Buyer - Full time - Supply Chain Purchasing

Supply Chain Specialist
Operations

Employment Type: Full Time

Reporting To: Controller & Supply Chain Manager

The primary role of a Supply Chain Specialist is to add value to Swagelok Northern California’s supply chain through cost savings initiatives, supplier relationship management, supplier selection and development, risk mitigation, and planning and forecasting. The Supply Chain Specialist is responsible for ensuring that material is available at the right time to meet internal and external customer requirements.

Key to this role is ensuring quality material and/or parts are procured so they are available on-time and at the right cost to support Sales and Production needs that meet our customer’s requirements.

The Supply Chain Specialist is primarily responsible for sourcing products from assigned suppliers/commodities, tracking/managing supplier metrics, and maintaining the Approved Supplier List (ASL) and Supplier/Item Master system data.

Supplier Relationship & Performance Management

Manage assigned suppliers and commodities to achieve service, quality, cost, and delivery objectives.

Develop and execute supplier improvement plans and recovery actions when performance gaps exist.

Regularly track, evaluate, and report supplier quality and performance benchmarks and risks associated with the preferred supply base selection (On-Time Delivery, Lead Times, Capacity, etc.).

Negotiate pricing, lead times, and commercial terms with suppliers.

Support supplier selection decisions based on quality, delivery, cost, capacity, and risk.

Planning & Inventory Management

Minimize material shortages, excess inventory, and obsolescence.

Supply Risk & Business Continuity

Ensure the timely resolution, communication, and mitigation of PO issues, invoice discrepancies, returns, quality problems, etc.

Assess, prioritize, and mitigate supply chain risks affecting business continuity.

Recommend alternate sources and recovery strategies based on cost, quality, delivery, and risk considerations.

Partner with Finance, Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Sales.

Lead supply chain improvement and Lean initiatives that improve supplier performance, inventory effectiveness, and operational efficiency.

Encourage and coordinate early supplier involvement in highly technical and/or complex new product part designs using the suppliers’ expertise to optimize quality and manufacturability.

Skills & Competencies, Education, & Work Experience
Supply Chain Planning & Inventory Management. Utilizes MRP, forecasting, inventory analysis, and demand planning principles to ensure material availability while minimizing excess inventory and obsolescence.

Develops productive supplier relationships that improve supplier performance, responsiveness, collaboration, and long-term business outcomes.

Evaluates sourcing options, negotiates pricing and commercial terms, and identifies opportunities to improve cost, quality, and service performance.

Data Analysis & Decision Making. Analyzes supplier, inventory, and operational data to identify trends, assess risk, and support data-driven decision making.

Risk Management & Problem Solving. Identifies supply chain risks and develops mitigation strategies while applying structured problem-solving techniques to resolve supplier and operational issues.

Works effectively with Sales, Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Finance to align supply chain activities with organizational objectives.

Communicates supplier expectations, business requirements, performance concerns, and project updates clearly and professionally.

Identifies opportunities to improve supply chain processes, reduce waste, improve service levels, and enhance operational effectiveness through continuous improvement methodologies.

Proficient in ERP/MRP systems, Microsoft Excel, reporting tools, and supply chain technologies used to support planning, purchasing, and supplier management.

Education & Work Experience
Bachelor’s Degree from a four-year college or university and 4+ years related experience in distribution or manufacturing; ASCM Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), ASCM Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM), or ASCM Supply Chain Procurement Certificate, or equivalent

100% covered employee Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance

Up to 80% dependent coverage for Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Health Care Flexible Spending Account

Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

Short-Term and Long-Term Disability

Paid Holidays

Tuition Reimbursement

Gym Membership Reimbursement up to $50/month