Senior Buyer

Job DetailsLevel: ExperiencedJob Location: OH Middlefield - Middlefield, OH 44062Job Purpose

The Senior Buyer is responsible for executing purchasing activities for direct materials and selected indirect spend to ensure uninterrupted supply to manufacturing operations. The role brings strong ownership of day-to-day supplier performance, supports cost control efforts, and serves as a key escalation point for supply issues.

 

Key Responsibilities

Purchasing & Execution


Create, manage, and maintain purchase orders in ERP/MRP systems
Ensure pricing, lead times, and terms are accurate and aligned with agreements
Expedite orders and proactively resolve delivery, quantity, or quality issues
Manage spot buys and short-term sourcing under guidance of procurement leadership


Supplier Coordination


Serve as primary operational contact for assigned suppliers
Communicate forecasts, schedule changes, and delivery requirements
Monitor supplier on-time delivery and responsiveness
Escalate risks related to shortages, capacity, or quality


Cost & Inventory Support


Support cost control by identifying price discrepancies and variances
Assist with inventory management and working capital targets
Support cost reduction initiatives led by category or procurement managers


Category Support


Support the development and execution of category sourcing strategies for assigned categories (e.g. pallets, corrugate, labels, etc.)
Analyze market trends, supplier pricing, and cost drivers to support informed decision-making
Assist with RFQs, sourcing events, cost modeling, and price variance analysis
Support supplier negotiations, contract documentation, and pricing updates under senior leadership guidance
Track savings, support cost reduction initiatives, and contribute to continuous value improvement efforts


Cross-Functional Collaboration


Work closely with Planning, Manufacturing, Receiving, and Quality teams
Support engineering changes and material transitions
Participate in problem-solving related to production interruptions


Process & Compliance


Ensure purchasing activity complies with procurement policies and approval limits
Maintain accurate supplier and material data in ERP systems
Support audits, reporting, and continuous improvement efforts

Qualifications
Minimum 4 year degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering or related field
5 years of procurement experience in a manufacturing setting.  Plastics or packaging preferred.
Demonstrated strong negotiation skills
Strong working knowledge of MRP systems
Experience leading strategic sourcing process; RFI, RFP, & RFQ processes.
Electronic sourcing and Procurement Tools – Ariba, Zycus, Auctions, E-event


 

Skills & Competencies


Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate across multiple levels of the organization and with suppliers
Strong analytical and financial rigor
Proven project management skills with effective use of resources and completion and measuring of project success
Ability to work collaboratively across functions
Broad understanding of contracts, commercial terms and laws