Sr Buyer

Job Description: Senior Buyer

Position Overview

The Senior Buyer is responsible for managing advanced procurement and purchasing activities, primarily across direct material categories, along with selected indirect spend categories within the assigned business unit.

This role ensures alignment with overall procurement objectives, strategies, and policies while collaborating closely with the Corporate Category Management team.

The Senior Buyer evaluates suppliers, develops competitive pricing strategies, negotiates commercial terms, and establishes product and service performance requirements. The position focuses on identifying strategic sourcing opportunities, maximizing cost savings, optimizing supply chain performance, and building strong supplier relationships while maintaining the highest ethical and compliance standards.

Key Responsibilities

1. Stakeholder Management & Alignment

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including R&D, Product Management, Plant Operations, Distribution Centers, and Category Management.

• Lead or participate in cross-functional teams to align procurement initiatives with business objectives.

• Analyze and recommend Make-or-Buy decisions, competitive bidding strategies, and engineering changes.

• Ensure site-level spending aligns with established sourcing strategies.

• Evaluate potential suppliers and identify opportunities for supplier consolidation and cost savings.

2. Strategic Sourcing & Procurement

• Execute corporate category strategies and develop local sourcing plans for plants, distribution centers, and office locations.

• Lead the complete sourcing lifecycle, including RFQs, supplier evaluations, negotiations, change management, and dispute resolution.

• Develop sourcing strategies that optimize cost, quality, delivery, and supplier performance.

• Support cost modeling, Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VA/VE), and Kaizen initiatives.

• Identify new suppliers, alternative sources of supply, and innovative procurement opportunities.

3. New Product Introduction (NPI)

• Lead sourcing and procurement activities supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) programs.

• Manage supplier selection, engagement, negotiations, and cost optimization to support successful product launches.

• Ensure materials and services are sourced on time and within established cost targets.

• Develop pricing strategies and Long-Term Agreements (LTAs) with suppliers.

• Drive year-over-year cost reductions and support product lifecycle management.

4. Contract Negotiation & Management

• Lead and participate in supplier negotiations involving pricing, delivery, quality, service, and contractual terms.

• Prepare, implement, and monitor supplier agreements to ensure compliance with company policies.

• Manage contract performance and resolve supplier-related delivery, quality, and service issues.

• Ensure contractual commitments and obligations are fulfilled.

5. Supplier Relationship & Performance Management

• Develop and maintain strategic supplier relationships.

• Monitor, evaluate, and continuously improve supplier performance.

• Maintain supplier performance metrics and contribute to supplier scorecards.

• Conduct supplier assessments, surveys, and site visits.

• Analyze supplier spending and recommend consolidation or redirection toward preferred suppliers.

• Maintain knowledge of supplier capabilities, product lines, contractual agreements, and transportation terms.

6. Trade Working Capital Management

• Negotiate favorable supplier payment terms.

• Support supplier enrollment in supply chain financing programs.

• Improve working capital through payment-term optimization and Vendor-Managed Inventory (VMI) programs.

7. Procurement Reporting & Data Analysis

• Analyze supplier data, supply market trends, product costs, and pricing information.

• Maintain accurate procurement records, metrics, and performance reports using business systems.

• Review monthly Purchase Price Variance (PPV) reports to track cost savings.

• Support standard cost development for assigned categories, plants, and distribution centers.

• Track procurement initiatives and report progress, business impact, and strategic recommendations to senior management.

8. Continuous Improvement

• Monitor supply market trends, procurement practices, and industry developments.

• Identify and recommend improvements to existing procurement processes and operational workflows.

• Support procurement transformation projects, business process improvements, and organizational initiatives.

• Participate in continuous improvement programs, including relevant health and safety initiatives.

9. Transactional Procurement & Compliance

• Process contracts in accordance with established delegation of authority guidelines.

• Ensure purchasing agreements comply with master agreements and preferred supplier arrangements.

• Resolve purchasing discrepancies by coordinating with Procure-to-Pay (P2P) teams, receiving departments, and internal stakeholders.

• Expedite critical and strategic supplier deliveries.

• Ensure compliance with procurement policies and business operating procedures.

10. Procurement Systems Support

• Assist stakeholders with procurement systems training and support.

• Maintain electronic catalog items and purchasing information.

• Ensure supplier agreements are properly maintained in document management systems.

11. Category Management & Development

• Participate in category management teams and provide technical and market insights.

• Connect supplier market knowledge with site-specific business requirements.

• Support Procurement Managers in developing strategic sourcing initiatives and category strategies.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor''s degree with a minimum of 6 years of procurement experience, including strategic sourcing, contract negotiations, and commodity management.

• Strong commercial awareness and business acumen.

• Excellent supplier negotiation and contract management skills.

• Knowledge of commercial contract terms and conditions.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.

• Strong influencing, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

• Demonstrated ability to identify and implement innovative procurement solutions.

• Experience driving cost savings and achieving procurement objectives through cross-functional collaboration.

• Strong project management, organizational, planning, and administrative skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities independently in a fast-paced environment.

• Demonstrated leadership and team collaboration capabilities.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and business systems.

• Familiarity with SAP is preferred.