Sr. Buyer

Job Title: Experienced Buyer – Plastics Injection and Textile Commodities

Job Description

This Experienced Buyer role leads the end‑to‑end procurement of plastic injection and textile commodities, managing a significant annual spend and a broad supplier base. You will own the sourcing strategy for these categories, drive supplier performance, and collaborate closely with engineering, quality, and operations teams to support new product introductions and ongoing production needs. The position combines strategic sourcing, hands‑on supplier management, and continuous improvement in a manufacturing environment serving government and defense-related customers.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full lifecycle of plastic injection and textile commodities from initial sourcing through contract completion and supplier performance management.
• Oversee and optimize a supplier base of approximately 50 or more suppliers, including rationalizing inherited suppliers from past acquisitions based on quality, cost, and demand.
• Negotiate new contracts, terms, and conditions to achieve favorable pricing, service levels, and risk mitigation while meeting business objectives.
• Visit suppliers regularly to verify that they meet expectations for quality, delivery, compliance, and overall performance, and document outcomes.
• Own and execute the category strategy for plastic injection and textile commodities, aligning it with overall business and supply chain objectives.
• Work cross‑functionally with engineering, quality, operations, and other supply chain partners to understand business needs and translate them into sourcing strategies.
• Support new product introductions by partnering with engineering to review part numbers and drawings and identify the most suitable suppliers.
• Adhere to procurement department operating procedures and ensure compliance with applicable government regulations, including FAR and DAR requirements for government and Department of Defense work.
• Create, issue, and manage purchase order agreements in alignment with negotiated contracts and internal policies.
• Participate in sourcing and procurement events, including competitive bidding and other strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives by achieving cost reduction targets, improving raw material inventory turns, and reducing lead times to support operational goals.
• Use the ERP system (Sage) to manage purchasing activities, maintain accurate data, and generate reports as needed.
• Manage multiple strategic sourcing projects on a daily and weekly basis, meeting quarterly objectives related to sourcing and supply chain performance.
• Monitor and maintain supplier performance by conducting supplier investigations, reviewing performance data from quality teams, and driving corrective actions with suppliers.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to understand technical requirements, interpret drawings, and ensure sourced materials and components meet specifications.
• Manage an annual spend of approximately 15–20 million, ensuring effective allocation of spend across the supplier base and identifying opportunities for consolidation and optimization.
  
  

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in business or a related field.
• 8 years of experience in negotiation and buying, ideally within a manufacturing environment.
• Proven contract negotiation experience with the ability to negotiate detailed terms and conditions.
• Demonstrated experience buying for government and Department of Defense programs, with an understanding of compliance requirements under FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulations) and DAR (Defense Acquisition Regulations).
• Experience managing an annual spend of at least 15 million or more.
• Experience managing a supplier base of 50 or more suppliers.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel for data analysis, reporting, and tracking procurement metrics.
• Hands‑on experience working with an ERP system, preferably Sage, to support purchasing and materials management.
• Manufacturing industry experience, ideally within aerospace or Tier 1/Tier 2 automotive environments.
• Knowledge of materials management principles in a regulated manufacturing context.
  
  

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a business‑adjacent discipline is preferred.
• Experience working within environments subject to government and defense compliance requirements.
• Experience in aerospace or Tier 1/Tier 2 automotive manufacturing is highly beneficial.
• Strong cross‑functional collaboration skills with the ability to partner effectively with engineering, quality, operations, and other internal stakeholders.
• Comfort working with technical drawings and part numbers to align sourcing decisions with engineering requirements.
• Continuous improvement mindset with experience supporting cost reduction, inventory optimization, and lead‑time reduction initiatives.
• Ability to manage multiple strategic projects simultaneously and meet quarterly sourcing and supply chain objectives.
• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills for effective supplier and internal stakeholder engagement.
• Interest in professional growth through increased responsibility, such as expanding into areas like freight oversight or broader supply chain scope.
  
  

Work Environment

This is a salaried position within a manufacturing environment that supports government and defense-related customers. The standard schedule offers flexibility in start times between 6:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., with nine-hour workdays and every other Friday off, providing a balanced work-life structure. You will use an ERP system (Sage), Microsoft Excel, and standard office and manufacturing support tools to perform daily tasks. The role involves regular interaction with operations and other functional teams on site, as well as frequent engagement with a global and multi-site network, including collaboration with a respiratory product site and a helmet manufacturing site in Cleveland. The organization invests in employee development, offering opportunities to take on additional responsibilities and broaden your impact across the supply chain over time. Dress expectations typically align with a professional office and manufacturing-support environment, suitable for both office work and supplier or production-area visits.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Cadillac, MI.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $40.87 - $45.67/hr.

Requirements

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
  
  

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Cadillac,MI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Apr 29, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® double diamond winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.