Senior Buyer

Overview

Strategic and hands‑on procurement of materials, managing suppliers and inventory.

Key Responsibilities

• mrp management
• inventory management
• purchase orders
• cost reduction
• kpi tracking
• supplier visits

Tasks

The Senior Buyer plays both a strategic and hands-on role in ensuring the efficient and cost-effective procurement of commodities, raw materials, packaging, and other essential supplies. This position is responsible for sourcing goods that meet quality, quantity, and delivery standards while supporting company objectives for operational excellence and sustainable growth. -Conduct plant and supplier visits to verify quality standards, operational processes, and supply reliability. -Manage material requirements using MRP systems to identify and resolve shortages, surpluses, or potential disruptions. -Attend plant tours to maintain product and process knowledge and ensure sourcing from reputable suppliers. -Partner with Sales, R&D, and Planning to synchronize material sourcing with product launches and project timelines. -Track key procurement KPIs to monitor performance and drive continuous improvement. -Identify and implement cost reduction and value improvement initiatives. -Issue purchase orders, monitor delivery schedules, and ensure alignment with production timelines. -Maintain optimal inventory levels of packaging, raw materials, and coatings to prevent stockouts or excess. -Collaborate with customers, suppliers, and internal teams to source materials for new product development. -Support initiatives to streamline purchasing processes, reduce lead times, and enhance supplier performance. -Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to achieve quality, service, and cost objectives. -Participate in commercialization meetings, supplier reviews, and customer calls to ensure alignment across projects.

Requirements

• bachelor's
• supply chain
• 5 years
• purchasing
• manufacturing
• food production

What You Bring

-Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Operations, or a related field (preferred). -Experience: Minimum of 5 years in purchasing or supply chain management, preferably within manufacturing or food production.

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Benefits

Salary: $90k - $110k + bonus **100% Onsite**

About Sterling Engineering

-Founded in 1969 in Westchester, Illinois, the firm has evolved from a local recruiter to a national engineering and IT staffing company. -They combine engineering consulting and project services with a strong technical recruitment arm. -They deliver managed engineering teams and custom IT solutions for IoT, security, QA automation, and more. -They specialize in serving verticals like energy, utilities, life sciences, food & beverage, and manufacturing.

Sector Specialisms