Senior Buyer

The Senior Buyer leads end-to-end procurement activities to ensure the timely, cost-effective, and compliant acquisition of goods and services that support business operations. This role drives supplier performance, negotiates favorable commercial terms, and partners cross-functionally to mitigate supply risk while improving total cost of ownership.

Required Qualifications & Certifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Finance, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
• Minimum 5 years of progressive purchasing/procurement experience, including strategic sourcing and supplier negotiations
• Professional certification preferred/required as applicable (e.g., CPSM, CPIM, CSCP, or equivalent procurement/supply chain certification)

Skills:

• Advanced negotiation, contracting, and supplier management skills with a focus on total cost of ownership and risk mitigation

• Strong analytical capability, including spend analysis, cost modeling, and KPI development to drive data-informed decisions

• Effective cross-functional communication and stakeholder management to align requirements, timelines, and priorities

• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and procurement tools (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics) and strong Excel skills

• Execution and problem-solving skills to manage competing priorities, resolve supply issues, and deliver measurable results

• Analytical thinking to evaluate bids, model costs, and identify savings opportunities

• Communication and collaboration to align cross-functional requirements and manage supplier relationships

• Problem-solving and execution to resolve supply disruptions, quality issues, and delivery constraints

• Negotiation and influencing to secure favorable commercial terms and drive supplier performance

• Technical/functional procurement expertise, including sourcing, contracting, and ERP-based purchasing workflows

• Skills may be assessed based on proficiency level, reflecting the degree of knowledge, independence, complexity, and expertise required for the role

• Manage the full procure-to-pay cycle for assigned categories, including requisition review, sourcing, purchase order creation, order tracking, and issue resolution

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies, including RFQ/RFP processes, bid analysis, supplier selection, and award recommendations

• Negotiate pricing, lead times, service levels, payment terms, and contract conditions to achieve cost, quality, and delivery objectives

• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships; conduct performance reviews and drive corrective actions for quality, delivery, and service issues

• Partner with internal stakeholders (Operations, Engineering, Finance, Quality, and Legal) to align specifications, demand forecasts, and procurement plans

• Monitor market conditions, commodity trends, and supplier capacity to identify risks and opportunities; recommend mitigation plans and alternate sources

• Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies, ethical standards, and applicable regulatory requirements

• Analyze spend data and purchasing metrics to identify savings opportunities, process improvements, and standardization initiatives

• Support contract management activities, including maintaining documentation, tracking renewals, and ensuring adherence to negotiated terms

• Mentor and provide guidance to junior buyers and support continuous improvement of procurement processes and tools

• Performs additional responsibilities as assigned

• Manage the full procure-to-pay cycle for assigned categories, including requisition review, sourcing, purchase order creation, order tracking, and issue resolution

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies, including RFQ/RFP processes, bid analysis, supplier selection, and award recommendations

• Negotiate pricing, lead times, service levels, payment terms, and contract conditions to achieve cost, quality, and delivery objectives

• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships; conduct performance reviews and drive corrective actions for quality, delivery, and service issues

• Partner with internal stakeholders (Operations, Engineering, Finance, Quality, and Legal) to align specifications, demand forecasts, and procurement plans

• Monitor market conditions, commodity trends, and supplier capacity to identify risks and opportunities; recommend mitigation plans and alternate sources

• Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies, ethical standards, and applicable regulatory requirements

• Analyze spend data and purchasing metrics to identify savings opportunities, process improvements, and standardization initiatives

• Support contract management activities, including maintaining documentation, tracking renewals, and ensuring adherence to negotiated terms

• Mentor and provide guidance to junior buyers and support continuous improvement of procurement processes and tools

• Performs additional responsibilities as assigned