Sr. Buyer

Position Summary

The Sr. Buyer is responsible for planning purchase orders for their assigned raw materials as well as placing and managing purchase orders for their MRO/indirect materials required to support manufacturing operations while maintaining optimal inventory levels, supplier performance, and production continuity. This role converts raw material demand and purchase requisitions (MRO/Indirect) into executable supply plans, manages supplier relationships, and partners closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Program Management, and Customer Service to ensure on-time delivery of high-quality medical devices. As well as purchasing requisitions for indirect / MRO spend items as required.

Operating in an FDA-regulated, ISO 13485-certified environment, the Sr. Buyer balances customer service, inventory investment, and supply chain risk while driving continuous improvement across the procurement processes for their assigned areas of responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

Material Planning & Production Support

• Execute daily MRP recommendations and manage planned purchase orders, reschedules, expedites, de-expedites, and cancellations per MRP exception reports in support of their value stream.
• Develop and maintain material plans that support production schedules and customer demand for their assigned areas.
• Monitor inventory levels, safety stock, lead times, and replenishment parameters to optimize inventory investment while maintaining service levels.
• Proactively identify and resolve material shortages to minimize production disruptions.
• Action purchasing requisitions for indirect / MRO items as required, as well as follow up purchase order management and purchase order receipts for prompt supplier payment

Purchasing & Supplier Management

• Issue and manage purchase orders for assigned commodities and suppliers.
• Maintain supplier delivery performance through regular communication and follow-up working with Corporate Sourcing.
• Resolve supplier issues involving quality, delivery, pricing, and capacity constraints with support from Corporate Sourcing, and accounts payable team.
• Participate in supplier evaluations, sourcing initiatives, and cost reduction opportunities supporting Corporate Sourcing.
• Monitor supplier performance metrics and implement corrective actions when necessary.

Inventory Management

• Balance inventory turns, service levels, and working capital objectives.
• Analyze demand trends and forecast variability to recommend ERP master data planning parameter adjustments, working with Master Planning and Engineering Configuration management.
• Support cycle counting, inventory accuracy initiatives, and excess/obsolete inventory reduction efforts, as required.
• Develop mitigation plans for supply disruptions and long-lead components.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Customer Service, and Program Management to support production and customer commitments.
• Participate in daily production meetings and supply reviews.
• Communicate material constraints, risks, and recovery plans to key stakeholders.
• Proactively communicates with Customer Service and the Master Planner when we have promise dates at risk and need to communicate with the customer our new promise dates.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve purchasing accuracy, supplier performance, and procurement efficiency.
• Support Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintain accurate ERP planning parameters, supplier data, and item master information.
• Develop and track key performance indicators including:

  • Supplier On-Time Delivery

  • Purchase Price Variance

  • Inventory Turns

  • Schedule Attainment

  • Material Availability

  • Stockouts

  • Excess & Obsolete Inventory

Compliance

• Ensure purchasing activities comply with FDA Quality System Regulation (21 CFR Part 820), ISO 13485, company quality procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Maintain complete and accurate procurement documentation and records.
• Support internal and external quality audits as required.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, Computer Science and Engineering, or a related field.
• Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.

Experience

• 3-5 years of purchasing experience within a discrete manufacturing environment.
• Medical device, life sciences, aerospace or other highly regulated manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Epicor, QAD, Microsoft Dynamics, or equivalent.

Preferred Certifications

• APICS CPIM / CSCP

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Working knowledge of inventory management and purchasing management.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency.
• Effective supplier negotiation and relationship management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Familiarity with FDA and ISO 13485 quality requirements is preferred.

Why Join EXALTA?

At EXALTA, we partner with leading medical technology companies to bring life-changing products to market. As a Lean Manufacturing Engineer, you will play a key role in building a culture of continuous improvement, enabling scalable growth, and helping deliver our mission: Together, we make MedTech better.