Senior Buyer

Job Title: Senior BuyerLocation: White Bear Lake, MNSchedule: 100% OnsiteCompensation: $65,000-$90,000OverviewWe are seeking a Senior Buyer to own and elevate purchasing activities in a custom manufacturing environment. This role will be responsible for executing day-to-day procurement, building supplier relationships, and developing scalable purchasing processes that support engineering, operations, and production teams. The ideal candidate thrives in a hands-on shop environment, is comfortable working from engineering drawings and bills of materials, and enjoys bringing structure and efficiency to growing organizations.Key ResponsibilitiesProcurement ExecutionReview bills of materials (BOMs) from engineering to determine purchasing requirements for each jobIdentify long-lead items early and sequence orders to protect project schedulesIssue purchase orders, confirm lead times, and track deliveries to ensure on-time material receiptSource and evaluate vendors for custom or specialty componentsProcure consumables, shop supplies, tooling, and MRO items on a recurring basisPartner with the Operations Manager to align material deliveries with production schedulesServe as the central point of contact for all vendor communication, consolidating purchasing activitySupport make-vs-buy decisions with engineering and operations, identifying subcontractors when external sourcing offers cost or lead-time advantagesStrategic SourcingAnalyze historical purchasing data to identify cost savings, consolidation, and volume discount opportunitiesConduct competitive bidding for recurring commoditiesEvaluate alternate suppliers, materials, or specifications to reduce cost while maintaining qualityNegotiate pricing, payment terms, and blanket purchase agreementsActively manage payment terms to capture early-pay discounts when financially beneficialIdentify opportunities for vendor payment optimization, including credit card programsMonitor material and component market trends impacting cost structureVendor ManagementBuild, maintain, and expand a qualified supplier baseDevelop and maintain vendor scorecards with objective performance metricsHold suppliers accountable for quality, delivery, and service commitmentsResolve receiving discrepancies, quality issues, and delivery failuresProcess Development & Continuous ImprovementDesign and implement purchasing policies, workflows, and templatesSupport and lead purchasing activities within a new ERP implementationPartner with engineering to drive parts and hardware standardizationIdentify process improvement opportunities with clear rationale and measurable impactQuoting & Estimating SupportProvide material cost estimates and lead-time inputs during the quoting processMaintain a reference database of commonly purchased items and pricingFlag cost, availability, or lead-time risks prior to quote submissionQualificationsRequired7-10 years of purchasing experience in a manufacturing environment (custom, job shop, or engineer-to-order preferred)Proven experience building or significantly improving procurement processesStrong negotiation skills with demonstrated cost-savings resultsAdvanced Excel proficiency (pivot tables, lookups, data analysis)ERP experience and comfort participating in or supporting an ERP implementationAbility to read and interpret engineering drawings and BOMsStrong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projectsSelf-directed, proactive work styleComfortable working directly in a shop/production environmentWhy This RoleHigh-impact role with ownership of purchasing strategy and executionOpportunity to build structure and scalable processesClose partnership with engineering and operationsVisibility and influence across the organizationBenefit offerings include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, additional voluntary benefits, EAP program, commuter benefits and 401K plan. Available paid leave may include Paid Sick Leave, where required by law; any other paid leave required by Federal, State, or local law; and Holiday pay upon meeting eligibility criteria.Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/DisabledTo read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please navigate to Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:• The California Fair Chance Act• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Created: 2026-05-09