What are the responsibilities and job description for the Buyer position at Management Recruiters of Tallahassee?
The Buyer will play a critical role in a full-scale rebuild of the company’s purchasing function, bringing discipline, visibility, and accountability to material spend. This is not a transactional role, this person will be expected to challenge current pricing, supplier relationships, and purchasing practices to drive measurable cost and performance improvements.
This role is ideal for someone who wants to dig in, question everything, and make a real impact.
Key Responsibilities- Take ownership of purchasing across raw materials, components, and outsourced services
- Break down current spend; what’s being bought, from whom, at what price, and why
- Identify cost savings opportunities, pricing inconsistencies, and supplier gaps
- Actively challenge suppliers on pricing, lead times, and terms; renegotiate where needed
- Evaluate and rationalize the supplier base to improve cost, reliability, and performance
- Partner with operations and planning to align purchasing with actual production demand
- Bring structure and discipline to purchasing processes, controls, and decision-making
- Leverage ERP/MRP data to improve visibility, accuracy, and purchasing effectiveness
- Monitor market trends (especially metals) to inform sourcing and pricing strategies
- Support broader supply chain turnaround initiatives focused on cost, flow, and efficiency
- Clear visibility into material spend and supplier performance
- Measurable cost reductions and improved pricing consistency
- Stronger supplier accountability and improved terms
- More disciplined, data-driven purchasing decisions
- 3–7 years of experience in purchasing, sourcing, or supply chain within manufacturing
- Proven ability to analyze spend, challenge pricing, and drive cost improvements
- Experience in metal fabrication, machining, or industrial environments strongly preferred
- Hands-on experience with ERP/MRP systems (Epicor a plus)
- Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving, and sometimes unstructured environment
- Highly analytical with strong attention to detail
- Confident in pushing back on suppliers and internal stakeholders when needed
- Strong negotiation skills with a results-driven mindset
- Ability to work independently and take ownership
- Naturally curious—someone who asks “why” and doesn’t accept the status quo