Senior Buyer at BIGBELLY SOLAR, LLC

Description

Position Summary:

We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Senior Buyer to support our assembly manufacturing plant. The Senior Buyer is responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and purchasing materials, components, and services required for mass manufacturing operations. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in procurement, supplier relationship management, cost reduction, and planning within a manufacturing environment. This role requires close collaboration with production, engineering, quality, and finance teams to ensure material availability, cost-efficiency, and on-time delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

Procurement & Material Planning:

• Plan and procure materials such as sheet metal, battery packs, solar modules, wiring harnesses, and related components.
• Review production schedules and forecasts to determine material needs using MRP tools or manual planning methods.
• Issue and manage purchase orders, track deliveries, and expedite critical materials as needed.
• Monitor inventory levels and place orders to maintain appropriate stock without over-purchasing.

Vendor & Supplier Management:

• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships for quality, cost, and on-time delivery performance.
•  Assist in the procurement of goods and services for the company
• Evaluate new suppliers and negotiate pricing and terms to support production goals and cost targets.
• Address and resolve issues related to quality, delays, or shortages with vendors.

Cross-Functional Coordination:

• Collaborating with production supervisors and teams leads to understanding material usage, lead times, and any changes to schedules.
• Support engineering changes and new product introductions with timely sourcing of new components.
• Work with the warehouse team to ensure accurate receiving, inventory counts, and material flow to the floor.

Systems & Reporting:

• Maintain data integrity in the ERP system or inventory management software.
• Track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as on-time delivery, purchase price variance, and inventory turnover.
• Generate regular reports to support purchasing and planning decisions.

Requirements

 Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years of experience in a buyer/planner role, preferably in a small-to-mid-size manufacturing setting.
• Familiarity with MRP/ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite, or similar).
• Strong understanding of MRP,  supply planning, and procurement best practices.
• Knowledge of procurement regulations and procedures
• Strong organizational, analytical, and negotiation skills.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, hands-on environment.

  Preferred Skills:

• Experience with lean manufacturing or kanban systems.
• APICS/ASCM or ISM certifications (e.g., CPIM, CSCP, CPSM) a plus.
• Comfortable working closely with shop floor teams in a small plant setting..