PLTO Buyer/Warranty Coordinator: Riverdale, MD

Reports To: Director of Finance and Administration

Salary: $55,000 - $65,000

Competitive Benefits Package: Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Paid Leaves Program, and 401K Plan.

SUMMARY

Purple Line Transit Operators (PLTO) is a member of a private consortium (Purple Line Transit Partners) which holds a Public-Private Partnership (P3) contract with the Maryland Department of Transportation/Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT/MTA) for the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and financing of the Purple Line, a new 16 mile/21 station light rail transit line located in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County, Maryland. (https://www.purplelinemd.com/). PLTO’s role in the Project is for the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) of the Purple Line for a 30-year O&M Period after the service opens to the public, currently scheduled for winter 2027.  Prior to this opening, PLTO is responsible for participating in system design, testing, and service start-up activities; conducting certain facilities and equipment maintenance scopes; and building the organization which will perform the O&M Period activities.

PLTO is a joint venture of two companies: Alternate Concepts, Inc (ACI) and CAF USA, Inc. (CAF). ACI is an industry leader in mass transit operations and maintenance and is the O&M provider for the only two Design-Build-Operate-and-Maintain (DBOM)/Design-Build-Finance-Operate-and-Maintain (DBFOM) transit projects in the U.S: Tren Urbano in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Eagle P3 in Denver, Colorado. CAF USA, Inc. (a division of the international Spanish railway manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles) designs, manufactures, maintains, and supplies equipment and components for railway systems and is a certified rail maintenance organization with a presence on five continents.

PLTO is conducting this recruitment for a Buyer/Warranty Coordinator with a minimum of 5 years of buying/warranty experience (preferably in railroad operations) to direct and coordinate purchasing and distributing materials, equipment, machinery, and supplies for the organization by performing the prescribed duties of this position. The goal is to ensure our business’s accommodation is problem-free and safe so that employees can work under the best conditions. If you’re a passionate self-starter, Purple Line Transit Operators (PLTO) is a perfect place to get ahead. The primary function of this position is to coordinate and manage the strategic procurement process for assigned categories ensuring the cost-effective acquisition of goods and services across PLTO. The Buyer/Warranty Coordinator will also support the procurement of rental equipment, industrial cleaning services, and rail maintenance services.

Responsibilities:

• In this position, you will be responsible for soliciting and evaluating proposals for the requested commodity.
• Research commodity availability, compare options to the Company’s very specific technical requirements, and screen and evaluate suppliers to provide recommended procurement to the Finance and Administration Manager.
• Prepare and issue purchase orders and change notices and send copies to suppliers and departments originating requests. Verify the total cost of the item purchased. Resolve discrepancies as they may arise between PO details and actual delivery.
• Review, update, and manage procurements related to PLTO procurement plans.
• Organize and conduct meetings between manufacturers and PLTO personnel.
• Analyze market and delivery conditions to determine present and future material availability and prepare market analysis reports.
• Review purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policy.
• Verify nomenclatures and specifications of purchase requests.
• Consult the internet and catalogs and interview suppliers to obtain prices and specifications.
• Negotiate the lowest possible cost for the commodity balanced against the optimum quality and schedule needs.
• Responsible for managing and handling all warranty issues with support from management as required.
• Establish procedures for handling warranty claims, including documentation requirements such as proof of purchase dates or serial numbers of products.
• Establish processes for evaluating subcontractors’ performance and the satisfaction level of the services hired to fulfill contract requirements.
• Monitor warranty claims to ensure that they are correctly handled.
• Coordinate with outside vendors to repair or replace defective products.
• Communicate with customers about their warranty rights and responsibilities.
• Resolve disputes between PLTO and manufacturers, retailers, or subcontractors regarding product defects, malfunctions, or low-quality services.
• Review customer complaints to determine whether they warrant a response from a manufacturer or retailer.
• Maintain records of all correspondence related to warranty claims, including contact information for all parties involved in the claim process.
• Review warranty contracts to determine which products they cover and identify any exclusions.
• Coordinate, if applicable, with insurance carriers to ensure that all claims are processed correctly.
• Ensure the safety of workers and ensure that all crew adhere to all safety procedures and rules.
• Ensure work is completed on or before deadlines.
• Willing to travel within the United States on short notice.
• Complete all other duties as assigned.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (B.S or B.A.) from a four-year college or university.
• May substitute five years of previous buying experience (preferably in railroad operations) for education.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area circumference, and Volume.
• Ability to read and understand engineering drawings, specifications, and mechanical schematics.
• Ability to solve practical problems and to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relations as well as verbal and written communication.
• Expertise in using Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Ability to learn a variety of computer programs.
• Previous experience with Asset Works Enterprise Purchasing or other enterprise resource planning software is a plus.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Willingness to work during evening, weekend, and holiday hours as needed.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, and sit for periods of time varying in length, walk up and down stairs, and lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment

Successful candidates will be expected to work in a hybrid workplace where frequent field visits, in-office presence, and some remote work may be combined. Some travel may be required to collaborate with partners.

While performing the duties of this job (while in the field), the employee must be aware of his/her surroundings and may be exposed to outside weather conditions, moving mechanical systems, and building components as well as varying noise levels both within the rail maintenance yards and inside the Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF). Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is always required while in the field and in construction zones.

Pre-Employment Qualifications

Successful candidates must be able to successfully pass a pre-employment background check; pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol screening test; be willing to comply with PLTO’s Drug and Alcohol Policy; and be eligible to work in the U.S.

PLTO reserves the right to revise this job description from time to time. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees assigned to this job.

PLTO is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. We recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job classifications and ensure that all other personnel actions are administered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, gender, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by law.