Sr Buyer Specialist

Position Summary

This role is responsible for leading strategic sourcing and purchasing activities to ensure the timely, cost‑effective, and high‑quality supply of direct and indirect materials, components, equipment, and services essential to business operations.

The Senior Buyer will play a critical role in supplier selection, commercial negotiations, contract administration, and procurement execution, while driving supplier performance, cost optimization, risk mitigation, and operational continuity. This position requires strong cross‑functional collaboration with operations, engineering, planning, quality, and supply chain teams to support business objectives and continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Monitor supplier performance related to quality, cost, service, and delivery, and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Develop and maintain alternative sourcing strategies to reduce supply risk and enhance supplier competitiveness.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to resolve supply chain disruptions, quality issues, engineering changes, and supplier‑related challenges.
• Support cost reduction initiatives, supplier development programs, and procurement process improvements.
• Participate in cross‑functional projects focused on operational efficiency, supply continuity, and strategic sourcing excellence.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procurement procedures, and applicable industry and regulatory requirements.
• Identify and recommend suppliers by investigating potential suppliers, researching parts, equipment, machinery, services, and materials availability. Develop potential bidder list and initiate formal requests for quotation or proposal.
• Evaluate bids for standard and non‑standard items. Select suppliers for a variety of moderately complex or technical materials, supplies or services and negotiate price, delivery, quality, and service. Develop alternate sources of supply by identifying and researching prospective suppliers.
• Monitor and evaluate supplier performance. Advise appropriate personnel of impending supplier failure to fulfill contractual agreements that may delay production or delivery. Resolve shipment quality discrepancies by mediating supplier/manufacturing issues. Facilitate inspections, substitutions, and standardization by arranging and participating in conferences between suppliers and company personnel.
• Negotiate and settle damage claims, rejections, losses, return of materials, over‑shipments, cancellations, and engineering changes with suppliers.
• Prepare moderately complex reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends. Provide parts, equipment, and materials information by answering questions and requests.
• Apply continuous improvement techniques and methods to internal processes and systems to increase efficiency and customer service and to reduce costs.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing trade publications, establishing networks, and/or participating in professional associations.
• Share specialized knowledge with others. Represent company on specific projects. Mentor new employees. Contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed. Work assignments may include cross‑functional or project team responsibilities (e.g., continuous improvement).

Qualifications

• 2 – 4 years of experience in purchasing with progressively increasing responsibilities.
• Certifications as CPM or APICS desired.
• Knowledge of purchasing methods, principles, and contract negotiation concepts.
• Understanding of industry practices and policies.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements.
• Ability to apply continuous improvement techniques.
• High English proficiency.
• Knowledge in standard business application software and specialized purchasing materials system.
• Essential competencies
  • Strong communication skills
  • Data driven decision making
  • Strong negotiation skills
  • Problem solving
  • Adaptability
  • Client oriented