Department: Supply Chain

Group: Purchasing

Reports To: Purchasing Manager 

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Corporate-IL 

Position Summary

The Senior Buyer is responsible for sourcing, purchasing, and managing critical and complex raw materials and other purchased items from domestic and international suppliers. This position serves as a senior-level resource within the Purchasing team and is responsible for supplier management, negotiations, material planning, cost management, inventory optimization, and resolution of supply issues. The Senior Buyer provides guidance and support to other Purchasing employees but does not have direct supervisory responsibility.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Purchasing & Supplier Management

• Source and purchase raw materials, personal care chemicals, packaging, and other purchased items from domestic and international suppliers.
• Manage complex, high-value, critical, or long-lead-time materials and suppliers.
• Identify, evaluate, and recommend suppliers based on cost, quality, service, capacity, lead time, reliability, and business requirements.
• Establish and maintain strong supplier relationships and qualified alternate sources for critical materials.
• Monitor supplier performance and address issues involving quality, delivery, responsiveness, pricing, or service.
• Manage purchase orders and follow up on late deliveries, shortages, pricing discrepancies, and other supplier concerns.

Negotiations & Cost Management

• Lead negotiations involving pricing, payment terms, lead times, minimum order quantities, supply commitments, and other commercial terms.
• Review and negotiate supplier price increases and longer-term pricing arrangements.
• Identify and implement cost-reduction and cost-avoidance opportunities while considering inventory requirements, quality, and supply risk.
• Monitor market conditions and supplier developments that may affect material cost, availability, or lead times.
• Analyze purchasing data, supplier performance, and market information to support sourcing and purchasing decisions.

Material Planning & Inventory

• Review inventory levels, demand, forecasts, lead times, open purchase orders, and supplier requirements to determine purchasing needs.
• Support the establishment and maintenance of appropriate reorder points, safety stock, order quantities, and lead times.
• Proactively identify potential material shortages and develop corrective or alternate sourcing solutions.
• Monitor excess, slow-moving, and obsolete inventory and recommend actions to balance product availability with inventory investment.
• Manage materials with extended or international lead times and identify potential supply-chain risks.
• Coordinate with Logistics, Operations, Quality Assurance, Regulatory, Sales, and other departments to ensure material availability and resolve supply issues.

Senior-Level Support

• Serve as a senior resource to Buyers and other Purchasing personnel regarding supplier issues, negotiations, purchasing practices, and problem resolution.
• Assist with training and mentoring less-experienced Purchasing employees. Provide guidance on complex purchasing matters.
• Support the Purchasing Manager with supplier evaluations, sourcing initiatives, purchasing analysis, and special projects.
• Recommend improvements to purchasing processes, supplier management practices, and inventory controls.
• Provide coverage and assistance on critical purchasing matters as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Chemistry, Operations, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of purchasing, procurement, sourcing, or supply-chain experience, preferably within the chemical, personal care, or manufacturing industry.
• Experience purchasing from domestic and international suppliers, including materials with extended lead times.
• Demonstrated experience in supplier selection, supplier management, and negotiations involving pricing, lead times, payment terms, minimum order quantities, and other commercial terms.
• Strong knowledge of inventory and material planning concepts, including forecasting, reorder points, safety stock, lead times, and purchase order management.
• Experience identifying and resolving material shortages, supplier performance issues, late deliveries, and other supply-chain disruptions.
• Ability to analyze pricing, purchasing trends, inventory levels, supplier performance, and cost-saving opportunities.
• Experience with ERP/MRP or purchasing systems and proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to mentor and provide guidance to other Purchasing employees without direct supervisory authority.

Core Competencies

•     Negotiation Skills
•     Strategic Sourcing
•     Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills
•     Supplier Relationship Management
•     Material and Inventory Planning
•     Communication and Interpersonal Skills
•     Organization and Time Management
•     Collaboration and Teamwork
•     Business Acumen
•     Accountability and Dependability
•     Mentoring and Knowledge Sharing
•     Adaptability and Continuous Learning

Work Environment & Physical Demands

Primarily works in an office environment with prolonged periods of sitting and computer use. May occasionally enter warehouse, production, laboratory, or other operational areas and must wear required PPE when applicable. Occasional travel may be required to visit suppliers, attend industry events, or support business needs.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications.