MRO Buyer

About the role

As an MRO Buyer at KARL STORZ, you will serve as a critical procurement partner supporting operations across assigned locations. You will manage supplier relationships, oversee purchasing activities for indirect goods and services, and drive sourcing, cost savings, and process improvement initiatives. This role collaborates closely with cross-functional teams including Operations, Facilities, Quality, Receiving, Warehouse, Finance, and Compliance to ensure continuity of supply, data integrity, supplier performance, and efficient procurement processes that support business objectives.

This position is on-site five days a week at our Auburn, MA location, with occasional travel to other KARL STORZ facilities and supplier locations as needed.

Responsibilities

• Manage procurement activities for indirect materials, services, MRO purchases, and capital expenditures across assigned business areas.
• Review and process purchase requisitions, create and maintain purchase orders, and ensure accuracy of pricing, delivery dates, freight terms, project codes, and other key purchasing data.
• Build and manage supplier relationships, serving as the primary point of contact for assigned suppliers and spend categories.
• Lead sourcing initiatives, supplier evaluations, supplier onboarding activities, and supplier performance reviews to ensure quality, service, and cost objectives are achieved.
• Drive cost savings and continuous improvement projects through spend analysis, supplier negotiations, inventory strategies, and process optimization.
• Monitor inventory levels, support replenishment planning, and help ensure continuity of supply for assigned products and services.
• Resolve supplier, pricing, delivery, quality, and invoice discrepancies while partnering with internal stakeholders to support operational needs.
• Maintain purchasing master data, approved supplier records, vendor documentation, and procurement reporting to support compliance and business decision-making.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 2+ years of purchasing, procurement, supply chain, inventory planning, or related business experience.
• Experience working with ERP/MRP systems such as SAP.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and Word.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate across multiple departments.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-motivated, results-oriented approach with strong time management skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 4+ years of purchasing or procurement experience.
• Experience within the medical device, healthcare, manufacturing, or regulated industry environment.
• Advanced Excel capabilities including data analysis, reporting, and dashboard development.
• Experience with Tableau or other business intelligence and reporting tools.
• Knowledge of ISO 13485, supplier quality systems, and regulated procurement environments.
• Experience leading supplier onboarding, vendor master data activities, and supplier compliance initiatives.

What will make you successful

• Ability to build trusted partnerships with suppliers and internal stakeholders across multiple business functions.
• Strong commercial mindset with the ability to evaluate supplier proposals, negotiate effectively, and identify cost savings opportunities.
• Proven ability to independently solve problems and make sound purchasing decisions within established policies and spending authority guidelines.
• Continuous improvement mindset focused on increasing efficiency, improving data integrity, and enhancing procurement processes.
• Strong customer-service orientation with a collaborative and helpful approach when supporting business partners.
• Ability to balance tactical execution with strategic sourcing and supplier management responsibilities while maintaining high accuracy and compliance standards.