The Senior Buyer is responsible for managing the procurement of materials, components, and services required to support production, customer demand, and business objectives. This position serves as a key contributor within the Supply Chain organization by driving supplier performance, optimizing inventory levels, analyzing MRP requirements, and supporting cost, quality, and delivery objectives. The Senior Buyer utilizes ERP and planning systems to make data-driven purchasing decisions, manages complex supplier relationships, and identifies continuous improvement opportunities that strengthen overall supply chain performance.
RESPONSIBILITIES:- Own procurement activities for assigned commodities, suppliers, and inventory categories to ensure material availability while balancing inventory investment and operational requirements.
- Analyze MRP outputs, demand forecasts, inventory trends, and supply constraints to develop and execute purchasing strategies that support production schedules and customer commitments.
- Manage the full purchase order lifecycle, including supplier selection, order placement, expediting, delivery management, discrepancy resolution, and supplier communications.
- Evaluate supplier capacity, lead times, performance trends, and business risks to proactively mitigate material shortages and supply disruptions.
- Develop and maintain strategic supplier relationships focused on improving cost, quality, responsiveness, lead time performance, and on-time delivery.
- Monitor supplier performance through established KPIs and DVM metrics, driving corrective actions and performance improvement initiatives when required.
- Lead negotiations related to pricing, delivery schedules, lead times, minimum order quantities, and other commercial terms to support organizational objectives.
- Collaborate with Planning, Operations, Service, Quality, Engineering, and Finance to align purchasing activities with production requirements, inventory targets, and customer expectations.
- Drive inventory optimization efforts through effective management of safety stock levels, reorder parameters, supplier lead times, and demand variability.
- Maintain and improve ERP system data integrity, including supplier records, purchasing parameters, lead times, pricing agreements, inventory controls, and material master data.
- Support annual forecasting, budgeting, and supply planning activities through analysis of historical consumption, future demand, and supplier capabilities.
- Identify, recommend, and implement continuous improvement initiatives focused on procurement efficiency, supplier performance, inventory accuracy, cost reduction, and process standardization.
- Support sourcing and supplier development activities, including supplier evaluations, qualification efforts, and performance reviews.
- Ensure compliance with company policies, procurement procedures, quality requirements, and regulatory standards.
EXPERIENCE / QUALIFICATIONS:- Minimum of 5-7 years of progressive purchasing, procurement, supply chain, or materials management experience within a manufacturing environment.
- Advanced understanding of MRP, ERP, inventory management, forecasting, and supply planning processes.
- Experience with ERP systems required; JD Edwards experience strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience managing complex supplier relationships and negotiating commercial agreements.
- Strong understanding of supplier performance management, KPI development, and DVM metric reporting.
- Proven ability to analyze data, identify trends, and make recommendations that improve supply chain performance and business results.
- Experience supporting cost reduction, inventory optimization, lead time reduction, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, communication, and negotiation skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including advanced Excel capabilities.
- APICS CPIM, CSCP, CIPS, or similar professional certification preferred.
EDUCATION:- Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field preferred.
- Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
Salary Range : $80,000-$95,000HSEAll employees have the responsibility to work in a safe manner and report any health, safety or environmental concern to their manager or supervisor in a timely manner.
Employee responsibilities for Health, Safety and Environment include:
- Work in compliance with divisional health, safety and environmental procedures
- Refrain from removing or altering safety devices or guarding unless hazardous energies are controlled through lockout-tagout methods
- Report any unsafe conditions or unsafe acts
- Report defect in any equipment or protective device
- Ensure that the required protective equipment is used for the assigned tasks
- Attend all required health, safety and environmental training
- Report any accidents/incidents to supervisor
- Assist in investigating accidents/incidents
- Refrain from engaging in any prank, contest, feat of strength, unnecessary running or rough and boisterous conduct
