Senior Buyer

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Senior Buyer

Full Time Purchasing Avondale, PA, US

The Senior Buyer is responsible for the strategic and tactical procurement of materials, components, finished goods, supplies, and services required to support manufacturing and broader business operations. This position will manage assigned suppliers and categories, ensure material availability, negotiate favorable commercial terms, monitor inventory requirements, and proactively address potential supply disruptions.

The successful candidate will work closely with Manufacturing, Operations, Demand Planning, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Product Management, Logistics, and other internal teams to balance cost, quality, inventory, lead time, and operational requirements .

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on purchasing professional who combines strong supplier‑management and negotiation skills with an understanding of manufacturing operations and inventory planning.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage purchasing activities for assigned products, raw materials, components, finished goods, supplies, and services supporting multiple company locations and business operations.
• Support manufacturing purchasing requirements, including materials and components necessary to maintain production schedules and operational continuity.
• Review demand, forecasts, inventory levels, production requirements, lead times, safety stock, open purchase orders, and other planning information to determine appropriate purchasing actions.
• Create, issue, and manage purchase orders while ensuring accuracy of quantities, pricing, specifications, delivery dates, and commercial terms.
• Monitor open purchase orders and proactively communicate with suppliers regarding production status, shipment dates, shortages, delays, and potential supply disruptions.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Operations, Demand Planning, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Logistics, Product Management, and other departments to ensure appropriate material and product availability.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with domestic and international suppliers.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times, minimum order quantities, freight considerations, and other commercial terms.
• Identify and execute opportunities for cost savings, cost avoidance, supplier consolidation, and improved purchasing efficiency.
• Analyze supplier pricing, purchasing trends, commodity or material changes, and other factors that may affect product cost or availability.
• Identify potential supply chain risks and proactively develop alternative sourcing, inventory, or supplier solutions.
• Monitor and evaluate supplier performance related to quality, cost, delivery, responsiveness, and service .
• Work with suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve quality issues, delivery concerns, invoice discrepancies, pricing differences, and purchase‑order issues.
• Support sourcing and purchasing activities associated with new product introductions, engineering changes, product transitions, and phase‑in/phase‑out requirements.
• Partner with Quality and Engineering as appropriate in the evaluation and qualification of suppliers, materials, and components.
• Support inventory optimization initiatives by identifying potential shortages, excess and obsolete inventory, slow‑moving materials, and opportunities to improve inventory levels.
• Maintain accurate purchasing information within the company's ERP/MRP systems, including supplier information, pricing, lead times, minimum order quantities, and purchasing parameters.
• Analyze purchasing and inventory data to identify trends, exceptions, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Participate in supplier business reviews and support the evaluation, development, and onboarding of new suppliers.
• Assist with the development and implementation of purchasing processes, standards, and best practices across the organization.
• Serve as an experienced purchasing resource and provide guidance and support to other members of the Purchasing and Supply Chain teams as needed.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives throughout Purchasing, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Operations.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations, Finance, Engineering, or a related field preferred. Equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• 5+ years of progressive purchasing, procurement, sourcing, or supply chain experience , preferably within a manufacturing or multi‑location environment.
• Demonstrated experience purchasing materials, components, finished goods, or other products supporting manufacturing and/or operational requirements.
• Experience managing supplier relationships and complex purchasing requirements.
• Strong understanding of purchasing, inventory management, MRP, demand planning, lead times, safety stock, and supply chain fundamentals.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating supplier pricing, terms, lead times, and other commercial conditions.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to interpret purchasing, inventory, production, and operational data.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills and experience working with ERP/MRP systems.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple suppliers, categories, locations, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across manufacturing, operations, supply chain, and corporate functions.
• High level of attention to detail, accuracy, accountability, and follow‑through.
• Ability to independently identify issues, develop solutions, and escalation significant business risks appropriately.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Purchasing experience within a manufacturing environment .
• Experience purchasing raw materials, fabricated or manufactured components, finished goods, packaging, and/or production‑related materials.
• Experience supporting multiple manufacturing or distribution locations.
• Experience working with both domestic and international suppliers.
• Experience with extended supply‑chain lead times and international sourcing.
• Experience with inventory planning, forecasting, and MRP‑driven purchasing.
• Experience supporting engineering changes and new product introductions.
• Experience with supplier performance management and strategic sourcing.
• APICS, CPSM, CPM, or other recognized supply chain/procurement certification is a plus.

KEY COMPETENCIES

Supplier Management & Negotiation – Builds productive supplier relationships while maintaining accountability for cost, quality, delivery, and performance.

Manufacturing & Operational Awareness – Understands how purchasing decisions affect production schedules, inventory availability, customer requirements, and overall operational performance.

Business & Financial Acumen – Understands the impact of purchasing decisions on product cost, inventory, working capital, margins, and overall business results.

Planning & Organization – Effectively manages purchasing requirements across multiple suppliers, products, priorities, and company locations.

Analytical Thinking – Uses data to identify trends, anticipate potential issues, and make informed purchasing decisions.

Problem Solving – Proactively identifies supply risks and develops practical solutions before they negatively impact manufacturing or business operations.

Collaboration – Works effectively across departments and locations to align purchasing activities with operational and business requirements.

Accountability – Takes ownership of assigned suppliers, categories, purchase orders, issues, and commitments through resolution.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position is based in Avondale, Pennsylvania and operates in a professional office environment with regular interaction with manufacturing, warehouse, supply chain, engineering, quality, and operational teams.

The position may require periodic travel to other company locations, suppliers, trade events, or business meetings based on operational needs.