Lead Buyer

Under limited supervision, this role partners with internal stakeholders to understand business requirements and manage the process for evaluating, pricing, and competitively sourcing goods and services. The position tracks and supports complex contractual transactions, ensures timely and accurate execution of agreements prepared by FINRA's Commercial Transactions Group, and partners with the Asset Management team to ensure optimal lifecycle management of FINRA's physical assets.

Responsibilities

• Sourcing & Negotiation
  • Identifies and evaluates potential suppliers.
  • Partners closely with internal business customers on assigned end-to-end RFx, selection, and procurement processes, ensuring business needs are understood and executes sourcing activities to meet their needs; oversees competitive bid process.
  • Drafts, reviews, and conducts negotiations to establish favorable contracts, pricing terms, and agreements with vendors to maximize value and minimize risk.
• Procurement Process Management
  • Manages the full purchase cycle (requests for proposals to purchase orders), ensuring compliance with strict adherence to FINRA's procurement policies, applicable regulatory requirements, and budgetary constraints.
  • Manages the competitive bid process.
  • Proactively identifies, recommends, and implements improvements in procurement processes and vendor management strategies.
  • Partners with legal and technology teams to coordinate integration between procurement and contract management systems.
• Supplier Relationship Management
  • Develops and maintains relationships with key suppliers to ensure quality, cost, and delivery standards are met.
  • Collaborates with Supplier Management on review and evaluation of suppliers’ performance.
  • Monitors and tracks contract lifecycle of suppliers, initiating timely, value-add activities in renewal, replacement, and terminations of contracts.
  • Collaborates with legal and compliance teams on contract reviews and risk assessments.
• Analysis & Cost Control
  • Monitors market trends and commodity pricing to identify cost-saving opportunities and prepares budgetary reports.
  • Analyzes spending patterns and identifies cost-saving opportunities within assigned business customers.
• Additional Responsibilities
  • Demonstrates FINRA’s values.
  • Collaborates, both in-person and virtually, in furtherance of FINRA’s mission of investor protection and market integrity.
  • Provides guidance and training to junior team members.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, supply chain management, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of hands-on procurement or strategic sourcing experience, preferably in financial services or regulatory environments.
• Demonstrated experience executing end-to-end sourcing projects independently.
• Highly skilled in negotiation, contract management, and vendor relations.
• Proficiency with large ERP systems and integrated supplier and procurement business processes. Workday experience a plus.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management abilities.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of financial industry regulations and compliance requirements preferred.
• Professional procurement certification (CPSM, CPM, CPIM, or equivalent) preferred.
• Formal project management training or certification (PMP, CAPM, etc.) preferred.

Working Conditions

Hybrid work environment, with defined in-person presence requirements.

Pay

• CO/FL/TX: Minimum Salary $97,700, Maximum Salary $176,100
• IL/PA: Minimum Salary $107,500, Maximum Salary $194,100
• MA/MD/VA/Washington, DC: Minimum Salary $112,300, Maximum Salary $202,500
• NY/NJ: Minimum Salary $112,300, Maximum Salary $211,400

In addition to location, actual compensation is based on various factors, including but not limited to, the candidate’s skill set, level of experience, education, and market considerations. Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Non-exempt employees are also eligible for overtime pay in accordance with federal, state, or local law.

Benefits

• Health and Insurance
  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Basic life, accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
  • Supplemental life, spouse/domestic partner and dependent life insurance.
  • Spouse/domestic partner and dependent accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
  • Short- and long-term disability insurance.
  • Long-term care insurance.
  • Business travel accident insurance.
  • Legal insurance.
• Retirement
  • Immediate participation and vesting in a 401(k) plan with company match.
  • Eligibility for participation in an additional FINRA-funded retirement contribution.
• Wellness and Other Benefits
  • Tuition reimbursement.
  • Commuter benefits.
  • Adoption assistance.
  • Backup family care.
  • Surrogacy benefits.
  • Employee assistance and wellness programs.
• Time Off and Paid Leave
  • 15 days of paid time off, 5 personal days, and 9 sick days (all pro-rated in the first year).
  • 2 volunteer service days (based on full-time schedule).
  • Military leave, jury duty leave, bereavement leave, voting and election official leave.
  • Care of a family member leave (available after 90 days of employment).
  • Childbirth and parental leave (available after 90 days of employment).
  • 9 paid holidays (based on full-time schedule).

FINRA’s Code of Conduct imposes restrictions on employees’ investments and requires financial disclosures that are uniquely related to our role as a securities regulator. Employees are required to disclose to FINRA all brokerage accounts and comply with investment restrictions.