International Buyer

MeadWestvaco Consumer & Office Products has the best recognized brands in the business. MeadWestvaco leads the North American and Brazilian stationery markets for school, home and business use – with products that help people organize, communicate, create and learn. Our customers, who range from office superstores to independent variety and stationery stores, have long relied on the success of our popular brands: AT-A-GLANCE®, DayRunner® and Columbian®. Our school stationery brands – Five Star®, Hilroy®, Mead® and Tilibra® – help students better organize their school work and focus on learning. Consumer & Office Products holds relationships with key licensors such as Thomas Kinkade, Disney, Nickelodeon, Warner Brothers and Nike.


JOB SUMMARY

MeadWestvaco Consumer & Office Products is currently seeking an International Buyer. This position is located at the division head office in Dayton, OH.


RESPONSIBILITIES

- Identifies and qualifies direct import and turnkey suppliers on a global basis that will support divisional product requirements. Evaluates suppliers' capabilities and financial strengths. Stays abreast of international political/social/economical conditions that could impact suppliers.

- Negotiates with finished goods suppliers for the best possible cost and terms.

- Manages direct import suppliers. Communicates daily with offshore factory agents, and internal cross-functional DIP team members. Resolves issues including those related to capacity and logistics. Develops product and program with suppliers that meet the requirements of individual customer's direct import needs.

- Works closely with offshore suppliers in keeping abreast of change to/in: material cost that affects turnkey product pricing; capacity constraints and loading; logistical delays; competitor intelligence; material breakthroughs; manufacturing techniques; market conditions. Regularly updates supervisor regarding impacted functional areas.

- Provides direction to New Product Development and Marketing teams on recommended changes to product design, components and construction that enable project to meet target cost objectives. Recommends design/construction/material changes and changes in manufacturing techniques to reduce, product cost, US Custom's duty rate and freight.

- Conducts product value analysis with suppliers and internal customers to engineer excessive costs out and/or to enhance consumer features.

- Coordinates activities of multi suppliers that are working on the same profile and are required to provide materials, packaging and components and to a finished assembly point on a single product. Ensures that engineering specifications and quality requirements are achieved; production is on schedule; product ship date is met; documentation is in order; product clears US Customs; and product is delivered to manufacturing plants.

- Responsible for all purchasing aspects of product development: sample approval process; artwork files and films coordination; US Customs information; artwork/packaging changes; packaging files; product inspections; and product testing.


REQUIREMENTS

- This position requires a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in business or equivalent work experience.

- 3-5 years international buying and offshore souring experience for a consumer products company. Previous experience with direct import programs (DIP) a plus.

- General working knowledge of logistics, social compliance and US Customs requirements.

- Ability to communicate technical information such as product specifications.

- Ability to multi-task while maintaining attention to details and have a high tolerance for stress.

- Demonstrated analytical skills and be ability to make appropriate decisions/recommendations.

- Excellent interpersonal skills with proven ability to negotiate and influence others at all levels of an organization.

- Computer proficiency in MS Office. Knowledge of SAP a plus.

- CPM or APICS preferred.

- This position requires 10% travel including in 1-2 international trips/year.
REQUIREMENTS
Please see Job Description