Summary

The Senior Buyer is a seasoned supply chain expert who represents the company in sourcing, strategically selecting, and managing vendors. Their goal is to procure the highest quality products on time and within agreed terms, all under general supervision.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Use discretion and independent judgment to procure components, materials, and equipment that meet demand. Make decisions on economic order quantities, considering factors such as price, delivery costs, demand levels, timing, market trends, and potential for design changes or obsolescence.
• Align product deliveries to minimize inventory while ensuring production and service needs are met. Assess financial and schedule risks to recommend volume buys and other purchasing strategies.
• Perform market research to identify and evaluate vendors and suppliers, determining their viability to meet business needs. Assess vendor capabilities based on factory audits and performance, and make decisions to drive improvement.
• Manage the qualification and implementation of products from new suppliers by consulting with internal engineering, quality, and production teams.
• Negotiate cost reductions, mitigate cost increases, and ensure optimal terms using market data, technical understanding, and strategic methods to maximize benefits.
• Initiate projects to resource parts and recommend alternative designs or manufacturing methods for current parts and new design prototypes.
• Use quantitative skills and manufacturing expertise to perform detailed should-cost analysis of products, including analysis of component and raw material costs.
• Lead the resolution of supplier-related quality, design, or manufacturing issues with support from appropriate departments.
• Monitor ongoing supplier performance, provide feedback through a supplier scorecard, and drive the completion of corrective action reports for any quality or delivery issues.
• Review key purchasing drivers (lead time, safety stock, lot size) and identify areas for adjustment to meet current business needs.
• Provide leadership to junior-level buyers, coaching them on negotiation, should-cost analysis, and other relevant skills.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office is required.
• Must be a subject matter expert with a deep understanding of cost drivers and the technical aspects of product construction and usage.
• Ability to understand specifications and read blueprints.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills with suppliers and colleagues.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Travel requirement is 0-5%.
• Advanced knowledge of Excel a plus.
• SAP experience preferred.

Education

• A Bachelor's Degree (BA/BS/BFA/BSA) from a four-year college or university is required, along with additional relevant experience, training, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Preferred Majors within Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, & Engineering