Buyer

Position Summary
We are seeking a driven and experienced Buyer to join our dynamic team in Anderson, SC, supporting Vertiv’s rapidly expanding operations. This is a critical role within our manufacturing facility, focused on driving operational excellence, team performance, and continuous improvement in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
This is an intermediate-level role in the Buyer job family. The Buyer plans and procures aluminum materials and related components to meet customer and production requirements at an optimal total cost. The role maintains inventory levels, addresses shortages, and supports product evolution daily. This position manages more complex suppliers and supply chains than a junior-level buyer and develops a strong foundation of purchasing best practices and procedures.

Responsibilities
• Own purchasing execution for the Aluminum commodity, supporting supply continuity across the plant (e.g., aluminum extrusions, aluminum castings, and related fabricated components as applicable).
• Research, validate, and update the company ERP system with current aluminum component/part information (supplier, pricing, lead times, planning attributes, tooling references, and specs as needed).
• Issue purchase orders (POs) aligned with sourcing direction provided by leadership; manage the full PO lifecycle including confirmations, change orders, expedites, and closures.
• Partner with Planning/Scheduling and Production to align aluminum material availability to build schedules; proactively communicate risks and drive recovery actions to prevent line stoppages.
• Monitor inventory levels using sales/usage history and demand signals; recommend updates to planning parameters (min/max, reorder points, safety stock) based on lead times, capacity constraints, and consumption trends.
• Coordinate daily between production, purchasing, quality, and shipping to provide availability, pricing, and delivery updates; ensure clear visibility on open order status and constraints.
• Engage with suppliers (including local suppliers) to support capacity planning, delivery performance, and issue resolution; participate in supplier meetings as needed.
• Support supplier performance management by tracking and reporting key metrics (OTD, past-due lines, expedite volume, shortages, lead time adherence) and escalating chronic issues with facts and data.
• Assist leadership with annual aluminum pricing updates (e.g., price refresh cycles, indexing inputs if applicable), cost maintenance, and supplier/part master updates in the ERP system.
• Support product evolution by coordinating part transitions (new revisions, supplier changes, PPAP/FAI readiness where applicable) and ensuring smooth cutovers with minimal disruption.
• Contribute to continuous improvement by identifying recurring material constraints, implementing process improvements, and improving purchasing/ERP data accuracy.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in purchasing, supply chain management, business, or equivalent functional experience required.
• 3–5 years of purchasing/procurement experience (manufacturing environment preferred).
• Proficient in MS Office (strong Excel skills preferred).
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems preferred.

Preferred Qualifications / Plus Skills
• Commodity buying experience for metals—strong preference for Aluminum.
• Experience purchasing aluminum extrusions and/or aluminum castings (die cast, permanent mold, sand cast, etc.) is a strong plus.
• Understanding of aluminum market dynamics and cost drivers (lead times, mill capacity, conversion costs, tooling, scrap/yield considerations, secondary operations, and finish requirements).
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal) with the ability to influence cross-functional partners and suppliers.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and interpersonal skills; detail-oriented with strong follow-through.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Understanding of business financials (cost impacts, inventory value, pricing updates).

Education and Certifications
• Bachelor’s degree in purchasing, supply chain management, or equivalent functional experience required.

Physical Requirements
• No special physical requirements.

Environmental Demands
• Fast-paced manufacturing environment.

About Vertiv
At Vertiv, we offer the stability of a global leader in a growing industry and the opportunity of a startup. We design, manufacture and service mission-critical infrastructure technologies for vital applications in data centers, communication networks and commercial and industrial environments. With $5.0 billion in revenue, a strong customer base and global reach in nearly 70 countries, our move to establish a standalone business enables us to deliver greater value to our customers and create new opportunities for our people.