20805 Eaton Ave Farmington Minnesota 55024-7932 **_Why Valmont_** **We’re Here to Move the World Forward.** Valmont impacts millions of people around the world every day, yet they might not realize the many ways. Our technology is helping feed the growing population, supplying the world with more reliable energy and access to renewables, enhancing connectivity in remote and urban locations to create a sustainable future and so much more. Simply put, Valmont is advancing agricultural productivity and reimagining vital infrastructure to make life better. Join a _Fortune_ 1000 company that respects hard work, honors diversity and invests in our employees as we focus on creating the world of tomorrow, today. _We are the modern workforce_ . Are you ready to move the world forward? Apply now. **_This position reports onsite, located in Farmington, Minnesota_** Join our dynamic team as an Associate Category Buyer and play a key role in managing the procurement process for assigned categories across multiple North American Operations facilities. Your focus will be on ensuring timely deliveries, shipment accuracy, and meeting both internal and external customer expectations. As the primary liaison between Valmont and our suppliers, you’ll contribute to strategic business decisions, manage purchase orders, and maintain strong supplier relationships. **Essential Responsibilities:** + Compile and summarize raw material demands across all North American Operations sites. + Request quotes from suppliers for commodities without existing contracts. + Place purchase orders in a timely manner to meet demand across all NA Operations sites. + Aggregate demand for category items and collaborate regularly with the Global Commodity Manager and Materials teams to review. + Monitor and resolve system reports related to purchase orders across multiple sites. + Ensure adherence to supplier contracts, managing supplier capacity to efficiently meet NA Ops demand. + Obtain purchase order confirmations from suppliers and communicate updates across internal teams. + Ensure compliance and complete documentation for all purchase orders. + Lead regular status meetings with suppliers and internal stakeholders, tracking progress and addressing issues. + Identify and lead process improvement initiatives to optimize resource utilization for your category. + Foster strong internal customer satisfaction and build positive relationships with suppliers and Valmont stakeholders. + Manage claims for rejected materials and address invoicing discrepancies. + Oversee open purchase orders, including expediting, quantity adjustments, and date changes. + Ensure transactional accuracy in all purchases and support Accounts Payable with credit/debit reconciliation. + Contribute to supplier performance evaluations and lean initiatives. + Collaborate with Global Commodity Managers to support supplier development and management. + Review and enhance purchasing procedures to improve customer satisfaction and reduce costs. + Provide support to other Category Buyers and act as a backup for central buying tasks. + This role reports to the Regional Purchasing Manager **Required Qualifications:** + Preferred Bachelors Degree with 0-1+ years of experience or Associates Degree with 2 + years relevant experience or 3+ years of relevant experience + Six months of experience in a production/manufacturing environment or a material control role + Judgment and decision making skills while comparing relative cost and benefit potential + A strong working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Outlook **Preferred Qualifications:** + Previous experience in sales, operations, operations planning, master scheduling, production planning, inventory control, or production control within an MRP/ERP environment + Knowledge of customer service functions and shipping procedures + APICS (C.P.I.M.), CSCP, or Certified Purchasing Manager or Certified + Professional in Inventory Management Certification \#LI-JC1 \#LI-Onsite **Benefits** Valmont offers employees and their families a comprehensive Total Wellbeing benefit package to ensure their individual and family’s overall wellness needs are met. Some offerings are dependent upon the role, work schedule, or location and can include the following: + Healthcare (medical, prescription drugs, dental and vision) + 401k retirement plan with company match + Paid time off + Employer paid life insurance + Employer paid short-term and long-term disability including maternity leave + Work Life Support + Tuition Reimbursement up to $5,250 per year + Voluntary programs like tobacco cessation, Type 2 diabetes reversal, one-on-one health coaching, mortgage services and more Valmont does not discriminate against any employee or applicant in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. If you have a disability and require any assistance in filling out the application for employment email EEOCompliance@Valmont.com. Valmont is here to modernize vital infrastructure and increase agricultural productivity, sustainably and reliably. We galvanize steel to last a century with minimal environmental impact. We modernize irrigation to feed a growing population by utilizing the latest technology. We harden the electrical grid to enable the delivery of reliable power to millions of homes around the world. And we help make communities everywhere safer, cleaner and more connected through our smart infrastructure technology. Valmont serves two primary markets — agriculture and infrastructure — and seven diverse product lines: Utility, Lighting and Transportation, Telecom, Solar, Coatings, Irrigation and Ag Tech. We manufacture products in 85 facilities spread across six continents, and we do business in 100 different countries. That’s what Valmont does. We conserve resources and improve life, finding ways to make innovation and technology beneficial in the real world. + That’s the value we add.