Buyer III

Stored Energy Systems•Longmont, CO

11d•$84,000 - $115,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Supply Chain Buyer III provides senior operational leadership within the Purchasing function and manages the organization’s most complex, critical, and high-impact supplier relationships. The role uses broad independent judgment to protect continuity of supply, optimize inventory and supplier performance, resolve escalated operational issues, and coordinate purchasing priorities in a manufacturing environment. The position leads complex cross-functional purchasing initiatives, mentors and develops purchasing team members, and serves as an operational partner to the Purchasing Manager. It may coordinate departmental activities and provide coverage for the Purchasing Manager as needed. Strategic supplier selection, commercial strategy, contracts, and major negotiations are led by the Sourcing Team. The position is located onsite in Longmont, Colorado. The projected base salary range is $84,000–$115,000, determined by qualifications and experience, and the role is eligible for an annual bonus based on individual and company performance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field, or an additional four years of relevant experience.
At least four years of progressive purchasing, procurement, or supply chain experience, including substantial experience in a manufacturing environment.
Advanced knowledge of purchasing, inventory optimization, supplier performance management, engineering change implementation, and ERP/MRP-driven manufacturing operations.
Advanced experience with ERP/MRP systems such as Infor CSI/Syteline, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar platforms.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.

Nice To Haves

Experience independently managing complex, high-spend, sole-source, operationally critical, domestic, nearshore, and/or international suppliers, including supplier performance, escalations, and recovery activities.
Demonstrated experience leading supplier performance reviews, corrective actions, supplier transitions, engineering changes, product transitions, supply recovery efforts, inventory optimization, and/or continuous improvement initiatives.
Experience serving as a team lead, department coordinator, mentor, or operational backup to purchasing/procurement leadership, and ability to lead through influence and coordinate cross-functional priorities.
Strong business judgment and purchasing decision-making skills, balancing cost, quality, delivery, inventory, working capital, supplier capability, and operational risk.
Strong analytical, negotiation, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, including the ability to independently resolve complex supplier and material issues.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence outcomes, communicate escalations, provide practical guidance, and collaborate with leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
Ability to operate independently, manage competing high-priority issues, maintain accountability, and provide reliable operational support in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Experience supporting engineered products, discrete manufacturing, and/or regulated or customer-specific requirements.
Experience participating in or leading ERP, purchasing-process, supply-chain, or operational improvement initiatives.
APICS/ASCM, CPSM, Lean, Six Sigma, or other relevant supply chain, procurement, or continuous-improvement certification or training.

Responsibilities

Manage complex, critical, and high-impact supplier relationships, including suppliers with significant operational, capacity, geographic, quality, or continuity-of-supply risks.
Prioritize purchasing activities independently and resolve complex supply, inventory, supplier-performance, and production-support challenges within delegated authority.
Lead supplier performance reviews, executive-level operational discussions, corrective action plans, and recovery strategies for critical suppliers.
Develop and implement advanced inventory and purchasing strategies that balance production continuity, working capital, lead time, supplier capacity, storage constraints, and business risk.
Lead cross-functional recovery efforts for significant material shortages, supplier disruptions, engineering changes, product transitions, and operational escalations.
Coordinate departmental purchasing priorities and provide operational leadership during high demand, business disruption, or the Purchasing Manager’s absence.
Mentor purchasing team members, share best practices, support onboarding, and reinforce consistent purchasing processes and decision-making.
Lead complex operational RFQs and market evaluations within established authority, partnering with the Sourcing Team on strategic sourcing, supplier selection, contracts, major negotiations, and significant financial impacts.
Translate sourcing strategies and commercial agreements into operational execution, including supplier transitions, implementation plans, ERP parameters, and ongoing performance management.
Lead purchasing process improvements, ERP/MRP enhancements, reporting improvements, and standardization initiatives to improve visibility, efficiency, data quality, and scalability.
Provide analysis, recommendations, and operational insight to Purchasing leadership and cross-functional stakeholders on supplier risk, inventory, cost, delivery, and purchasing performance.
Ensure purchasing activities, supplier records, and ERP data comply with company policies, contractual requirements, quality standards, internal controls, and applicable regulations.