Senior Buyer

Job Summary

This role is responsible for leading advanced sourcing, contract manufacturing, and supplier development work while also handling assigned purchasing categories. It plays an important part in supporting the company’s outsourcing strategy by finding, evaluating, and growing manufacturing suppliers, backing new product launches, strengthening supplier performance, and broadening outsourced manufacturing capability. The Senior Buyer will also remain an active contributor to the Purchasing team by owning day-to-day purchasing duties and helping drive sourcing and outsourcing efforts.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee assigned purchasing categories through MRP review, supplier coordination, inventory planning, and purchase order administration.
• Drive sourcing and outsourcing programs for machined parts and other manufactured items, with a focus on improving cost, lead time, quality, capacity, and operational efficiency through contract manufacturing.
• Partner with Design Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering to identify, assess, qualify, and develop manufacturing suppliers for new products, production transfers, outsourcing projects, and continuous improvement work.
• Lead negotiations on pricing, commercial terms, and long-term supply agreements.
• Track supplier results and collaborate with Quality and suppliers to address delivery, quality, capacity, and performance concerns, including participation in audits and supplier development efforts.
• Coach and assist Buyers and other Purchasing team members with sourcing, supplier development, and contract manufacturing activities.
• Support routine purchasing work, requisitions, outside processing, and other departmental tasks during peak workload periods or when business needs change.
• Travel to supplier sites as needed for evaluations, audits, development work, project support, and relationship management.
• Support the Supply Chain Manager with strategic sourcing, supplier development, outsourcing initiatives, special projects, and other assigned responsibilities.

Requirements

• A minimum of five years of increasing responsibility in purchasing, sourcing, or supply chain work within a manufacturing setting is required; a bachelor’s degree is preferred.
• Prior experience sourcing machined components and working with a range of manufacturing processes is required.
• Hands-on experience with machining, casting, forging, molding, stamping, heat treating, plating, anodizing, or similar methods is strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to identify, qualify, and develop manufacturing suppliers.
• Strong skills in negotiation, analysis, communication, and project management.
• Comfort using ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Office tools; familiarity with Infor Syteline is an advantage.
• Ability to work independently while also partnering effectively with Purchasing, Engineering, Quality, Planning, Manufacturing, and Operations teams.
• Good judgment, a strong work ethic, and a willingness to support departmental priorities as business needs evolve.

Additional Information

Management may change or reassign duties and responsibilities for this position at any time.

Equal employment opportunity is provided, including consideration regardless of disability or veteran status.