Supply Assurance Buyer

About the role

This Supply Assurance Buyer II position supports the Richmond Chemical Plant, which produces process chromatography resins, liquid buffers, monomer solutions, oils, and other specialized life‑science products. The plant manages over 3,000 SKUs and complex batch production processes across multiple work centers. The buyer is an integral part of the Manufacturing Group, collaborating with planning, production, quality control, manufacturing engineering, and warehouse teams to ensure uninterrupted material flow for production and customer demand.

Responsibilities

• Review supplier communications and ERP signals; address urgent chemical shortages.
• Escalate supply issues and coordinate with manufacturing function teams.
• Create purchase requisitions, monitor open purchase orders, and validate supplier commitments.
• Proactively mitigate risks through follow‑ups and contingency planning.
• Support long‑term initiatives such as dual sourcing, supplier performance tracking, and inventory optimization.
• Place purchase orders for goods and services needed in support of manufacturing.
• Manage supplier relationships to optimize supply‑chain efficiency.
• Monitor inventory/stock levels to meet production and inventory goals.
• Issue material purchase orders to support production schedules.
• Identify and resolve potential supply problems.
• Actively manage workflow in the SAP system.
• Resolve invoice discrepancies to minimize overdue invoices and ensure supply availability.
• Evaluate stocking levels and adjust to meet business needs.
• Ensure products/services are delivered on time and meet quality standards.
• Work with the scheduling team to process expedites as necessary.
• Introduce and manage efficiencies through effective purchasing practices.
• Participate in supplier audits and business reviews.
• Comply with commercial certification programs and applicable safety requirements.
• Maintain files and records related to purchasing activities.
• Process RTVs (return to vendor) for non‑conforming material.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 1–3 years of experience in purchasing or production planning.
• Experience expediting and issuing purchase orders.
• Coursework toward CPM and/or CPIM certification is preferred.
• Full knowledge and application of purchasing/materials principles and theories.

Skills

• Proficiency with Microsoft Windows, Teams, and Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Experience with SAP (preferred).

Legal Entity

Bio‑Rad Laboratories, Inc.