What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Procurement Specialist position at Wavelynx?
We are seeking an experienced and proactive Senior Procurement Specialist to manage the critical flow of materials and services essential to our high-volume manufacturing operations. This role requires expertise in negotiating favorable contracts for raw materials, components, and MRO supplies, with a direct impact on production schedules, product costs, and quality assurance, while working with international suppliers.
Key Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
- Raw Material Sourcing: Strategically source and procure crucial raw materials and finished components, ensuring they meet strict engineering specifications and quality standards required for manufacturing.
- Supply Chain Continuity: Proactively monitor supplier lead times, inventory levels, and potential bottlenecks to guarantee uninterrupted material flow to the production floor, while maximizing inventory turns without risking supply gap-outs with a goal of developing an on-time delivery report within 3 months and improving on-time delivery rates by 15% within 6 months.
- Material Transportation and Expediting: Proactively track all transportation lead times, including customs, and ensure material is ordered with sufficient lead times to minimize air freight charges while also maximizing inventory turns. Expedite shipments as necessary to eliminate gap-outs in all situations.
- Demand & Supply Planning: Continuously cross-reference ERP Supply Signals with inventory levels and monthly forecast to ensure continuity of supply.
- Cost & Quality Control: Implement effective cost-saving measures through volume purchasing, commodity indexing, and continuous negotiations, while maintaining zero-defect material quality.
- Supplier Performance Management: Conduct rigorous supplier evaluations based on key performance indicators (KPIs) such as On-Time Delivery (OTD), Quality PPM (Parts Per Million), and Cost Compliance. Work collaboratively with suppliers for continuous improvement.
- Technical Collaboration: Act as the procurement liaison between suppliers and internal Engineering, Quality Assurance, and Production Planning teams to manage new product introduction (NPI) and resolve material non-conformances (NCRs).
- Inventory Optimization: Partner with the Production and Inventory teams to establish optimal material ordering points and safety stock levels, minimizing carrying costs while preventing gap-outs.
- Issue PO for One-Time Product or Services: Source and manage contracts for essential indirect goods and services, including tooling, machinery parts (MRO), utilities, and facility maintenance.
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Business, or a related field.
- Experience: 5 years of progressive procurement experience specifically within a high-volume, low-mix manufacturing or production environment.
- Experience with International Suppliers
- Technical Skills:
- Proven experience procuring direct materials (e.g., metals, plastics, electronics, chemicals).
- 3 years of experience using NetSuite for supply & demand planning.
- Understanding of manufacturing processes, material specifications, and quality systems (e.g., ISO 9001).
- Professional certification (e.g., CPSM, APICS/CPIM).
- Experience with global sourcing and managing international logistics/incoterms.
- Background in value analysis/value engineering (VA/VE) to reduce material costs.