Senior Procurement Specialist

Our client is a growing manufacturing organization seeking an experienced Senior Procurement Specialist to manage strategic and tactical purchasing activities across a diverse supplier base. This individual will be responsible for ensuring the timely availability of materials, components, and services while balancing cost, quality, inventory, and delivery requirements.

The Senior Buyer will work closely with Supply Chain, Planning, Engineering, Quality, Operations, and Finance to support production and drive continuous improvement throughout the procurement process.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the procurement of raw materials, components, finished goods, and services required to support manufacturing operations.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers while monitoring performance related to cost, quality, delivery, and responsiveness .
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times, contracts, and other commercial agreements with suppliers.
• Issue and manage purchase orders while ensuring accuracy and compliance with established purchasing policies.
• Analyze MRP/planning requirements and translate demand into appropriate purchasing actions.
• Monitor inventory levels and supplier lead times to minimize shortages, excess inventory, and production disruptions.
• Partner with Production Planning and Operations to ensure materials are available to meet production schedules.
• Work with Engineering and Quality on new products, engineering changes, supplier qualifications, and quality issues.
• Identify and execute cost-reduction and supplier improvement opportunities .
• Track and resolve supplier delivery, quality, pricing, and capacity issues.
• Assist with supplier selection, sourcing initiatives, RFQs, and competitive bidding activities.
• Maintain accurate purchasing data, including pricing, lead times, minimum order quantities, and supplier information.
• Analyze purchasing and supplier data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across procurement and supply chain processes.

Qualifications

• experience purchasing/buying experience within a manufacturing or distribution environment.
• Strong understanding of procurement, MRP, inventory management, and manufacturing supply chains.
• Experience purchasing raw materials, components, mechanical/electrical parts, or other manufacturing-related materials.
• Proven experience negotiating with suppliers and managing supplier performance.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Experience with an ERP/MRP system such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, Epicor, Infor, or similar.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or a related field preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with strategic sourcing or commodity management.
• Experience with supplier development and cost-reduction initiatives.
• APICS/ASCM certification such as CPIM or CSCP .
• Experience working with engineering-driven or highly customized manufacturing environments.
• Experience managing domestic and international suppliers.