Location
Winston-Salem, NC (In Office)
Type
Full Time
Job Description
The Senior Buyer is responsible for strategic procurement activities that support manufacturing operations. This role manages high-value supplier relationships, participates in the negotiation of contracts, mitigates supply chain risk, and drives continuous cost improvement initiatives. The Senior Buyer serves as a procurement subject matter expert, mentors Buyers, and partners with cross-functional teams to ensure uninterrupted production while achieving quality, delivery, inventory, and cost objectives.
Key Responsibilities:
- Purchase high value or technically complex materials, production components, and indirect materials to support manufacturing operations.
- Review material requirements generated through the ERP/MRP system and issue purchase orders accordingly.
- Monitor supplier deliveries to ensure on-time receipt of materials and proactively resolve shortages or delays.
- Maintain optimal inventory levels while minimizing excess and obsolete inventory.
- Communicate with suppliers regarding order confirmations, schedule changes, quality issues, and corrective actions for purchase orders placed.
- Participate in supplier performance reviews by monitoring quality, delivery, responsiveness, and cost metrics.
- Identify opportunities for cost savings, inventory reduction, and process improvements.
- Participate in negotiations for pricing, contracts, payment terms, lead times, and long-term supply agreements.
- Manage strategic supplier relationships to improve quality, cost, delivery, innovation, and service performance.
- Provide rolling forecasts to strategic suppliers to avoid material disruptions.
- Partner with Planning and Operations to manage supply disruptions, inventory optimization, and production continuity.
- Monitor supplier financial stability and notify Director of Sourcing to develop contingency plans to minimize business risk.
- Mentor Buyers by providing guidance on negotiations, supplier management, and procurement best practices.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives that streamline procurement processes and improve operational efficiency.
- Ensure compliance with purchasing policies, contractual obligations, quality standards, and applicable regulations.
- Assist Accounting with invoice resolution as needed.
- Prepare purchasing reports and present supplier performance, savings initiatives, and procurement metrics to leadership.
Experience & Qualifications:
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
- 7–10 years of procurement or strategic sourcing experience within a manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated track record of negotiating supplier contracts and managing strategic relationships.
- Advanced knowledge of manufacturing supply chains, procurement best practices, and ERP/MRP systems.
- Strong financial and business acumen, with the ability to analyze total cost of ownership and supplier performance metrics.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
Preferred
- Certifications such as APICS (CPIM/CSCP) or CPSM/CPM.
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience managing global suppliers and international sourcing.
- Proficiency in advanced Microsoft Excel or other procurement analytics tools.