Job Description

About the Opportunity

We have partnered with a well-established manufacturer in Virginia to identify an experienced Senior Buyer to lead operational and tactical sourcing across its production and warehouse supply base. Reporting directly to the company President, this role owns the flow of materials and goods that keep manufacturing, service commitments, and customer deliveries on track — negotiating pricing and contracts, managing supplier relationships, and driving cost, quality, and delivery performance.

This is a high-visibility seat for a procurement professional who enjoys both the strategic and hands-on sides of sourcing, and who wants to make a measurable impact on company performance by improving supplier results, reducing costs, and mitigating risk.

What You’ll Do

• Execute sourcing strategies across assigned categories of direct and indirect materials, equipment, and services.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships while monitoring vendor performance, responsiveness, quality, and on-time delivery.
• Lead supplier selection, quote analysis, negotiations, and contract discussions to achieve the best overall value across cost, quality, delivery, and service.
• Manage purchase orders and supplier commitments to support production schedules, inventory targets, and customer delivery requirements.
• Partner with operations, production planning, engineering, quality, and finance to align purchasing strategy with business needs and operational priorities.
• Analyze spend, market conditions, lead times, and material trends to identify savings opportunities and reduce supply chain risk.
• Support new product introductions, engineering changes, and material substitutions by coordinating sourcing activities and supplier readiness.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records, supplier files, and system data to support reporting, audits, and compliance.
• Apply working knowledge of global trade, tariff structures, and import/export regulations.
• Ensure purchasing activities comply with company policies.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 5+ years of progressive purchasing, procurement, or sourcing experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated success negotiating pricing, terms, and supplier agreements.
• Strong knowledge of purchasing processes, supplier management, inventory support, and cost analysis.
• Experience working cross-functionally with operations, production, engineering, quality, and finance teams.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Excel or similar analytical tools.
• Strong communication, organization, decision-making, and problem-solving skills, with a collaborative, team-first approach to achieving goals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience sourcing raw materials, components, fabricated parts, packaging, or production-related services.
• Professional certification such as CPSM, CPM, CPIM, or a similar procurement / supply chain credential.
• Experience supporting supplier scorecards, cost-savings initiatives, and continuous improvement programs.
• Familiarity with contract review, demand planning, forecasting, and inventory optimization.
• Experience mentoring team members or serving as a lead resource within a purchasing function.