Senior Strategic Buyer

JOB DESCRIPTION

We are seeking a highly motivated and strategic Buyer to join our Aftermarket team. This role is crucial for maintaining our legacy products and supporting an "ever-ending" product lifecycle. Responsibilities: Strategic Aftermarket Procurement: Proactively manage the purchasing of a wide variety of commodities for our aftermarket product lines, encompassing both electronic and mechanical parts. Obsolescence Management: Become an expert in obsolescence, including calculating last-time buys and developing strategies to mitigate supply chain risks for older products. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with engineering, program management, and strategic sourcing teams to address unique purchasing challenges, particularly for obscure or long-unused components. Negotiation & Supplier Management: Lead complex negotiations with suppliers, especially in scenarios involving last-time buys and extended product support. Problem Solving & Critical Thinking: Identify and resolve procurement issues for legacy products, demonstrating a proactive approach to maintaining product availability. Documentation & Process Improvement: Contribute to the continuous improvement of procurement processes and standard operating procedures within the aftermarket team. Tactical Purchasing: Execute purchase orders (POs), manage delivery schedules, and handle day-to-day tactical procurement tasks. Big Picture Understanding: Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the aftermarket business, product lines, and the overall strategic objectives to inform purchasing decisions.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

6 years in a strategic Buyer role, commodity and/or procurement role in highly regulated manufacturing environment Demonstrated experience with obsolescence management, including last-time buy calculations and strategic planning. Strong negotiation skills and experience in managing complex supplier relationships. Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional environment, collaborating with engineering, program management, and strategic sourcing. Comfortable with a wide range of commodities, from electronic to mechanical components. Ability to interpret technical drawings and understand basic engineering requirements (not an engineer, but understands when to engage engineering support). Proactive problem-solver with a strategic mindset. Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Experience with ERP systems (SAP preferred, but experience with other systems is acceptable).

NICE TO HAVE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Experience with SAP implementations; Strong understanding of the IT/system setup and integration side, not just end‑user transactions