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Buyer

Generac · Belvidere, IL · $26.00–$35.00 an hour · Full time

Posted Sep 11, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Walk me through a time a supplier's delivery was going to be late and it was going to hurt your production schedule. What did you do?

What they are checking: how the candidate handles OTD risk and whether they escalate and communicate early rather than react late

Tell me about a purchasing decision where you had to weigh cost savings against risk to supply. How did you make the call?

What they are checking: judgment on cost reduction versus supply continuity, a core tension in this role

Tell me about a time you negotiated with a supplier over cost or terms. What was the outcome and what did you concede?

What they are checking: real negotiation experience versus just process-following

Tell me about a time you had to juggle several urgent purchasing issues at once with shifting priorities. How did you decide what came first?

What they are checking: time management and prioritization under the fast-paced, multiple-deadline conditions the posting describes

How do you typically build and maintain a working relationship with a supplier you deal with often, especially when things go wrong on their end?

What they are checking: relationship management style and whether they can hold suppliers accountable without burning the relationship

What would you do

Say a key supplier's on-time delivery has dropped to 70 percent over the last quarter and there's no clear root cause yet. What do you do first?

What they are checking: structured problem-solving approach to a live OTD crisis, not just theory

An engineering change order comes down that affects a part with six weeks of on-hand inventory and a supplier lead time of ten weeks. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: ability to coordinate ECO transitions with suppliers without creating excess or shortage

You get a non-conforming material report, an NMR, on a part that's already on the production line. Walk me through what you'd do.

What they are checking: knowledge of the NMR and receiving inspection process and how they balance quality issues against line downtime

About the work

How would you go about setting up or maintaining a plan for every part, PFEP, for a group of components you're responsible for?

What they are checking: actual working knowledge of PFEP inventory planning, not just familiarity with the term

What's your experience with SAP, specifically around purchase orders, MRP, and reporting? Have you ever acted as a super user for others?

What they are checking: depth of SAP fluency and whether they can support less experienced users, since the job names this explicitly

Describe a make-versus-buy or alternative sourcing analysis you've done. What factors mattered most and what did you recommend?

What they are checking: whether they can actually build and use a cost/sourcing analysis, not just repeat the term

If you noticed raw material inventory turns were slipping for a category you manage, what steps would you take to investigate and improve it?

What they are checking: understanding of inventory turn metrics and practical steps to improve them, tied to the job's cost and efficiency goals

How do you track and report on key purchasing metrics like past due POs, open acknowledgements, or invoice resolution?

What they are checking: familiarity with the specific KPIs named in the posting and whether they proactively use data or just react to it

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The full job description

As published by Generac.

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most. For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future. Ready to Power a Smarter World with us? The Buyer is responsible for purchasing components and maintaining an open line of communication from a variety of suppliers as well as working cross-functionally within the company on topic such as component issues, costing or invoicing concerns, NMR's and receiving inspections, and ECO's. The Buyer is responsible for continuously working with suppliers to improve on-time delivery and work to continuously improve raw good turns and look for cost reduction opportunities. Major Responsibilities • Execute standard purchasing processes and strategies including procure-to-pay definition and optimization. • Support direction and strategies regarding supplier demand forecasting, supplier capacity planning, supply base inventory management, supplier replenishment and procurement transactions. • Manage supplier on time delivery (OTD) performance, maintain system data integrity and measure performance on related key indicators (examples: past due purchase orders, open PO acknowledgements, PO expedites, non-conforming material return cycle time, and supplier invoice resolution). • Work with Corporate Strategic Sourcing department to identify key and preferred suppliers for key categories of spend that support business unit and corporate objectives. • Recommend cost saving proposals including make-versus-buy analysis, alternative sourcing, step pricing for volume discounts, and vendor evaluation criteria. • Plan and maintain optimal level of inventory using plan for every part (PFEP). • Proactively identify, communicate, and assist with resolving issues that delay material deliveries. • Coordinate engineering change order (ECO) activities with suppliers and internal support functions. • Requisition major purchased items and coordinate timely processing of those parts finished outside the company. • Establish good working relationships with suppliers and internal customers. • Ability to apply creative problem approaches and ideas to solve problems for area of responsibility. • Act as SAP Super User within functional area as assigned. Requirements Education • Associates Degree in related field OR 3 years related experience in the Supply Chain function within a similar working environment; • 1 year of purchasing, planning or related experience in a manufacturing environment. Knowledge / Skills / Abilities • Proven track record of successfully managing shifting deadlines and priorities in a fast paced environment; • Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite; • Demonstrated skills in problem solving, contract negotiation and project management; • Strong project management and analytical skills; • Effective verbal and written communication skills. Preferred Job Requirements Education • Bachelor’s Degree in Business or Supply Chain Management; • Association for Operations Management (APICS); • Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM); • Previous experience using SAP or equivalent ERP. Generac is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices . The salary range for this role based in Belvidere, Illinois is $26 - $35 per hour . This compensation will ultimately be in line with the location in which the position is filled . Final compensation for this role will be determined by various factors such as a candidate’s relevant work experience, skills, certifications and geographic location . This role is eligible for variable compensation including short-term and long-term incentives. This position includes a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental and vision plans; life, long-term disability, flexible spending and health savings accounts, accrued paid time off, 8 paid Holidays and 401(k) retirement benefits . “We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.”

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