Senior Buyer-Supply Chain

Senior Buyer, Supply Chain

Charlotte, NC

Perm/Full time

Client Overview

A growing manufacturer in the medical device and life sciences space is hiring a Senior Buyer. The company operates in a highly regulated, ISO-compliant manufacturing environment, with on-site warehouse and inventory operations supporting production, distribution, and fulfillment for both commercial and government customers.

Business Driver

This search follows a recent leadership change within the client's Supply Chain and Planning organization. The newly appointed Sr. Supply Chain and Planning Manager is building a buying team that can execute at a high level with minimal oversight — sourcing, expediting, and owning supplier relationships. The client is specifically prioritizing candidates who can step in as a true, hands-on Senior Buyer rather than a broader procurement generalist, and who bring careful, low-risk execution to an environment where inventory and ordering accuracy carry real operational consequences.

The Work

The Senior Buyer is a hands-on, individual-contributor role responsible for sourcing, procurement, and day-to-day management of the materials, components, services, and capital equipment that keep production, distribution, and customer fulfillment on track. At its core, this is a true buyer role — placing and managing purchase orders, tracking backorders and fill rates, and monitoring on-time delivery (OTD) — layered with senior-level ownership of supplier relationships, sourcing strategy, and inventory optimization.

The Senior Buyer partners closely with Planning, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Customer Service, Finance, and Operations to keep material flowing while balancing inventory investment, cost, quality, and delivery. The role reports into the Supply Chain and Planning function and carries no direct reports.

Key Responsibilities

• Source and procure assigned materials, components, services, and capital equipment, ensuring quality, cost, delivery, and regulatory requirements are met
• Own strategic supplier relationships — negotiate terms, manage performance through KPIs and reviews, and drive corrective action when needed
• Track backorders, fill rates, and on-time delivery (OTD) performance, working directly with suppliers to resolve shortages, expedite critical orders, and protect customer commitments
• Analyze demand forecasts, historical usage, and supplier capacity to build effective purchasing and replenishment plans
• Partner with Planning and Manufacturing to align material availability with production schedules and customer commitments
• Balance inventory levels, supplier lead times, and forecast variability to minimize shortages while maximizing inventory turns
• Identify, evaluate, and qualify alternative suppliers or substitute materials to reduce supply risk and support business continuity
• Serve as the procurement subject matter expert for the ERP system (Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP, or equivalent), maintaining accurate purchasing, supplier, and planning master data
• Ensure purchased materials and suppliers comply with applicable customer, regulatory, and quality requirements
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Warehouse, Receiving, Quality, Customer Service, and Finance to resolve purchasing, inventory, and supplier-related issues
• Communicate material shortages, supplier constraints, and recovery plans clearly to key stakeholders
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across procurement processes, systems, and reporting

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• Seven or more years of progressive procurement or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment
• Experience with demand forecasting, material planning, inventory management, and purchasing within an MRP/ERP environment
• Strong understanding of MRP concepts, bills of material, inventory planning, and supplier management
• Experience in a regulated manufacturing environment — medical device, aerospace, defense, or similarly controlled industries are all considered; a medical device background specifically is not required
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office applications
• Ability to work fully on-site, with periodic time spent in warehouse and manufacturing areas

Preferred Skills

• MBA, CPSM, CPIM, CSCP, or similar professional certification
• Experience supporting ISO 9001 and/or ISO 13485 quality management systems
• Experience supporting government, military, or other regulated customers, with familiarity with BAA/TAA requirements
• Hands-on ERP subject-matter-expert experience (Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP, or equivalent)
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, smaller or mid-size manufacturing environment where tools, systems, and priorities can shift quickly; brings a creative, decisive approach to solving day-to-day procurement challenges