Senior Buyer

Company Overview

Flow Control Group (FCG) is a leading provider of fluid handling, process, and industrial automation solutions across North America. As a 100% employee‑owned organization with over 2,000 team members and 95+ entrepreneurial brands, FCG combines local expertise with national strength to deliver innovative, customer‑focused solutions.

About the role

The Senior Buyer is responsible for sourcing and purchasing materials, components, fabricated products, and services that support the company’s manufacturing and distribution operations. The focus is on products and engineered solutions sold to data‑center customers, including air compressors, pumps, valves, piping systems, fabricated skids, and related equipment. The role works closely with Engineering, Operations, Sales, Quality, Inventory Management, and suppliers to ensure materials are available at the right cost, quality, and delivery performance.

Responsibilities

• Source and purchase air compressors, pumps, valves, piping components, fabricated skids, motors, controls, instrumentation, and related materials used in data‑center applications.
• Manage purchasing activities for both stocked distribution products and engineered‑to‑order manufacturing projects.
• Review customer requirements, bills of material, engineering drawings, specifications, and production schedules to determine material requirements.
• Issue requests for quotation, analyze supplier proposals, negotiate pricing and commercial terms, and issue purchase orders.
• Develop sourcing strategies that improve product availability, reduce total cost, shorten lead times, and strengthen supply‑chain continuity.
• Work with Engineering and Project Management to source technically compliant components for custom skid packages and integrated systems.
• Monitor purchase orders, supplier acknowledgments, production schedules, and delivery commitments to ensure timely receipt of materials.
• Identify potential material shortages, long‑lead‑time items, and supply risks before they affect customer delivery or manufacturing schedules.
• Maintain accurate purchasing data within the ERP system, including supplier information, pricing, lead times, order quantities, and delivery dates.
• Use ERP‑generated demand, inventory levels, forecasts, customer orders, and production requirements to make purchasing decisions.
• Balance inventory availability with working‑capital objectives, stocking policies, customer demand, and service‑level expectations.
• Negotiate supplier pricing, payment terms, freight terms, warranties, stocking agreements, and other commercial conditions.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with manufacturers, distributors, fabricators, and strategic supply partners.
• Evaluate supplier performance based on quality, delivery, cost, responsiveness, and technical capability.
• Participate in supplier business reviews, corrective‑action activities, and supplier‑development initiatives.
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance to resolve supplier nonconformances, defective materials, documentation issues, and corrective actions.
• Support cost‑reduction, value‑engineering, standardization, and supplier‑consolidation initiatives.
• Assist Sales and Estimating with supplier quotations, material costs, lead times, and sourcing strategies for data‑center opportunities.
• Ensure purchasing activities comply with company policies, contractual requirements, customer specifications, and applicable quality standards.
• Maintain appropriate purchasing documentation, supplier records, quotations, certifications, and audit trails.
• Perform other supply‑chain and purchasing responsibilities as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related discipline (required).
• Minimum of seven years of progressive purchasing, sourcing, or supply‑chain experience.
• Demonstrated purchasing experience within both manufacturing and distribution environments.
• Experience sourcing industrial equipment and components such as air compressors, pumps, valves, piping, controls, instrumentation, fabricated assemblies, or skid‑mounted systems (strongly preferred).
• Experience supporting data‑center, mission‑critical infrastructure, industrial construction, mechanical systems, or engineered‑project customers (preferred).
• Experience purchasing materials for engineered‑to‑order, configured‑to‑order, or project‑based manufacturing operations (preferred).

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Strong working knowledge of ERP, MRP, purchasing, inventory‑management, and material‑planning systems.
• Ability to use ERP data to evaluate demand, supply, inventory, lead times, safety stock, open orders, and material availability.
• Understanding of purchasing principles, strategic sourcing, supplier management, contract terms, and total cost of ownership.
• Ability to read and interpret bills of material, technical specifications, engineering drawings, and product documentation.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, suppliers, and projects simultaneously.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to work effectively across Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, Distribution, Quality, Finance, and Project Management.
• Strong sense of urgency and ability to respond to changing customer and production requirements.
• Knowledge of data‑center mechanical infrastructure and mission‑critical equipment (highly desirable).

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional certification such as CPSM, CPIM, CSCP, or CPM.
• Experience with supplier scorecards, contract negotiations, cost modeling, and commodity strategies.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and inventory‑optimization principles.
• Familiarity with quality systems, supplier corrective actions, inspection requirements, and material certifications.
• Experience working with domestic and international suppliers.
• Knowledge of freight, logistics, import requirements, and Incoterms.

Benefits

• Employee ownership program that extends to every team member across the portfolio.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
• Competitive 401(k) matching program.
• Paid time off, holidays, and parental leave.
• Employee referral program.
• Access to FCG University – over 80,000 training courses.
• Career growth opportunities through a network of 100+ brands, mentorship, and custom training programs.