Sr. Buyer

Working at Watlow

Watlow is a global technology and manufacturing leader who provides world class engineering expertise through innovative thermal products and systems, enabling our customers to thrive. We are making a positive impact every day as our solutions enrich the lives of people everywhere. We have been providing breakthrough thermal solutions for over 100 years! Our corporate values guide us uncompromisingly to always do the right thing, continually learn and improve, respect everyone, and lead with service and humility.

At Watlows Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Hannibal, Missouri, we combine precision manufacturing with forward-thinking innovation. Part of a global thermal solutions leader founded in 1922, our Hannibal facility is a critical hub for high-performance manufacturing, engineering, and operational excellence.

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We are hiring a: Senior Buyer

Hannibal, Missouri

Watlow is seeking a Senior Buyer who will manage day-to-day purchasing for an assigned product line and help drive cost-down and supplier improvement initiatives. This individual will place and track purchase orders, own supplier relationships, negotiate cost and terms, and keep a close eye on material availability so production and project schedules stay on track. They will work closely with Engineering, Quality, Operations, Planning, Finance, and Logistics to ensure continuity of supply, improve supplier performance, reduce costs, and manage supply chain risk. The ideal candidate brings strong negotiation skills, hands-on purchasing experience, and the follow-through to resolve supply issues before they impact the business.

What youll do:

• Purchasing & order management: Place, expedite, and track purchase orders for assigned materials and components against production and project schedules, and work MRP/ERP requisitions and exception messages including shortages, late orders, and past-due purchase orders.
• Supply risk monitoring: Monitor supplier lead times, safety stock, and open-order backlogs to identify and mitigate supply risks, and keep Planning and Management informed on open orders, past-due items, and emerging issues.
• Supplier relationship management: Own supplier relationships for assigned commodities, negotiate pricing, lead times, and terms, and support supplier onboarding, qualification, performance reviews, and corrective actions.
• Issue resolution: Resolve supplier delivery, quality, invoice, receiving, and material discrepancies, and manage supplier engineering changes, obsolescence, and end-of-life notifications.
• Cost reduction: Identify and lead cost-reduction opportunities through negotiations, re-sourcing, volume consolidation, and design-for-cost initiatives, and track committed and realized savings against cost-down targets.
• Strategic sourcing: Lead or support RFQ/RFP activities, conduct should-cost analysis and benchmarking to set negotiation targets, evaluate total cost of ownership, and qualify alternate and second-source suppliers. Support annual price negotiations and contract renewals.
• Engineering partnership: Partner with Engineering on new part introductions, BOM changes, ECOs, and Value Engineering/Value Analysis (VE/VA) opportunities to ensure supply continuity and lower cost.
• Logistics & trade compliance: Coordinate incoming freight shipments with Logistics, Trade Compliance, and Engineering, and support accurate HTS classifications and required import/export documentation.
• Data accuracy: Maintain accurate supplier and item master data in the ERP system.
• Continuous improvement & mentorship: Participate in Lean and continuous improvement activities and serve as a subject matter expert and mentor within the purchasing function.

What youll need to succeed?

• 3+ years of purchasing, procurement, sourcing, or related supply chain experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Strong experience with supplier management, purchasing, negotiation, and material planning
• Experience with MRP/ERP systems and Microsoft Excel
• Strong analytical, negotiation, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills
• Excellent communication, organization, follow-up, and customer service skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and build effective internal and external relationships
• Ability to travel occasionally within the state

Preferred qualifications:

• Bachelors degree
• Relevant certification such as APICS (CPIM, CSCP, CFPIM), ISM (CPM, CPSM, CSM), or equivalent
• Lean certification
• Project management and leadership experience

Benefits: The Watlow Total Compensation Plan

The health, well-being and financial stability of you and your family is a high priority to us.The Watlow Total Rewards Plan includes competitive compensation and a full range of life and career enhancing benefits:

• Annual Incentive Program
• 401(k) plan that includes a company match on your contribution and an annual company contribution that is tied to company performance
• Wellness incentives
• Employee Personal Assistance Program
• Dental, medical, vision and short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Paid holidays, personal time, and vacation
• Parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement

Diversity & Inclusion

We proactively embrace diversity in all its dimensions across our company and cultivate a culture of inclusion and forward thinking that respects and reflects each team member's individual strengths, views, and experiences. Watlow takes pride in being an inclusive equal opportunity employer and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Please let us know confidentially if you need or require any special accommodations to participate in our recruiting process by emailing us at accommodations@Watlow.com.