced are technically complex, where inherent risks to Covance are high, and success is dependent on effective communication with all levels of management within both Covance and suppliers’ organizations. Successful candidates will have previously demonstrated sourcing and procurement skills over a number of different and complex categories and in supply management including demand profiling and successful negotiation and execution of multi-year contracts.   ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES: • Establishes and manages negotiation strategies for complex, high risk acquisitions. • Leads various management teams through the process of identifying needs, documenting timelines, understanding market options, and deciding what to purchase and when. • Conducts market research of complex markets to assure familiarity with market trends for areas of assigned responsibility. • Works with requisitioners and others to determine and document total owning cost profiles to use in developing and executing sourcing strategies. • Utilizes various evaluation techniques, including lease vs. buy and statistical analysis. • Develops/manages complex contracts, including identifying appropriate terms and conditions, where the risks to Covance of inadequate contract language is very significant. • Coordinates supplier performance monitoring, including the development of performance measures, assignments of specific monitoring activities, analysis of problem areas, development and monitoring of corrective action plans. • Monitors the adherence to and performance of the various sourcing processes for areas of responsibility • Communicates effectively with senior management of Covance and supplier organizations on issues involved with sourcing strategies and contract management. SPECIAL FACTORS: • Mandatory immunizations and screening as required. EXPERIENCE: • A minimum of five years of significant contracting experience. • Excellent oral and written communication skills. • Ability to facilitate cross-functional group activities with complex objectives and divergences of participant opinions • Ability to draft required correspondence, agreements, etc that require only occasional review & revision. • Demonstrated expertise in developing and managing complex contracts. MINIMUM EDUCATION: • Bachelors' degree or equivalent, plus 8 years related experience. • Requires unquestionable customer service skills, meticulousness, and ability to be persistent while maintaining tack. • C.P.M. certification is desirable.   At Covance, we help make the miracles of medicine a reality. We offer opportunities to work on diverse, challenging projects with bright, interesting colleagues while building a flexible and rewarding career. Covance is committed to diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. (M/F/D/V). Your confidentiality and privacy are important to us.   Save to job file |