Jobs › Generac

Buyer III

Generac · Eagle, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 22, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at Generac

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

Tell me about outside processing you have bought, like plating, coating or heat treat.

What they are checking: Whether they can handle outside vended services, which add steps and risk to fabricated parts.

Tell me about a time you worked with quality on a supplier problem.

What they are checking: Whether they partner across functions instead of treating quality as someone else's problem.

Tell me about the biggest shortage you helped resolve. What did you learn?

What they are checking: How they perform under pressure when production is at risk.

What would you do

Eagle is becoming a fabrication center of excellence with more suppliers and commodities. How would you get up to speed on a growing supplier base?

What they are checking: Whether they can organize fast during a big change in the plant's scope.

A key supplier just told you a shipment will be two weeks late and production needs it next week. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they act quickly to expedite, find alternatives and keep production informed.

Engineering changes a part, and you already have open purchase orders. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they coordinate with engineering and suppliers to avoid scrap and wrong parts.

About the work

How do you work with MRP-generated requirements? When do you trust them and when do you question them?

What they are checking: Whether they understand MRP well enough to spot bad data before it turns into shortages or excess.

How have you managed a Vendor Managed Inventory or visual replenishment program?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how VMI and kanban-style programs work and how to keep them healthy.

How do you track supplier delivery performance, and what do you do with a supplier who keeps missing?

What they are checking: Whether they manage suppliers with data and follow through on poor performance.

How do you balance lowest price against reliable delivery when choosing a supplier?

What they are checking: Whether they think about total cost and continuity of supply, not just unit price.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Generac from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

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 Senior Buyer is responsible for purchasing complex 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, new material requirement and receiving inspections, and ECO's.  Additionally, the Senior 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. Essential Duties and 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. • Other duties as assigned. Basic Qualifications: • Bachelor’s Degree in related field OR equivalent experience in the Supply Chain function within a similar working environment; • 3 years of purchasing, planning or related experience in a manufacturing environment. Additional Qualifications: • 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 Qualifications: • Bachelor’s Degree in Business or Supply Chain Management; • ERP/MRP User (SAP/Oracle); • Association for Operations Management (APICS); • Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM); • Previous experience using SAP or equivalent ERP. “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.”

Apply at Generac

More buyer roles