Senior Buyer (Industrial | Manufacturing)

Job Overview

The Senior Buyer is responsible for leading and executing purchasing and sourcing activities for engineered components, materials, and services in a discrete manufacturing environment. This role requires a hands-on, results-driven procurement professional who can actively manage day-to-day buying activities while providing functional leadership to a small purchasing team. The position plays a key role in supplier management, cost control, and supply continuity for precision-engineered and made-to-print products.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end purchasing and sourcing activities in support of production, engineering, and operational requirements.

• Act as a hands-on doer-leader, directly placing purchase orders while supervising and supporting one purchasing team member.

• Establish, manage, and maintain blanket purchase orders to support production planning and inventory efficiency.

• Negotiate pricing, lead times, delivery schedules, and payment terms to achieve optimal commercial and operational outcomes.

• Source and procure engineered, made-to-print components based on drawings, specifications, and technical requirements.

• Partner closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Planning, and Quality teams to ensure alignment with design, production, and delivery needs.

• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure quality, reliability, and continuity of supply.

• Monitor supplier performance and resolve issues related to cost, quality, delivery, and responsiveness.

• Support cost-reduction, supplier rationalization, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Ensure procurement activities comply with internal policies, quality standards, and ethical sourcing practices.

Qualifications and Experience

• Proven experience in purchasing, sourcing, or procurement at a senior, supervisory, or managerial level.

• Strong background in discrete manufacturing, preferably involving engineered or made-to-print products.

• Demonstrated experience managing blanket orders and negotiating pricing, lead times, and payment terms.

• Hands-on procurement expertise combined with the ability to lead and develop a small team.

• Strong negotiation, analytical, and communication skills.

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, technically driven manufacturing environment.