LMC is a leading buying group for a network of independent family-owned building material companies across the US. As their buying group, LMC negotiates and facilitates procurement opportunities for the most desired brands in the lumber and building materials industry. We also work to provide operational support with focus on logistics, capital equipment, technology, and marketing. By leveraging the billion dollar buying power of our members, LMC ensures our members have a competitive edge to capture more of their local market share.

The Hardware Buyer interacts with LMC's members regarding their hardware program requirements. The incumbent identifies the best source to obtain the products and/or services, negotiating an optimal price while providing high quality customer service to the stockholder. The Hardware Buyer is responsible to ensure the purchase is made to the specifications of the member.

This position supports Stockholders with purchasing needs and is authorized to negotiate price and program enhancements with approved vendor sources. The Hardware Buyer is responsible to increase share of the member's business regarding their vendor program responsibility.

Description:

• Negotiates and manages his/her product categories with applicable vendors.
• Provides quality service to the stockholders and member staff personnel.
• Negotiates competitive pricing while meeting the customer’s inventory requirements.
• Establish and maintain good relations with key supplier partners.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• The Hardware Buyer engages our members with supplier programs, and fosters business growth opportunities between them.
• Provides the highest level of support and customer service to each member/customer and solves member problems in a timely manner.
• Ensures the satisfaction of the dealer/customer by actively and aggressively pursuing their purchases.
• Negotiates and manages his/her product categories with applicable vendors.
• Contacts members and promotes programs and special offers designed to provide the best combination of price, quality and product availability.
• Maintains good relationships with the supplier base, striving for high level vendor connections on a key vendor lines.
• Identifies suppliers to obtain competitive programs based on the member's requirements and knowledge of suppliers that are a best match with the member’s requirements.
• Maintains frequent contact with members to ensure orders are accurately expedited and timely delivery is made.
• Develops and maintains knowledge of all lines within area of responsibility and creates a strategic plan to sell each product grouping.
• Maintains current market knowledge of new products and developments in the field and ensures members are informed.
• Interacts with Regional Managers to provide consistent communication regarding member issues, including sales updates.
• Maintains complete and accurate documentation for all quotations, orders, claims and any other significant transactions.
• Promotes and maintains optimal purchasing programs designed to provide the best possible combination of quality and product availability at the best price.
• Provides timely prevailing market conditions and analysis, trends, prices and other appropriate information to ensure purchases are at the optimal price points and least cost.
• Keeps Purchasing Manager informed of the status of projects and purchasing/sales activities.
• Performs other duties as required and/or assigned.

Qualifications:

• Ideal candidate will possess a working knowledge and experience working with residential & commercial hardware applications. Examples: residential & commercial locks, deadbolts, hinges, thresholds, seals, door closers, panic bars, exit devices and builders hardware. 
• Door and Hardware Institute® (DHI) certifications / credentials preferred.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent industry experience is required.
• Previous purchasing or sales experience is preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external customers.
• Exceptional problem solving and analytical skills.
• Working knowledge of MS Office products including Word and Excel.