The Senior Buyer - Indirect Procurement & CAPEX is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for indirect materials, services, and capital equipment investments to support business operations and growth objectives. This role leads supplier selection, contract negotiations, cost-reduction initiatives, project procurement activities, and cross-functional collaboration with Engineering, Operations, Finance, Facilities, IT, and Manufacturing teams. The position ensures competitive pricing, quality, delivery, risk management, and compliance while maximizing total cost of ownership (TCO).
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Sourcing & Procurement
• Develop and implement sourcing strategies for indirect spend categories and capital equipment purchases.
• Lead competitive bidding activities including RFQ, RFP, and supplier evaluations.
• Conduct market analysis and benchmarking to identify cost-saving opportunities and supply market trends.
• Manage supplier selection, negotiations, and contract execution for indirect goods and services.
• Establish long-term supplier relationships that support operational and business objectives.
CAPEX Procurement Management
• Support capital project planning by collaborating with Engineering, Manufacturing, Facilities, and Project Management teams.
• Lead procurement activities for manufacturing equipment, automation systems, tooling, facility expansions, construction projects, and other capital investments.
• Evaluate supplier quotations and ensure alignment with technical specifications, project budgets, and timelines.
• Negotiate pricing, commercial terms, warranties, service agreements, and payment schedules.
• Monitor supplier performance throughout project execution and equipment installation phases.
Indirect Spend Management
Manage procurement activities for categories such as:
• MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Operations)
• Facility services and utilities
• Construction and infrastructure projects
• Information Technology hardware, software, and services
• Professional and consulting services
• Logistics and transportation services
• Office supplies and general business services
• Environmental, health, and safety requirements
Supplier Relationship Management
• Develop supplier performance metrics and scorecards.
• Conduct supplier business reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Resolve supplier quality, delivery, and commercial issues.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks impacting operations and projects.
• Drive supplier innovation and value engineering opportunities.
Cost Reduction & Value Improvement
• Identify and implement annual cost-reduction and productivity initiatives.
• Perform total cost of ownership (TCO) analyses for sourcing decisions.
• Lead value analysis/value engineering (VA/VE) projects with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Optimize inventory, contract utilization, and procurement processes.
• Support budget planning and capital expenditure approvals.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner with Engineering during equipment specifications and supplier selection processes.
• Collaborate with Finance on budgeting, forecasting, and spend analysis.
• Work closely with Operations to support production requirements and project schedules.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies and internal controls.
Contract & Compliance Management
• Negotiate commercial agreements, service contracts, and supplier terms and conditions.
• Ensure compliance with corporate procurement policies and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain accurate procurement records and documentation.
• Support audit requirements related to procurement and capital spending.
Reporting & Analytics
• Track procurement performance metrics including savings, cost avoidance, supplier performance, and project milestones.
• Prepare spend analysis and procurement reports for leadership.
• Utilize ERP, procurement, and sourcing systems to monitor purchasing activities.
Requirements
Qualifications
Education
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Finance, or related field.
• MBA, CPSM, CPM, CIPS, or equivalent professional certification preferred.
Experience
• +5 years of procurement, sourcing, or purchasing experience.
• Minimum 2-3 years managing indirect procurement and capital equipment sourcing.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, automotive, industrial, or engineering-intensive environments preferred.
Knowledge & Skills
• Strong expertise in strategic sourcing and supplier negotiations.
• Experience with capital equipment procurement and project-based purchasing.
• Strong financial acumen and capital investment analysis skills.
• Proficiency with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, Microsoft Dynamics, etc.).
• Advanced Excel and spend analysis capabilities.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder-management skills.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Annual cost savings and cost avoidance
• CAPEX project procurement delivery performance.
• Supplier on-time delivery and quality metrics.
• Contract compliance and spend under management.
• Procurement cycle time reduction.
• Supplier risk mitigation effectiveness.
• Working capital and inventory improvements.
• Stakeholder satisfaction and project support performance.
