What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Buyer position at Process Technology?
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