Commodity Buyer

Commodity Buyer

Location: Northampton, MA (Hybrid)

Business: Malvern Panalytical

Malvern Panalytical is a global leader in analytical instrumentation, providing innovative solutions that enable scientists and engineers to characterize materials with confidence. Our technologies support highly regulated and precision-driven industries, including pharmaceuticals, materials science, chemicals, and academia.

Role Purpose

The Commodity Buyer manages the full procurement lifecycle for assigned commodities, supporting manufacturing through cost control, supplier performance, and continuity of supply. This role focuses on machined components, sheet metal, and plastics, with a strong emphasis on plastic machining. The position plays a key role in collaborating with Engineering and Manufacturing to drive cost-effective sourcing decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end procurement lifecycle for assigned commodities, including supplier selection, negotiation, contracting, and ongoing supplier management.
• Lead value analysis and cost-reduction initiatives in partnership with Engineering and Manufacturing, identifying opportunities to reduce total cost while maintaining quality, performance, and reliability.
• Collaborate with Engineering to review technical drawings, specifications, and designs, supporting design-to-cost, manufacturability improvements, and alternative sourcing recommendations.
• Negotiate pricing, commercial terms, and contracts with suppliers to achieve cost savings, including improvements in purchase price variance (PPV).
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, including regular communication, performance reviews, and supplier site visits.
• Support sourcing and supplier engagement for new product introductions, engineering changes, and production transitions.
• Work collaboratively within a small procurement team, providing backup support and contributing to shared objectives as needed.

Skills & Experience

Required

• 3–4 years of purchasing or procurement experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience sourcing machined components, sheet metal, and plastics, with a strong emphasis on machined plastic components.
• Ability to read, understand, and discuss technical drawings and prints.
• Experience negotiating with suppliers and supporting cost-saving initiatives.

Preferred

• ASCM, CPSM or other Procurement accreditation.
• Experience participating in value analysis, cost-reduction, or design-to-cost activities.
• Exposure to low-volume, high-mix manufacturing environments

Working Environment

• Hybrid role with flexibility; initial on-site presence at the Northampton location is expected to build familiarity with products, processes, and team members.
• Ongoing on-site presence, dependent on business needs.
• Occasional travel to supplier sites, mostly within Massachusetts and the New England region.