The Buyer I is responsible for purchasing execution for assigned product lines, from requisition review and purchase order placement through delivery and discrepancy resolution. This role evaluates demand, inventory, lead times, and supplier requirements to balance material availability with inventory and spending objectives. The Buyer I maintains accurate purchasing records, monitors supplier commitments, proactively communicates supply risks, and coordinates with internal teams and suppliers to resolve issues. Additional responsibilities include supporting negotiations, procurement strategies, engineering changes, new product launches, returns, and invoice reconciliation; managing the MRO purchasing inbox; and recommending practical process improvements.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Own purchasing execution for assigned product lines, including requisition review, purchase order placement, supplier acknowledgment, delivery follow-up, and discrepancy resolution.
- Evaluate demand, inventory availability, open purchase orders, lead times, and minimum order quantities to determine appropriate order quantities and delivery schedules.
- Balance material availability with inventory and spending objectives; identify opportunities to adjust delivery timing or quantities as business needs change.
- Obtain and maintain supplier commitments, monitor progress against agreed schedules, and promptly address missed milestones or delivery changes.
- Proactively communicate material shortages and supply risks to affected teams, including business impact, recovery actions, and support needed.
- Maintain accurate purchase order dates, quantities, pricing, and supplier commitments in the ERP system.
- Assist with pricing and delivery negotiations, supplier selection, and supplier management within established purchasing guidelines.
- Support implementation of procurement strategies, including supplier consolidation, kanban, vendor-managed inventory (VMI), and identification of alternative supply sources.
- Coordinate with Planning, Operations, Quality, Engineering, and suppliers to resolve issues affecting material availability and order completion.
- Support engineering change orders and resolution of nonconformances and receiving discrepancies.
- Support new product development and launch activities by purchasing raw materials, components, and instruments for prototypes, pilot production, and initial launch requirements.
- Assist with return-to-vendor (RTV) activities and reconciliation.
- Work with Accounts Payable to resolve invoice discrepancies and supplier billing disputes.
- Manage the maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) purchasing inbox, ensuring requests are reviewed, routed, and addressed in a timely manner.
- Identify recurring purchasing issues and recommend practical process improvements.
- Perform other duties as assigned.