Senior Buyer

The Senior Buyer is a hands-on procurement leader responsible for managing day-to-day purchasing activities while providing functional leadership and oversight to the buying team. This role combines active buying responsibility for key commodities and suppliers with mentorship, prioritization, and execution accountability for the broader purchasing function. The Senior Buyer plays a critical role in ensuring material availability, cost control, supplier performance, and inventory optimization in a manufacturing environment.

The position ensures that Whitney Blake’s available goods can satisfy the demands of customers as well as the sales of the company.

• Execute purchase orders for assigned commodities, suppliers, and critical components
• Manage PO lifecycle: creation, acknowledgment, changes, expediting, and closure
• Ensure on-time delivery to support production schedules
• Monitor inventory levels, lead times, and demand signals (MRP, min/max, Kanban)
• Resolve shortages, past-due POs, and supplier performance issues
• Support NPI, engineering changes, and sourcing transitions
• Lead price, lead-time, and commercial negotiations within defined authority
• Manage supplier relationships and performance (OTD, quality, responsiveness)
• Implement and manage inventory programs:
  • VMI
  • Consignment
  • Stocking agreements
  • Kanban / pull systems
• Participate in cost-reduction initiatives (VA/VE, MOQ optimization, logistics)
• Provide day-to-day supervision and work prioritization for one Buyer
• Review buyer work for accuracy, urgency, and alignment with production needs
• Coach and develop buyer skills (PO management, supplier communication, negotiation)
• Serve as escalation point for supplier and internal issues
• Develop best practices, standard work and purchasing procedures
• Partner with Production, Planning, Engineering, Quality, and Finance
• Align purchasing actions with production schedules and inventory targets
• Support audits, compliance, and documentation requirements
• Communicate risks, constraints, and mitigation plans to leadership
• KPI development and management:
  • On-time delivery (supplier OTD)
  • Line shortages / production disruptions
  • Inventory turns and excess & obsolete
  • Purchase price variance (PPV)
  • Supplier responsiveness and issue resolution time
• Coordinates removal or disposal of surplus materials.
• Responsible for purchasing systems management and dissemination of material scheduling data to ensure the effective execution of daily manufacturing plans.
• Drive continuous improvement activities through the application of best practices.
• Ensure collaboration and co-ordination between relevant departments/plants including sales, engineering, quality, manufacturing and management.
• Responsibilities include;
  
  interviewing, hiring, and training employees, planning, assigning, and directing work, appraising performance, addressing complaints and resolving problems.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and business practices to include industry standards, Good Manufacturing Practices, ISO requirements, health and safety.
• Perform other related duties as directed

• 5–8+ years of purchasing or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated experience as a hands-on buyer
• Experience managing or mentoring others (formal or informal)
• Strong knowledge of PO management, MRP, and inventory control
• Proven negotiation and supplier management skills
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and Excel
• Ability to work hours, as required, that are appropriate to completing projects and tasks on schedule.

• Experience with:
  • VMI, consignment, Kanban, and stocking agreements
  • Multi-site or international suppliers
  • Metals, electronics, plastics, or machined components (as applicable)
• APICS / CPSM certification
• Experience supporting NPI and engineering changes

• Demand management, forecasting, production planning and processes.
• Risk management, strategic sourcing and purchasing, and vendor managed inventory.
• Inventory management practices and systems.
• Capable of influencing stakeholders, collecting critical inputs and facilitate collective solutions.
• Good communication, interpersonal and organizational skills. Possess the ability to teach others effectively.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks with proper prioritization, be able to give direction and instruction to others.
• Capability to work independently, handle changing priorities and short time constraints.
• Possess good written and verbal communication skills necessary for leading others and working with the public.
• Show strong work ethic necessary for leading by example.

• Have a sound working knowledge of ERP, MRP and other supply chain management systems.

• This position supervises employees within the purchasing department, is responsible for the performance management and hiring of the employees within the department.
• Responsible for overseeing system purchasing plans in Bellows Falls, VT and Monterrey, MX plants, to include the Live Wire and PCM…