Buyer - Manufacturing and Supply Chain Purchasing

The Buyer procures production, equipment, and MRO materials required to support ongoing manufacturing operations. This role manages the end-to-end procurement process, including supplier negotiations, purchase order management, and materials planning, to ensure timely, accurate, and cost-effective delivery of goods. The Buyer collaborates closely with production, supply chain, and corporate procurement teams to maintain material availability, optimize inventory levels, and uphold high standards of supplier performance.

Continuously monitor and verify the materials pipeline to ensure it meets Materials Requirements Planning (MRP) needs and promptly identify and address material supply issues.

Ensure material availability to support production in alignment with the Master Production Schedule through effective MRP execution, on-time delivery, and coordination of material movement from receiving to production.

Maintain the integrity and accuracy of materials and procurement data to minimize material liability and optimize working capital.

Monitor supplier delivery and quality performance and drive continuous improvement in supplier reliability and service.

Analyze customer purchase orders to ensure compliance with contract terms and internal requirements.

Analyze and execute the Materials Requirement Plan (MRP) on a weekly basis to align procurement activities with demand and production schedules.

Achieve inventory goals for assigned customers or commodities by balancing availability, cost, and risk.

Execute and fully utilize negotiated terms with suppliers to reduce materials liability and overall procurement costs, including freight and payment terms.

Address and resolve recurring or critical supply issues using corrective action tools and collaborate with the corporate procurement team as needed.

Analyze the potential impact of forecast changes and production schedule adjustments on component procurement and recommend appropriate actions.

Create, issue, and manage purchase orders within ERP/MRP systems to ensure accurate and timely ordering of materials.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including production, planning, and supply chain, to align procurement activities with operational needs.

Represent the company professionally in all supplier interactions, exercising discretion, independent judgment, and strong customer service focus.

Knowledge of Material Resource Planning (MRP) and the extended process of material procurement and inventory analysis.

Working knowledge of ERP systems and experience using MRP to plan and execute material purchases.

Minimum of a BS degree with an internship or a minimum of 1 year of buying experience in a manufacturing setting, or a diploma with relevant buying experience.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office products, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.

High attention to detail and accuracy in data entry, documentation, and order management.

Understanding of purchasing practices and the ability to gain familiarity with procurement requirements for electronics and related agreements.

Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment when making supply chain and procurement decisions.

Strong customer service and client focus, both internally and externally.

Experience with tactile or hands-on buying in a manufacturing environment.

Familiarity with procurement requirements specific to electronics and related agreements.

Understanding and practical use of continuous improvement tools in procurement and supply chain processes.

Experience working in a team-based environment supporting production and operations.

Ability to adapt to changing forecasts and production schedules and adjust procurement plans accordingly.

#This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Rochester, MN.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: - Medical, dental & vision - Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital - 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available - Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) - Short and long-term disability - Health Spending Account (HSA) - Transportation benefits - Employee Assistance Program - Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Application Deadline

We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.