We are looking for an experienced Sr. Buyer to join our team in Des Plaines, Illinois in a contract capacity with the potential for a permanent position. This role will oversee purchasing activities that keep materials, components, and supplies available to support daily operations. The ideal candidate brings strong supplier management skills, sound commercial judgment, and the ability to coordinate effectively with cross-functional teams to ensure orders are placed accurately and delivered on time.
Responsibilities:
- Prepare and issue purchase orders for materials, parts, and operating supplies based on business needs and demand requirements.
- Identify and evaluate suppliers, obtain competitive quotations, and support cost-effective sourcing decisions.
- Negotiate pricing, lead times, and purchasing terms to improve value while maintaining quality and service expectations.
- Monitor inventory levels and place replenishment orders to reduce the risk of stock shortages or excess supply.
- Track open orders, communicate with vendors on status updates, and help resolve delivery delays or discrepancies.
- Maintain accurate purchasing records and update procurement data within company systems to support reporting and order visibility.
- Partner with warehouse, production, operations, and accounts payable teams to align purchasing activity with operational priorities and invoice processing.
- Review supplier performance and maintain productive vendor relationships that support continuity of supply and service reliability.
- Experience in a buyer or senior buyer role with direct responsibility for purchasing materials, parts, or supplies.
- Working knowledge of procurement processes, including purchase order creation, supplier communication, and order follow-up.
- Ability to compare vendor quotations and assess pricing, lead times, and service considerations when making sourcing recommendations.
- Strong negotiation skills with the ability to manage supplier relationships professionally and effectively.
- Experience using business or purchasing systems to enter, update, and maintain procurement records accurately.
- Solid organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Effective communication skills and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams across operations-related functions.
