Senior Buyer

Senior Buyer

The Senior Buyer manages strategic relationships with existing and new suppliers, oversees company spending to reduce costs and improve profitability, and drives purchasing efficiency across the organization. This role is responsible for developing purchasing policies and systems, tracking supplier performance to ensure quality and on-time delivery, and supporting cross-functional teams with reliable sourcing solutions in a high mix, low volume automotive environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement purchasing and contract management instructions, policies, procedures, terms and conditions, and purchasing systems to support organizational objectives.
• Collaborate closely with product engineering and quality teams to define detailed supplier requirements and ensure they align with technical and quality standards.
• Identify and evaluate vendors for materials, equipment, and supplies, including interviewing suppliers to assess product availability, capabilities, and terms of sale.
• Prepare bid awards that require board approval, ensuring thorough documentation and alignment with company policies and strategic goals.
• Review purchase order claims and contracts to verify conformance with company policies, contractual terms, and regulatory requirements.
• Review, evaluate, and approve specifications used for issuing and awarding bids, ensuring clarity, completeness, and competitiveness.
• Administer and maintain online purchasing systems, ensuring data integrity and efficient use by stakeholders.
• Prepare and process requisitions and purchase orders for supplies and equipment, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and cost-effectiveness.
• Develop and execute cost reduction strategies and savings plans to improve margins while maintaining quality and delivery performance.
• Resolve vendor or contractor grievances and claims against suppliers, working to protect company interests and maintain productive relationships.
• Analyze market trends and delivery systems to assess current and future material availability, and provide recommendations based on market conditions.
• Participate in the development of specifications for equipment, products, or substitute materials to support engineering and operations needs.
• Maintain accurate records of goods ordered and received, ensuring traceability and compliance with internal controls.
• Represent the company in contract negotiations and in the formulation of supplier-related policies, securing favorable terms and long-term partnerships.
• Prepare reports on market conditions, material availability, and merchandise costs to support decision-making and strategic planning.
• Arrange for the disposal of surplus materials in a cost-effective and compliant manner.
• Develop operating strategies, plans, and procedures related to purchasing and supply chain activities.
• Contribute to the development of organizational policies or programs that impact procurement and supplier management.
• Implement organizational process or policy changes within the purchasing function to drive efficiency and continuous improvement.
• Interview employees, customers, and external parties to collect information and coordinate with outside organizations to exchange relevant sourcing and supply chain information.
• Manage multiple programs and customer requirements simultaneously, ensuring that purchasing activities support program timelines and deliverables.

Essential Skills

• 35+ years of professional experience in procurement or supply chain management, with demonstrated success in a purchasing role.
• Bachelor's degree in purchasing, supply chain, business, technical discipline, or a related field.
• Powertrain, driveline, or brake line purchasing experience in an automotive context.
• Experience working with automotive OEMs such as Stellantis, GM, Ford, Volkswagen, and Honda preferred; experience with other automotive OEMs or tier 1 suppliers is considered.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience in a high mix, low volume manufacturing or production environment.
• Strong understanding of cost modeling, market analysis, and market supply dynamics.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to interpret data and make sound recommendations.
• Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills, with a track record of achieving favorable commercial outcomes.
• Proven ability to manage multiple programs and customers concurrently while maintaining quality and timelines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and strong interpersonal skills for effective collaboration with internal teams and external suppliers.
• Hands-on purchasing, procurement, and purchase order management experience.
• Vendor management experience, including performance tracking and relationship development.
• Working knowledge of inventory, planning, logistics, and buying processes.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with high mix, low volume automotive program work and related sourcing strategies.
• Familiarity with online purchasing systems and digital procurement tools.
• Ability to develop and implement purchasing policies, procedures, and organizational programs.
• Experience preparing bid awards and working within governance structures that require board or executive approvals.
• Background in developing cost reduction strategies and savings plans in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience analyzing market and delivery systems to anticipate material availability and supply risks.
• Capability to prepare detailed reports on market conditions, costs, and supplier performance for leadership review.
• Experience resolving vendor grievances and contract-related issues while maintaining professional relationships.
• Comfort representing the organization in contract negotiations and policy discussions with suppliers.
• Ability to support organizational change by implementing new processes or policy updates within the purchasing function.

Work Environment

This position is fully on-site, five days per week, with a MondayFriday schedule, typically 8:00 a.m.5:00 p.m. or 9:00 a.m.6:00 p.m. The role is currently based in Pontiac, Michigan, with an anticipated relocation to a significantly larger facility in the Chesterfield and New Baltimore area. The successful candidate will work from the Pontiac location for approximately the first three to four months before moving with the team to the new facility, with the target move date between January and April of next year. The company has recently consolidated operations and manufacturing in the United States and is expanding rapidly based on awarded program work, offering substantial opportunities for professional growth as the footprint potentially doubles or triples. The environment is dynamic and growth-oriented, centered around automotive manufacturing and supply chain operations, with regular use of ERP/MRP systems, Microsoft Office tools, and online purchasing platforms in a collaborative office and plant setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Pontiac, MI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $88000.00 - $110000.00/yr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Company does have a competitive benefits package and a bonus program and structure in place.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Pontiac,MI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 2, 2026.