Buyer Manufacturing

Job Description

Job Description

The Manufacturing Buyer is responsible for sourcing and purchasing raw materials, custom components, and MRO/indirect supplies that keep a custom stainless steel fabrication operation running on schedule and on budget. This role works directly with production, planning, and outside vendors to secure stainless steel strip and custom-fabricated fittings at the best achievable combination of price, quality, and lead time; maintains and grows a vetted vendor base; and manages the purchase-order-to-invoice process end to end. The ideal candidate is comfortable reading prints and technical specifications, is at ease on a factory floor, and brings practical experience negotiating with industrial suppliers.

This is a technical, hands-on purchasing role with a defined growth path toward Purchasing Manager for the right candidate; see “Growth Path” below.

Key Responsibilities:

Raw Material & Direct Materials Purchasing

•    Source and purchase stainless steel strip, evaluating vendors on price, quality, and lead time.

•    Source and purchase custom stainless steel fittings and components built to print/specification, working directly with vendors on technical requirements.

•    Manage blanket purchase orders with raw material vendors; track scheduled releases and reconcile incoming receipts against open orders.

•    Monitor the microbulk Argon tank and manage the gas/welding-supply vendor relationship, including the bulk Argon account.

Indirect / MRO Purchasing

•    Source welding consumables, PPE, and other production supplies needed to keep the shop floor running.

•    Source general office and printer/equipment supplies as needed.

Vendor Management

•    Vet new and prospective vendors and help maintain the plant's Approved Vendor List (AVL).

•    Support contact and coordination with outside vendors that service the building (e.g., alarm/security, HVAC, janitorial, waste), including tracking contract renewal dates.

•    Track vendor certificates of insurance (COI) and other compliance documentation as part of vendor onboarding and renewal.

•    Contribute to supplier performance tracking — on-time delivery, quality, responsiveness — to inform renewal and sourcing decisions.

Quoting, Pricing & Order Processing

•    Obtain competitive quotes from outside vendors for parts and services purchased outside the plant.

•    Prepare, issue, and track purchase orders through to receipt and invoice.

•    Furnish the Planner with vendor quotes for parts and materials so pricing can be passed through to Sales.

•    Process incoming invoices, match them to POs and receipts, and resolve pricing or quantity discrepancies with vendors and Accounts Payable.

Planning & Systems

•    Maintain accurate purchasing records and vendor/item data in the ERP or purchasing system.

•    Monitor raw material and MRO inventory levels to help avoid production shortages; follow up on at-risk lead times.

•    Communicate proactively with Production and Planning on order status, delays, and substitutions.

Qualifications

Required

•    3+ years of purchasing/procurement experience, preferably in a manufacturing or industrial setting.

•    Demonstrated experience sourcing raw materials and/or custom-fabricated components from outside vendors.

•    Comfortable working in and around an active factory floor; familiar with basic shop safety practices and PPE requirements.

•    Ability to read and understand technical prints, specifications, or bills of material well enough to source parts accurately.

•    Strong vendor negotiation skills, with a track record of balancing price, quality, and lead time.

•    Proficiency with ERP/purchasing systems and standard office software (spreadsheets, email, purchasing/inventory modules).

•    Strong organizational skills and attention to detail — this role tracks many open orders, vendors, and deadlines at once.

•    Clear written and verbal communication skills for working with vendors, Planning, Sales, and Production.

Preferred

•    Experience purchasing metals or metal stock (stainless steel strip or sheet a strong plus).

•    Experience purchasing custom-fabricated or to-print components.

•    Familiarity with welding consumables, industrial gases, or microbulk gas systems.

•    Experience maintaining or contributing to an Approved Vendor List (AVL) or formal vendor qualification process.

•    Exposure to ERP systems commonly used in small-to-midsize manufacturing environments.

•    Associate's or Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

•    Primarily an office environment within an active manufacturing plant, with regular time spent on the production floor to inspect incoming materials, coordinate with Production, and work with vendors.

•    Must be able to wear required PPE (safety glasses, hearing protection, etc.) when on the shop floor.

•    Occasional exposure to typical industrial conditions — noise, heat, and material handling areas.

•    Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods, and to occasionally lift up to 25 lbs (e.g., sample parts or supply deliveries).

Growth Path

This role is structured to build directly toward a Purchasing Manager position. A Technical Purchaser who demonstrates strong vendor negotiation skills, reliability in managing purchase orders and blanket orders, and sound judgment vetting new vendors will be considered for expanded responsibilities, including full vendor and contract ownership, budget and spend management, and department leadership.