Senior Buyer

Senior Buyer

The Senior Buyer is responsible for the strategic and tactical management of assigned suppliers, commodities, parts, materials, and supplies needed to support Velocity's production requirements. This individual will lead sourcing, supplier management, commercial negotiations, cost reduction, and supply risk mitigation while ensuring material is available at the required quality, cost, and delivery performance. The Senior Buyer serves as a key commercial interface with the supply base and is expected to operate with a high degree of independent judgment, proactively improve supplier performance, and identify opportunities to reduce total cost and strengthen continuity of supply. The ideal candidate has strong negotiation and analytical skills, demonstrated supplier-management experience, and a solid understanding of automotive or complex manufacturing environments.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for assigned suppliers, commodities, and product categories to support production, cost, quality, and delivery objectives.
• Lead competitive sourcing activities including RFQs, bid analysis, supplier evaluation, selection, qualification, and onboarding.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times, freight terms, minimum order quantities, tooling, warranties, and other commercial conditions to achieve the best total value for Velocity.
• Develop and execute annual cost-reduction initiatives through negotiation, competitive sourcing, volume consolidation, value analysis, alternate sourcing, and supplier collaboration.
• Analyze supplier pricing, historical spend, market conditions, volumes, and cost drivers to establish negotiation strategies and cost targets.
• Challenge and negotiate supplier price increases using fact-based analysis while identifying opportunities for cost avoidance and purchase price improvement.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships while establishing clear expectations for quality, delivery, responsiveness, cost, and continuous improvement.
• Conduct supplier performance reviews and drive corrective actions for delivery, quality, pricing, capacity, responsiveness, and other performance gaps.
• Identify single-source, capacity, financial, geographic, lead-time, and other supply risks and develop appropriate mitigation and alternate-source strategies.
• Manage purchase requirements generated through the ERP/MRP system and ensure supplier commitments align with production demand, inventory position, and required dates.
• Proactively manage supplier delivery performance, past-due purchase orders, and material constraints; escalate supply risks before they impact production.
• Partner with Production, Planning, Inventory, Engineering, Quality, and other cross-functional teams to resolve shortages, supplier issues, specification questions, and material constraints.
• Provide support to MRB and Quality teams to resolve supplier quality issues, RMAs, corrective actions, and supplier disposition in a timely manner.
• Research and evaluate new suppliers, materials, products, and manufacturing capabilities to improve quality, reduce cost, shorten lead times, and strengthen the supply base.
• Support development and negotiation of supplier agreements, pricing agreements, and long-term commercial arrangements; maintain accurate records of contracts and supplier commitments.
• Maintain purchasing master data including supplier pricing, lead times, minimum order quantities, order multiples, and other procurement parameters within the ERP system.
• Support inventory and working-capital improvement by balancing material availability with inventory turns, order quantities, lead times, and supplier flexibility.
• Track and report supplier and procurement performance including cost savings, cost avoidance, purchase price variance, delivery performance, shortages, and other assigned KPIs.
• Provide guidance and support to less experienced buyers and serve as a procurement resource for complex supplier, sourcing, and commercial issues.
• Stay informed of industry trends, pricing fluctuations, supply-market conditions, and new product developments in the automotive and manufacturing sectors.
• Use discretion with confidential customer, Company, supplier, pricing, and contract information.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Advanced negotiation, supplier management, and commercial communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead sourcing events, analyze supplier proposals, and negotiate complex commercial terms.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen with the ability to identify, quantify, and execute cost-saving and cost-avoidance opportunities.
• Proficiency in inventory management systems, purchasing software, ERP/MRP systems, and Microsoft Excel.
• Strong understanding of supplier performance management, lead-time management, inventory fundamentals, and supply risk.
• Exceptional attention to detail, organization, follow-through, and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and drive issues to resolution with limited supervision.
• Ability to build effective relationships and influence suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders.

Education Background and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, supply chain management, operations, engineering, or a related field is preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
• Five or more years of progressive purchasing, procurement, sourcing, or supplier-management experience, preferably in automotive or complex manufacturing.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating supplier pricing, commercial terms, and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Experience managing strategic suppliers, conducting supplier performance reviews, and resolving complex delivery, quality, or commercial issues.
• Strong knowledge of automotive parts, materials, fabrication, machining, or manufacturing processes is highly preferred.

Key Performance Indicators (Performance will be tracked by the following data metrics)

• Annual cost savings of 3% or greater based on managed annual spend volume.
• Purchase price variance (PPV), negotiated savings, and documented cost avoidance.
• Supplier on-time delivery performance and reduction of past-due purchase order exposure.
• Production shortages attributable to supplier or purchasing performance.
• Inventory turns: 4, while maintaining required material availability.
• Supplier quality performance and timely closure of supplier corrective actions.
• Recovery timing for supplier disposition of RMA items: 30–60 days.
• Reduction of lead times, minimum order quantities, and other commercial constraints where appropriate.
• Development of alternate sources and reduction of identified single-source or continuity-of-supply risks.
• Supplier performance improvement against established cost, quality, delivery, and responsiveness expectations.

Physical Demands (To include but not limited to)

• Ability to lift and carry heavy items, typically ranging from 25 to 50 pounds, and occasionally up to 75 pounds with assistance.
• Prolonged periods of standing, walking, and moving throughout the warehouse, often on hard surfaces.
• Frequent bending, stooping, kneeling, or squatting to retrieve or place items.
• Regularly reaching overhead to access inventory on high shelves.
• Climbing ladders or step stools to handle inventory stored at height.
• Pushing and pulling carts, pallet jacks, or other materials-handling equipment.
• Operating forklifts and other material-handling equipment safely and efficiently.
• Adhering to safety protocols for all equipment operation, including proper inspection and maintenance before use.
• Handling and manipulating objects, including packaging and labeling, requiring fine motor skills. Performing repetitive motions, such as scanning items, assembling packages, or operating machinery.
• Working in environments with varying temperatures, such as unheated or non-air-conditioned warehouses.
• Exposure to dust, noise, and occasionally strong odors from materials or equipment.
• Visual ability to read labels, identify parts, and use computer screens.
• Auditory ability to hear safety instructions, alarms, or communication in a noisy environment.
• Sustained physical activity for the duration of the shift, often requiring stamina and energy management.
• This position requires a high level of focus and adherence to safety standards, as it involves operating heavy equipment and handling potentially hazardous materials.
• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, safety glasses, and steel-toed boots, is mandatory.
• Any impairment due to substances or distractions is strictly prohibited while performing job duties.
• Flexibility to work overtime or extended shifts when required.
• Must follow all company policies and safety guidelines to ensure a safe working environment.

Benefits Include

• Compensation: Pay is based on experience and qualifications
• Health & Wellness: Health/Dental/Vision/Life/Disability/Aflac available after 60 days
• Retirement: 401(k) with company match after 6 months at next enrollment period
• Paid Time Off: Paid time off and paid holidays
• Additional Perks: Company sponsored events, tool program,