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Overview & Responsibilities

The Cremation Services Buyer III is responsible for executing strategic initiatives related to cremation products, services and metal recycling.  The primary objective is to support the cremation market segment by strengthening vendor relationships, driving process improvements, and collaborating with the Crematory Operations management team. Key responsibilities include negotiating agreements, optimizing purchasing strategies, and driving operational efficiencies through strategic collaboration with both internal teams and external partners. The position ensures alignment of procurement activities with organizational objectives, managing compliance, reporting, and payment processes, while leveraging SCI’s purchasing power to secure favorable pricing and streamline operations.

Additionally, this role is tasked with providing exceptional customer service to business units for cremation-related products and services. A forward-thinking, strategic approach is essential to anticipate future improvements and meet the evolving needs of Crematory Operations as this segment continues to experience significant growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Negotiate Master Relationship Agreements to align with the strategic needs of SCI and its business units
• Collaborate with Crematory Operations to plan and purchase retorts, securing volume discounts and ensuring timely delivery within pre-established timeframes
• Utilize SCI’s purchasing power to achieve optimal pricing and enhance customer service interactions between vendors and location personnel
• Oversee the management of Coupa-hosted catalogs, ensuring product availability, timely updates, and efficient payment processes through approved channels
• Foster strong vendor relationships in collaboration with the Crematory Operations team, ensuring prompt resolution of issues
• Manage vendor relationships related to cremation metal recycling, ensuring vendor compliance and comprehensive reporting
• Monitor cremation product and supply costs across key vendors, driving competitive pricing and maximizing volume-based discounts
• Ensure the accuracy of monthly billing and streamline payment processes for enhanced operational efficiency
• Collaborate closely with the Accounts Payable and Center of Excellence teams to facilitate flat file uploads and purchase order creation, ensuring timely payments and maintaining transparency in outstanding balances
• Lead initiatives to improve processes for cremation vendor payments, focusing on increasing efficiency and minimizing reliance on manual workflows
• Understand CEA requirements for task identification, proportional asset depreciation, and approved billing streams necessary for payment
• Regularly navigate the CEA portal to ensure alignment between payments and CEA billing streams
• Submit monthly accrual reports promptly to accounts payable.
• Attend CANA and ICCFA conferences to engage with key cremation vendors and strengthen strategic partnerships
• Maintain accurate records of contracts and vendor agreements
• Monitor contract performance and renegotiate terms when necessary
• Keep well-informed of industry trends, product innovations, and market conditions to inform purchasing decisions
• Evaluate alternative suppliers, new products, and changes in technology that could benefit the company’s operations
• Identify potential risks in the supply chain and develop contingency plans to mitigate supply disruptions

Requirements & Qualifications

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Proven experience in procurement, purchasing, or supply chain management, preferably within a service-based industry
• Proficiency in Coupa and CEA billing streams
• Strong contract negotiation skills and knowledge of SCI’s Master Relationship Agreement
• Ability to handle challenging situations and communicate with professionalism and effectiveness
• A commitment to personal accountability, continuous learning, and improvement
• Exceptional attention to detail and advanced problem-solving skills
• Capability to identify and recommend solutions to problems, simplify tasks, enhance outcomes, and optimize processes
• Strong business acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and analytical skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to various stakeholder groups
• A strong focus on providing outstanding customer service to internal clients.

This role:

• Demonstrates an understanding of supply chain principles and cost challenges
• Is a non-management position with no direct reports
• May involve occasional travel to national conferences and vendor locations

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field is preferred
• Five (5) years of experience in procurement or as a Buyer
• Five (5) years of experience engaging with managers and executives
• Five (5) years of experience leading process improvement initiatives

Postal Code: 77019

Category (Portal Searching): Logistics

Job Location: US-TX - Houston