Senior Buyer

Brief Description

Position Summary

The Senior Buyer plays a critical role in ensuring the organization’s supply chain is efficient, cost-effective, and aligned with operational goals. This position drives strategic sourcing initiatives, strengthens supplier relationships, and optimizes procurement processes to support production continuity and business growth.

Key Impacts

• Cost Optimization: Identifies and implements cost-saving opportunities through strategic negotiations, supplier consolidation, and market analysis.
• Supply Continuity: Ensures uninterrupted material availability by proactively managing supplier performance, lead times, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Strategic Sourcing: Leads sourcing initiatives aligned with company objectives, including quality, cost, delivery, and innovation.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Builds and maintains strong partnerships with key vendors to improve service levels, responsiveness, and long-term value.
• Operational Efficiency: Streamlines procurement processes and leverages ERP/MRP systems to improve accuracy, cycle time, and data-driven decision making.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partners with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Planning, and Finance to support product launches, resolve supply issues, and enhance performance.
• Compliance & Risk Management: Ensures adherence to company policies, contracts, and regulatory requirements while reducing supply chain risk.
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• Lead procurement of direct materials, components, and outsourced services critical to production.
• Align purchasing strategies with production plans and capacity requirements to ensure uninterrupted operations.
• Proactively manage and resolve supply shortages, quality issues, and schedule changes.
• Develop and maintain supplier relationships, including performance reviews, scorecards, and corrective action plans.
• Execute negotiations to reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) and ensure long-term supply continuity.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Planning, Quality, and Finance on production and process initiatives.
• Analyze market trends, material cost drivers, and supplier capabilities to inform sourcing decisions.
• Monitor and manage ERP/MRP purchasing signals to ensure accurate PO generation, tracking, and system integrity.
• Partner with Finance to ensure procurement data accuracy and strong purchasing processes.
• Act as escalation point for supplier delivery and quality issues, driving root cause resolution.
• Drive lean procurement initiatives, including JIT, VMI, and supplier consolidation.
• Lead cost reduction efforts measured through purchased price variance (PPV) and savings vs. baseline.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including single-source dependencies and end-of-life components.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, quality standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• On-Time Material Availability
• Cost Savings (% vs. baseline)
• Supplier On-Time Delivery (OTD)
• Supplier Quality (PPM)
• Inventory Turns / Days of Supply
• Purchase Order Accuracy and Cycle Time
• Supply Chain Risk Mitigation Actions
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, or related field preferred
• 5 years of purchasing, sourcing, or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems (e.g., UKG, SAP, Oracle)
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication skills