Senior Buyer

Senior Buyer - Manufacturing

Position Overview

Our client, a well-established and growing manufacturing company, is seeking an experienced Senior Buyer to join their purchasing and supply chain team. The Senior Buyer will be responsible for managing the procurement of materials, components, and services necessary to support manufacturing operations while maintaining cost, quality, delivery, and inventory objectives.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in manufacturing purchasing, excellent supplier management and negotiation skills, and hands-on experience working within an ERP system. This position requires someone who can effectively balance day-to-day purchasing responsibilities with strategic sourcing initiatives and continuous process improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the purchasing of raw materials, components, parts, equipment, and services required for manufacturing operations.
• Create, issue, and manage purchase orders while ensuring accuracy, pricing, quantities, and delivery requirements.
• Utilize the company's ERP system to manage purchasing activities, inventory levels, material requirements, supplier information, and purchase orders.
• Review MRP/ERP reports and production requirements to determine purchasing needs and timing.
• Monitor inventory levels and coordinate material availability to support production schedules while minimizing excess inventory.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers and negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times, and other purchasing agreements.
• Identify and evaluate potential new suppliers based on cost, quality, capacity, delivery, and overall performance.
• Monitor supplier performance and address issues involving quality, delivery, pricing, shortages, and discrepancies.
• Work closely with Production, Engineering, Quality, Operations, and Accounting to ensure material requirements are met.
• Review and analyze supplier quotes and make purchasing decisions based on cost, quality, lead time, and production requirements.
• Support cost-reduction initiatives, including competitive bidding, supplier negotiations, alternative sourcing, and process improvements.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records, supplier information, pricing, and inventory data within the ERP system.
• Assist with forecasting and long-term material planning.
• Identify potential supply-chain risks and develop contingency plans when necessary.
• Resolve invoice, receiving, purchase order, and material discrepancies.
• Track and report purchasing metrics, including supplier performance, cost savings, inventory levels, and on-time delivery.
• Ensure purchasing activities comply with company policies and established procedures.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of purchasing/buying experience within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing supply chains, materials, components, and production processes.
• Proven experience using an ERP/MRP system for purchasing and inventory management.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience managing supplier relationships and evaluating supplier performance.
• Ability to read and interpret purchase specifications, bills of materials, drawings, and other technical documentation.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects and work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong attention to detail and follow-through.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, or a related field.
• Experience with ERP systems such as Epicor, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, Infor, NetSuite, or similar platforms.
• Experience with MRP, inventory planning, forecasting, and demand planning.
• Experience purchasing engineered components, fabricated parts, raw materials, or other manufacturing-related products.
• APICS/ASCM certification or related supply chain certification.

What We're Looking For

The successful candidate will be a hands-on, analytical purchasing professional who understands how purchasing decisions directly impact production, inventory, profitability, and customer delivery. The ideal candidate is comfortable working within an ERP system, building strong supplier relationships, negotiating effectively, and taking ownership of material availability from purchase order through delivery.