Sr. Strategic NPI Buyer
Primary Function of Position
The Senior Strategic NPI Buyer, New Products Supply Chain, will support the introduction and launch of new products by managing supply chain activities from concept to commercialization. This role collaborates cross-functionally with R&D, manufacturing, procurement, logistics, and commercial teams to ensure successful product launches and optimize supply chain processes for new product development.
Key Responsibilities
Manage procurement of direct materials and coordinate strategic sourcing initiatives to support New Product Introductions (NPI).
Effectively track and manage purchase orders, delivery commitments, and ramp-up timelines for new products.
Partner closely with engineering, strategic sourcing, and supplier engineering teams to align supplier capabilities with product design and commercialization objectives.
Maintain optimal inventory levels for production continuity.
Evaluate, develop, and optimize supplier capabilities. Expand supply sources as necessary in collaboration with strategic sourcing and supplier engineering.
Monitor cost, capacity, and delivery schedules to ensure on-time availability of materials for production.
Track purchase price variances and contribute to cost reduction initiatives.
Support risk identification and mitigation utilizing SCRM tools; manage supplier involvement in engineering change orders to minimize disruptions.
Prepare supplier scorecards, participate in supplier business reviews, and lead quoting activities to drive supply chain optimization.
Conduct market research to identify and qualify appropriate suppliers for various commodities and manufacturing processes.
Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree (BS) or equivalent in supply chain, business, engineering, or related field.
Experience: 5+ years of NPI purchasing and supply chain experience in a regulated manufacturing environment (medical device industry preferred).
Technical Skills: Proficient in MS Office (Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel including VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, Charts), ERP systems (preferably SAP, Agile), and BOM structures.
Supply Chain Knowledge: Hands-on experience in strategic buying, material planning, master scheduling, and demand forecasting.
Project Management: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and achieve challenging objectives in a fast-paced environment.
Preferred Qualifications
Interpersonal Skills: Strong influencing skills without direct authority; proven ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams.
Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with ability to deliver information at both strategic and tactical levels.
Experience in medical devices or other highly regulated manufacturing industries.
Advanced knowledge of supplier development, strategic sourcing, and new product introduction processes.
Familiarity with SCRM (Supply Chain Risk Management) tools and supplier quality systems.
APICS or similar supply chain certification.