MRO Buyer

Position Summary
The MRO Buyer is responsible for the procurement and management of Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) materials and services required to support safe, efficient, and uninterrupted plant operations. This role ensures the timely acquisition of spare parts, consumables, tools, and maintenance services while maintaining optimal inventory levels and controlling costs.
The MRO Buyer works closely with Maintenance, Operations, Warehouse, Engineering, and Finance teams to ensure material availability, supplier performance, and compliance with Company purchasing policies and procedures.
This position is based in the McAllen, Texas area, with the ability to commute to our manufacturing facility in Reynosa, Mexico, as business needs require. Occasional travel to Houston, Texas, will also be required. While the role is currently remote, a local office may be established in the future.

Key Responsibilities
MRO Procurement

Purchase MRO materials, including spare parts, consumables, tools, equipment, and maintenance services.
Create, issue, and monitor purchase orders to ensure timely delivery.
Ensure critical materials are available to support production and maintenance requirements.
Expedite purchases and deliveries to minimize operational downtime.
Manage urgent and emergency procurement requirements.

Supplier Management

Identify, evaluate, qualify, and manage suppliers of MRO materials and services.
Negotiate pricing, delivery schedules, payment terms, and supplier agreements.
Develop and maintain strong working relationships with key suppliers.
Monitor supplier performance and address delivery, quality, or service issues.
Establish alternative sources of supply to support business continuity.

Inventory Management

Coordinate and maintain appropriate inventory levels, including minimum, maximum, and safety stock requirements.
Work with Maintenance and Warehouse teams to ensure critical spare parts are readily available.
Prevent stockouts while minimizing excess and obsolete inventory.
Support inventory accuracy and cycle count programs.
Maintain material master data and purchasing records as required.

Maintenance & Operations Support

Collaborate with Maintenance personnel to support preventive and corrective maintenance activities.
Ensure purchased materials and services meet technical specifications and operational requirements.
Support plant reliability initiatives by ensuring timely access to required parts and services.
Respond quickly to unplanned equipment failures and production interruptions.

Cost Management & Continuous Improvement

Analyze MRO spending and identify cost reduction opportunities.
Support standardization of parts, materials, and suppliers.
Recommend cost-effective products, services, and technical alternatives.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives related to purchasing and inventory management.
Support working capital improvement efforts through effective inventory management.

Compliance & Documentation

Ensure compliance with Company procurement policies, procedures, and approval requirements.
Maintain accurate purchasing records and documentation.
Ensure proper traceability of procurement activities.
Support internal and external audits as required.

Reporting & Performance Management

Track and report key procurement and inventory metrics.
Develop and maintain reports related to supplier performance and purchasing effectiveness.
Monitor and analyze KPIs including:

Purchase Order Lead Time
Supplier On-Time Delivery
Cost Savings
Inventory Turnover
Material Availability
Service Level Performance

Provide recommendations and action plans based on performance data.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field preferred; an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience will also be considered.
Minimum 8+ years of purchasing and procurement of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) materials.
Inventory management, or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment preferred
Experience working with technical suppliers, maintenance contractors, and industrial equipment vendors.
Experience managing inventory and safety stock levels.
Proficiency with ERP systems (SAP preferred).
Strong Microsoft Excel and data analysis skills.
Understanding of inventory management principles and purchasing best practices.
Knowledge of manufacturing operations and maintenance processes.
Strong negotiation and supplier relationship management skills.

Excellent organizational and time management abilities.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
Customer-focused mindset with the ability to collaborate across departments.
Bilingual English/Spanish skills