Location: Minnesota - Winona
Employment Type: Salaried
Team: WinCraft
Company Overview
Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform to ignite and harness the passions of fans and maximize the presence and reach for hundreds of partners globally. Optimizing these long-standing partnerships, a database of more than 80 million global consumers and a trusted, recognizable brand name, Fanatics is expanding beyond its position as a global leader for licensed sports merchandise to now becoming a next-gen digital sports platform, featuring an array of offerings for fans across the sports ecosystem.
The Fanatics family of companies currently includes Fanatics Commerce, a vertically-integrated licensed merchandise business that has changed the way fans purchase their favorite team apparel, jerseys, headwear and hardgoods through a tech-infused approach to making and quickly distributing fan gear in today’s 24/7 mobile-first economy; Candy Digital, a digital collectibles company that is partnering with prominent sports properties, including MLB and MLBPA, to build an official NFT ecosystem; Fanatics Collectibles, a transformative company that is building a new model for the hobby and giving collectors an end-to-end collectibles experience; and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, a mobile betting, gaming and retail sportsbook platform. Additional ventures that will build out Fanatics’ footprint across the broader digital sports landscape will be rolled out soon. Fanatics’ partners include all major professional sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, MLS, PGA) and hundreds of collegiate and professional teams, which include several of the biggest global soccer clubs.
As a market leader with more than 8,000 employees, and hundreds of partners, suppliers, and vendors worldwide, we take responsibility for driving toward more ethical and sustainable practices. We are committed to building an inclusive Fanatics community, reflecting and representing society at every level of the business, including our employees, vendors, partners and fans. Fanatics is also dedicated to making a positive impact in the communities where we all live, work, and play through strategic philanthropic initiatives.
At Fanatics, we’re a diverse, passionate group of employees aiming to ignite pride and passion in the fans we outfit, celebrate and support. We recognize that diversity helps drive and foster innovation, and through our IDEA program (inclusion, diversity, equality and advocacy) at Fanatics we provide employees with tools and resources to feel connected and engaged in who they are and what they do to support the ultimate fan experience.
Summary
Under the general direction of the Director Supply Chain, this position is responsible to drive timely acquisition of production supplies and raw materials for the organization. In this capacity, the Senior Buyer is charged with monitoring the marketplace for commodity price changes, just in time purchasing, and must be keenly aware of the demand for product as well as potential large orders that are not yet confirmed. Successful candidates will have ample domestic and international experience interfacing with suppliers and related logistics.
Works with all buyers to lead direction on inventory levels and decision making. Keeps and maintains records for designated items and vendors to ensure accurate order pricing and specifications, and adequate inventory to demand. Supports pricing quote requests for special order items. Works on strategic projects and vendor relations as directed by Director.
Responsibilities
•Monitors Material Requirement Planning (MRP) and Reorder Point reports to determine demand against inventory for best possible inventory turns and lowest possible inventory levels. Uses proper quantity and cost to warehouse versus price-break philosophy when ordering. Uses forecast information and verifies against present activity for correct order quantities. Manages and updates appropriate item information in the MRP system for best turns and cost of product.
•Composes purchase orders, emails, letters, usage reports, and other purchasing correspondence. Verifies that all specifications are on the purchase order.
•Contacts vendors to place orders, obtain price quotes, and follow up on order status.
•Negotiates price, terms and discounts consistent with WinCraft profit and plan expectations.
•Secures pricing to support all special order pricing quote requests working with the Quote Department and Purchasing Buyers and Analysts as required.
•Maintain open and closed purchase order files and other supporting files.
•Analyze inventory levels and demand needs using a wide variety of reports and systems. Reacts to large or special purchases required according to direction of Purchasing Manager.
•Leads development of Alternative Source suppliers for all product in the organization with support of Purchasing Analysts and Buyers.
•Maintains accurate vendor records and costs within our system to ensure accurate invoicing and receiving of all purchase orders.
•Reviews any Invoice discrepancies to Purchase Order terms for timely reconciliation.
•Contacts assigned vendors to correct problems related to product quality, damage, shortages, invoice discrepancies, etc. to ensure WinCraft receives credits where required.
•Ensures all purchased products/materials have specifications and product information up to date in item records.
•Responsible for retention of Purchase Order information to system per set guidelines.
•Acts as a liaison between the vendor and the production floor whenever necessary. Works to meet the production floor needs through negotiation with the supplier.
•Leads procurement support for product development or change review for appropriate materials with Engineering and Production.
•Works on strategic project analysis using forecast systems and excel analysis.
•Travel may be necessary.
•Performs other duties as assigned.
Requirements
•4 years post high school degree, and 5+ years previous experience in Supply Chain, or any combination of experience, education or training that would provide the level of knowledge, skill, and ability required.
•Proficient in keyboarding skills, ten-key calculator operation, Microsoft Windows programs including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
•Must interrelate with vendors as well as internal customers effectively and courteously.
•Self-motivated, with the ability to complete tasks and duties with limited daily supervision.
Abilities
•Ability to quickly learn detailed knowledge of vendors, products, lead times, pricing, terms, just in time inventory management, MRP, basic principles and purchasing procedures.
•Excellent communications skills, both written and verbal.
•Must be able to work on multiple tasks and functions at one time, with an ever-changing priority, without change in demeanor. Ability to work on the right task at the right time as determined by the demands of operations and direction of the Directory Supply Chain.
•Ability to pay close attention to detail.
_Ensure your Fanatics job offer is legitimate and don’t fall victim to fraud. Fanatics never seeks payment from job applicants. Fanatics recruiters will only reach out to applicants from an @fanatics.com or @fanatics.co.uk email address. For added security, where possible, apply through our company website at _www.fanaticsinc.com/careers
Tryouts are open at Fanatics! Our team is passionate, talented, unified, and charged with creating the fan experience of tomorrow. The ball is in your court now.
Fanatics is committed to responsible planning and purchasing (RPP) practices, working with its business partners across its global and multi-layered supply chain, to ensure that planning, sourcing, and purchasing decisions, along with other supporting processes, do not impede or conflict with the fulfillment of Fanatics’ fair labor practices.
NOTICE TO CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS/APPLICANTS : In connection with your application, we collect information that identifies, reasonably relates to or describes you (“Personal Information”). The categories of Personal Information that we collect include your name, government issued identification number(s), email address, mailing address, other contact information, emergency contact information, employment history, educational history, criminal record, and demographic information. _ _ We collect and use those categories of Personal Information about you for human resources and other business management purposes, including identifying and evaluating you as a candidate for potential or future employment or other types of positions, recordkeeping in relation to recruiting and hiring, conducting criminal background checks as permitted by law, conducting analytics, and ensuring compliance with applicable legal requirements and Company policies.