Buyer

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Manufacturing Buyer to manage the procurement of raw materials, components, and industrial supplies necessary to support our production operations. In this role, you will balance daily transactional purchasing with tactical vendor management. Your primary focus will be to ensure a reliable flow of high-quality materials to the factory floor while optimizing inventory levels, reducing lead times, and controlling overall procurement costs.

Responsibilities

• Execute purchase orders (POs) based on Material Requirements Planning (MRP) system prompts (messages), production schedules, customer forecasts, and inventory targets.
• Expedite open orders and proactively resolve delivery delays, material shortages, or shipping discrepancies to avoid production downtime.
• Review and resolve discrepancies regarding material pricing, quantities received, and supplier invoice payments.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for routine supplier communication, order inquiries, and problem resolution.
• Monitor vendor performance metrics, focusing closely on on-time delivery (OTCS), product quality, and cost competitiveness.
• Partner with Quality Assurance to manage non-conforming materials (RMA process) and ensure suppliers implement effective corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate inventory parameters within the ERP system, including safety stock levels if needed, multiple order quantities, and supplier lead times.
• Collaborate with production planners and warehouse teams to monitor inventory turnover and minimize excess or obsolete stock.
• Solicit and analyze competitive quotes (RFQs) from existing and alternative suppliers to secure best-market pricing.
• Find and assist in implementing cost reduction opportunities.

Qualifications

• Experience: 3 to 5+ years of buying or purchasing experience strictly within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a related field (equivalent hands-on experience will be considered).
• Certifications: Progress toward or completion of APICS (CPIM/CSCP) or ISM (CPSM) certification is a plus.
• ERP Experience: Solid proficiency working within manufacturing ERP/MRP systems (JDE a plus)
• Problem-Solving Agility: Proven capability to handle fast-paced changes, sudden production schedule shifts, and logistics bottlenecks.
• Effective Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Organization: Highly organized with the ability to manage hundreds of active line items and open purchase orders simultaneously.