Senior Buyer

Position Summary

The Senior Buyer is responsible for sourcing and procuring a wide range of materials to support a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment. This role requires strong analytical and negotiation skills, a proactive approach to supplier management, and the ability to balance cost, quality, and lead-time objectives. The Senior Buyer works closely with Engineering, Scheduling, and Production teams to ensure material availability for complex and frequently changing build schedules.

Can be located in Gowanda, NY or Arcade, NY

Key Responsibilities

• Source and purchase materials required for catalog and custom electronic component production.
• Manage a diverse supplier base, ensuring quality, delivery, and cost targets are achieved.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, and contract terms with suppliers to support cost competitiveness and continuity of supply.
• Evaluate and qualify new suppliers in collaboration with Engineering and Quality teams.
• Monitor supplier performance and take corrective action to resolve delivery, quality, or communication issues.
• Review and act on MRP/ERP demand signals, maintaining accurate lead times, pricing, and order data.
• Partner with Scheduling, Production, and Engineering to manage material shortages, obsolescence, and design changes.
• Drive a focused approach to reducing reserve and excess inventory through strategic purchasing decisions, improved forecasting alignment, and active supplier collaboration.
• Drive cost reduction initiatives through strategic sourcing, volume leverage, and value analysis/value engineering (VA/VE) opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to forecast component requirements and align procurement activities with production schedules.
• Maintain awareness of market trends, lead-time fluctuations, and supply chain risks, particularly for constrained or long-lead electronic components.
• Support inventory management objectives by balancing availability with inventory turns and cash flow goals.
• Ensure compliance with company purchasing policies and ethical sourcing practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• 5 years of purchasing experience in an electronics or electro-mechanical manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of electronic components, bill of materials (BOM) structures, and MRP/ERP systems.
• Proven negotiation and supplier management skills in a dynamic, high-mix environment.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, part specifications, and datasheets.
• Experience managing shortages and long-lead items in a constrained supply chain.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ERP systems (Epicor, SAP, or similar).
• CPM, CPSM, or APICS certification a plus.

Core Competencies

• Strategic and analytical thinker
• Proactive problem-solver and decision-maker
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Adaptable to frequent product and schedule changes
• Commitment to continuous improvement and operational efficiency