Senior Buyer

Key Responsibilities

• Review and analyze material buy lists, MRP requirements, production schedules, and inventory needs to determine purchasing priorities.
• Place, track, expedite, and reschedule purchase orders to support production requirements and customer commitments.
• Cook up purchasing activities with Program Management, Planning, Production, Engineering, Quality, Sales, and Finance.
• Coordinate purchasing activities with Program Management, Planning, Production, Engineering, Quality, Sales, and Finance.
• Process purchase requisitions, purchase change orders, and requests for quote from approved suppliers.
• Gather quotations, review bids, evaluate pricing, and make purchasing recommendations or awards.
• Negotiate pricing, delivery, lead times, and other purchasing terms with suppliers.
• Maintain inventory at planned levels using sound purchasing practices, including just-in-time purchasing and economic order quantity planning.
• Monitor supplier performance related to cost, quality, delivery, responsiveness, and overall reliability.
• Resolve receiving issues, supplier discrepancies, customer-related material issues, and AP/AR discrepancies in a timely and professional manner.
• Work with suppliers to address shortages, late deliveries, nonconforming material, and other production-impacting issues.
• Ensure material standards are met and that nonconformances, substitutions, or variances are properly reviewed and approved.
• Identify and recommend cost-saving opportunities, alternate sourcing options, and make-versus-buy recommendations.
• Evaluate supplier competitiveness and develop new supply sources when needed.
• Support quote table maintenance, supplier database accuracy, part parameter updates, error report analysis, and supplier/part number information.
• Monitor assigned subcontractors and suppliers to ensure performance meets cost, schedule, quality, and scope requirements.
• Aid Sales, Program Management, and leadership with pricing support and contract negotiations as needed.
• Provide accurate, prompt, professional, and courteous service to internal and external customers.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• A strong understanding of purchasing, supply chain, and material planning processes in a manufacturing environment.
• A working knowledge of contract manufacturing and electronics/PCBA manufacturing preferred.
• The ability to read and interpret material requirements, purchase reports, supplier quotes, and production schedules.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• The ability to work independently with minimal day-to-day direction.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• A strong attention to detail and follow-through.
• The ability to work under pressure and respond quickly to production and customer needs.
• Strong communication skills with suppliers, internal teams, and management.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, with strong Excel skills required.
• The ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English.