Senior Buyer

Position Responsibilities

• Manage the procurement of raw materials, outside processing, and purchased services to support manufacturing operations across multiple facilities while balancing cost, quality, and delivery performance.
• Develop and maintain strong supplier partnerships by managing vendor performance, pricing, contract negotiations, new supplier qualification, supplier transitions, and ongoing relationship improvements.
• Create, release, maintain, and expedite purchase orders while ensuring accurate delivery commitments and timely communication with suppliers to support production schedules.
• Maintain inventory levels, safety stock, supplier-managed inventory (VMI), and replenishment strategies to ensure material availability while minimizing excess and obsolete inventory.
• Monitor supplier quality, delivery performance, purchase price variance, and supply chain risks. Lead supplier issue resolution related to quality, pricing, documentation, shortages, and delivery interruptions.
• Maintain purchasing parameters, supplier data, inventory settings, and master data within the Epicor ERP system to support accurate planning, purchasing, and reporting.
• Partner closely with Engineering, Planning, Manufacturing, Program Management, and Quality to coordinate material priorities, engineering changes, new product introductions (NPI), and production schedules.
• Identify opportunities to improve procurement processes, supplier performance, inventory optimization, and purchasing efficiency while supporting Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Track and analyze purchasing KPIs including supplier on-time delivery, purchase price variance, inventory levels, supplier quality, past due purchase orders, and inventory turns to drive informed business decisions.
• Support Quality and Engineering by coordinating customer flow-down requirements, technical documentation, vendor certifications, and supplier compliance to meet customer and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of purchasing or supply chain experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing procurement for complex manufacturing operations.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems; Epicor experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of purchasing, inventory management, supplier performance, forecasting, and material planning.
• Experience negotiating supplier pricing, contracts, and long-term supply agreements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to make data-driven decisions.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to build relationships across all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated project management experience with the ability to lead initiatives from concept through implementation.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Strong negotiation, customer service, and relationship management skills.
• Ability to travel approximately 5–10%.
• Must meet ITAR requirements by qualifying as a U.S. Person.
• Preferred Skills & Experience:
• APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM).
• Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) or similar procurement certification.
• Experience working within Aerospace, Medical Device, Defense, or other highly regulated manufacturing industries.
• Experience working with Epicor ERP.
• Experience purchasing precision machined components, metals, mechanical components, or manufacturing services.
• Experience with Supplier Managed Inventory (VMI), Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning (SIOP), and inventory optimization.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.