Senior Buyer

Senior BuyerKentwood, MIJOB DESCRIPTION:Our client is seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Buyer with a strong background in lean supply chain management to join the Purchasing Team. The ideal candidate will play a critical role in sourcing, negotiating, and managing supplier relationships while driving cost efficiencies, reducing waste, managing inventory design, and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality materials.LOCATION: Kentwood, MIRESPONSIBILITIES:Strategic Sourcing and Procurement.Develop and execute sourcing strategies aligned with lean supply chain principles.Identify, evaluate, and onboard suppliers to ensure quality, cost, and delivery objectives are met.Negotiate contracts, terms, pricing, supply and/or stocking agreements to secure the best value.Supplier Relationship Management.Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to foster collaboration and continuous improvement.Monitor supplier performance using metrics such as lead times, on time delivery and defect rates.Work with Suppliers too reduce waste and improve supply chain efficiency.Inventory Demand and Planning.Collaborate with inventory, planning and production teams to align purchasing with demand.Optimize inventory levels to minimize waste, excess stock, and stock-outs.Ensure inventory remains within design. Investigate, Pareto and Problem solve unfavorable trends.Cost Reduction and Waste Minimization.Identify opportunities to reduce costs while maintaining or improving product quality.Use Value Stream Mapping and other lean tools to eliminate non-value-added activities in the Supply Chain.Monitor and manage purchase Price Variance to ensure cost effectiveness.Process Improvement.Lead initiatives to improve procurement processes, supplier collaboration, and internal workflows.Implement best practices in lean supply chain management to achieve operational excellence.Train and mentor team members on lean principles and procurement strategies.Data Analysis and Reporting.Analyze procurement data to identify trends, risk, and opportunities for improvement.Prepare and present reports on purchasing metrics, savings achieved, and supplier performance.Use data to support decision-making and align procurement activities with organizational goals.QUALIFICATIONS:Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, or a related field.5+ years of experience in procurement or supply chain roles, with a focus on lean practices.Strong knowledge of purchasing principles, cash flow, supplier negotiation, and contract management.Experience with lean supply chain methodologies, such as JIT, Kanban, and value stream mapping.Proficiency in inventory and procurement software (Epicor preferred).PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:Master's degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, Computer Science, Mathematics or a related field.Purchasing experience in the Automotive, Aerospace and Defense, Energy, or Medical Device industries.Certification in supply chain management (e.g., Apics CPIM/CSCP, ISM CPSM).Experience with Six Sigma, Kaizen, or other continuous improvement frameworks.Strong analytical skills and proficiency in data analysis (E.g., advanced excel, R, Python, Power BI, Tableau).KEY COMPETENCIES:Excellent negotiation and communication skills.Strong organizational and time management skills.Problem-solving mindset with a focus on continuous improvement.Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.WORK ENVIRONMENT:Office based with occasional travel to supplier locationsBENEFITS START DAY 1:401(k) matchingDental insuranceHealth insuranceHealth savings accountLife insurancePaid time offVision insurance

Created: 2025-03-07