Senior Buyer

At Rite-Hite, your work makes an impact. As the global leader in loading dock and door equipment, we design and deliver solutions that keep our customers safe, secure, and productive. Here, you’ll find innovation, stability, and the chance to grow your career as part of a team that’s always looking ahead. Rite-Hite is seeking a Senior Buyer to join our team out of our Dubuque location.

In this role, you'll lead strategic sourcing and supplier management initiatives while ensuring the timely procurement of materials that keep our manufacturing operations running smoothly.

Working cross-functionally with internal teams and supplier partners, you'll drive cost, quality, and supply performance to support our business and customers.

Support and promote a culture of safety.

Follow all Company and OSHA safety policies and procedures. Proper use of required personal protective equipment (PPE) Report hazards, near misses and incidents promptly.

Develop and execute supplier strategies aligned with cost, capacity, quality, and service objectives, ensuring mid-term supply continuity and operational stability.

Lead supplier negotiations, long-term agreements and pricing strategies to optimize total cost of ownership while supporting cost savings and avoidance initiatives across the business.

Drive supplier performance management through scorecards, performance reviews and corrective action plans to improve delivery, quality and reliability.

Identify, assess and mitigate supply chain risks including capacity constraints, single-source dependencies and material availability issues, ensuring proactive continuity planning.

Analyze part consumption patterns demand variability and supply conditions to define and influence inventory strategies including safety stock, service levels and inventory turns.

Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Quality and Finance to align sourcing strategies with production schedules capacity constraints and new product development (NPD) requirements.

Support new product development by evaluating supplier capability capacity and readiness and advising on sourcing and material flow strategies during NPD phases.

Monitor demand capacity and market trends to proactively recommend sourcing planning and risk mitigation strategies.

Provide guidance and mentorship to Buyer/Planner roles ensuring effective purchase order management issue resolution and adherence to procurement best practices.

Contribute to continuous improvement of procurement planning and ERP/MRP processes including automation data accuracy and process efficiency enhancements.

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Supply Chain, Business, Operations Management or related field or equivalent experience.

Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in purchasing procurement or supply chain within a manufacturing environment.

Experience supporting complex or configurable manufactured products.

Experience leading cost reduction or value engineering initiatives.

Experience using supply chain tools (e.g. Supplier EDI Spendonomics Procurable).

Experience with ERP systems (e.g. Oracle JD Edwards) preferred.

Certifications/License None required.

Certifications/License APICS CPIM or CSCP CPSM or similar certification preferred.

Strong strategic sourcing and supplier negotiation skills.

Proven ability to analyze data and balance cost service and risk.

Working knowledge of MRP ERP systems JD Edwards preferred.

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

Strong communication influence and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Experience mentoring or leading others in a non-direct supervisory capacity.

Strong financial acumen and understanding of total cost of ownership.

Ability to meet customer site access and safety requirements (if applicable).

Must meet company motor vehicle record (MVR) standards (if driving is required).

Ability to pass background check.

Eligibility to work in the United States.

Work Environment:
Office environment with regular interaction with manufacturing and…