Senior Buyer

Department: Purchasing / Materials
Reports To: COO
Location: Lexington, South Carolina
Position Type: Full-Time, On Site

The Senior Buyer is responsible for the timely, cost-effective procurement of materials, components, supplies, and services required to support the company’s manufacturing operations. This position manages assigned suppliers, monitors purchasing requirements, negotiates pricing and delivery terms, and ensures materials are available to support production schedules and customer requirements.

The Senior Buyer works closely with Materials, Production, Engineering, Quality, Accounting, and other departments to maintain an efficient and reliable supply chain. This position is expected to proactively identify and resolve material shortages, supplier issues, pricing concerns, and delivery problems while identifying opportunities to reduce costs, improve supplier performance, and strengthen the company’s purchasing processes.

The Senior Buyer is expected to exercise sound judgment, work independently, and take ownership of assigned purchasing responsibilities from initial requirements through supplier delivery and resolution of issues.

• Review MRP/ERP requirements, inventory levels, demand, lead times, and production schedules to determine purchasing needs.
• Create, issue, and maintain purchase orders for assigned materials, components, supplies, and services.
• Ensure purchased materials are ordered in the correct quantities and delivered when required.
• Monitor open purchase orders and follow up with suppliers regarding delivery commitments.
• Proactively identify potential material shortages and take appropriate action to prevent production interruptions.
• Expedite materials when necessary to support production requirements.
• Maintain accurate purchasing information, including pricing, lead times, minimum order quantities, and supplier information.
• Review and maintain appropriate inventory levels in coordination with Materials Planning and Operations.
• Experience with HTS Codes used to classify and determine tariff rates.

• Develop and maintain professional working relationships with assigned suppliers.
• Monitor supplier performance related to quality, delivery, responsiveness, and cost.
• Communicate company expectations and requirements to suppliers.
• Address supplier delivery, quality, pricing, and service issues in a timely manner.
• Coordinate with Quality regarding supplier quality concerns and corrective actions.
• Assist with identifying and evaluating alternate sources of supply.
• Maintain appropriate supplier records and documentation.
• Escalate significant or recurring supplier problems to management.

• Obtain and evaluate supplier quotations.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times, freight, minimum quantities, and other purchasing terms within established authority.
• Review supplier price increases and provide appropriate analysis and recommendations.
• Identify opportunities for cost reductions and improved purchasing terms.
• Support annual supplier pricing reviews and negotiations.
• Monitor material costs and communicate significant market or pricing changes to management.

• Work closely with Production and Materials Planning to ensure material availability.
• Partner with Engineering regarding specifications, engineering changes, bills of material, and new or revised components.
• Work with Quality to resolve supplier-related quality concerns.
• Coordinate with Accounting regarding purchasing documentation, pricing discrepancies, invoices, and supplier issues.
• Support Operations in resolving material shortages and other supply-related problems.
• Provide…