Job Title: Senior Buyer

Job Description

The SR Buyer plays a critical role in maintaining and enhancing the day-to-day relationships with various internal departments and suppliers. This position focuses on quality, delivery, and cost processes within assigned commodities. Regular communication with engineering, planning, and warehouse teams is essential to ensure the seamless transition between new product production and daily purchasing tasks.

Responsibilities

• Assist in Purchasing transition between new product production.
• Ensure timely execution of day-to-day purchasing department tasks.
• Lead daily purchasing meetings focused on parts issues, quality concerns, supplier issues, and process changes.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain Manager on cost reduction, inventory reduction, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Participate in Engineering Change Orders (ECO) process from initiation to production line through completion.
• Coordinate with Engineering to resolve system and Bill of Materials (BOM) issues.
• Identify problem areas, initiate corrective actions, and establish resolution dates.
• Mentor and support continued education and training of lower-level buyers.
• Issue purchase orders and ensure material delivery in optimal quantities and at the right time, maintaining high quality standards.
• Work with suppliers to mitigate delivery issues that could disrupt the production line.
• Communicate delivery issues to other departments as necessary.
• Resolve and justify all purchase price variances (PPV).
• Collaborate with Quality department to resolve First Article (FA) and Project related supplier issues.
• Support other buyers with challenging requests and quotes.
• Recommend planning parameters based on lead time, EOQ, and MOQ.
• Provide direct support to Customer Service and Production teams.
• Act as backup for Supply Chain Manager as needed.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience as a Sr Buyer.
• 7 years of experience in purchasing and acquisition.
• 3 years of experience in Manufacturing.
• 3 years of experience in New Product Introduction.
• 3 years of experience in Engineering Change Orders (ECO).
• Experience with various commodity sourcing.
• Familiarity with technical data sheets, material data sheets, and part drawings.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Team building and analytical skills.
• Proven negotiation skills for positive supplier relationships.
• Ability to problem solve complex issues and make effective decisions.
• Proficient computer skills, including MS Office applications and purchasing/accounting processes.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Ability to manage multiple priorities concurrently and efficiently.
• Must be able to sit for long periods at a computer workstation.
• Occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment includes collaboration with Sales, Accounting, Supply Chain, and some Engineering teams. The role requires working closely with engineering teams to navigate ECOs and NPIs, with daily meetings. Regular communication with planning and warehouse teams is essential for material updates and lead times. The department consists of five buyers, with a Planning and Inventory team reporting to the Materials Manager. The Supply Chain Team includes 12 members. The position involves flexible hours and some mandatory nightly meetings.