Senior Buyer

Senior Buyer

We are creating a dedicated Senior Buyer to bring purchasing that is currently spread across our engineering and production teams into a single, coordinated function. This role takes over sourcing, quoting, purchase order entry, and vendor management — freeing our applications engineering and shop-floor leads to focus on their core work — and owns inventory and item management for raw materials and stock across our marine, awning, and industrial product lines.

This is a build-and-improve role. Today much of our purchasing is done job-by-job and by sight; you will help stand up and improve the buyer system in NetSuite — item records, reorder points, and purchase workflows — to move us toward planned, data-driven replenishment. You will also manage supplier performance and quality and provide day-to-day support on material receiving. We are looking for an experienced buyer, with solid procurement and inventory fundamentals, who sees the real opportunity to bring structure to a growing manufacturer.

Senior Buyer Job Responsibilities:

• Purchasing & Sourcing: Source, quote, negotiate, and buy materials, components, and services across marine, awning, and industrial lines to meet cost, quality, and delivery targets. Enter and issue purchase orders in NetSuite and track them through delivery, resolving shortages and delays before they hit production. Consolidate buying now handled across Design & Engineering and the shop floor into one coordinated function. Maintain real-time pricing and lead-time data and share it with sales, estimating, and design.
• Inventory & Item Management: Own inventory levels, reorder points, min/max, safety stock, and cycle-count accuracy for raw materials and stock items. Move the business from reactive "buy by sight" to planned, data-driven replenishment with defined reorder points. Build and maintain clean item records in NetSuite — units of measure, vendor part numbers, costs, and lead times. Support receiving on material receipt issues and help maintain receiving accuracy. Manage inventory around the seasonal peak (April–July) and lead periodic and year-end counts.
• Supplier Management & Quality: Track supplier performance on price, quality, on-time delivery, and responsiveness. Address quality issues and nonconforming material, working with vendors on corrective action. Maintain approved-supplier relationships and qualify alternate sources to reduce single-source risk.
• Systems, AI & Continuous Improvement: Set up and maintain item records, reorder points, PO workflows, and reporting in NetSuite, and help move purchasing toward a planned, data-driven model. Use AI tools such as Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini to speed sourcing research, data analysis, and routine purchasing work. Document and improve purchasing, receiving, and inventory processes and report on key purchasing, inventory, and supplier metrics.

Senior Buyer Job Requirements & Working Conditions:

• Education: Associate or bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, operations, or a related field preferred; equivalent buying experience considered in lieu of a degree.
• Experience: 3–5 years as a buyer or purchasing agent in a manufacturing or production environment, including sourcing, negotiation, and purchase order management.
• Preferred: Supplier quality and management experience; hands-on ERP/MRP experience with item records and reorder points (NetSuite a plus); APICS/CPIM certification; exposure to lean or just-in-time inventory practices.
• Technical Skills: ERP/MRP systems (NetSuite preferred), including item and inventory setup; strong Microsoft Excel and data-analysis skills; purchase order and inventory/cycle-count management.
• Soft Skills: Strong negotiation, organization, and attention to detail; clear cross-functional communication with sales, engineering, and the shop floor; a proactive, problem-solving, continuous-improvement mindset.
• AI & Digital Fluency: Comfortable working in an AI-enabled environment, using tools such as Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini for research, data analysis, and day-to-day productivity.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds occasionally when handling or verifying materials.
• Sitting at a workstation for extended periods, with periodic standing and walking on the production floor.
• Repetitive motion including frequent computer, keyboard, and mouse use.
• Occasional exposure to the indoor shop environment, including noise and dust, when on the production floor.
• Background check required
• This position may require driving a company vehicle. A Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check will be conducted as part of the hiring process.
• Great benefits, including:
• Paid Time Off (PTO): 72 hours
• Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST): 48 hours
• State Paid Family and Medical Leave: Benefits available per state guidelines
• Holidays: Paid holidays
• Insurance: Company medical plan and dental coverage
• Retirement: 401(k) with company match
• Professional Growth: Training and advancement opportunities