Buyer

Bausch + Lomb•US-MO-Saint Louis Kirkwood, MO

18d•Onsite

About The Position

The Buyer plays a critical role in ensuring the reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable supply of raw materials and components essential to the company’s manufacturing operations. This position is responsible for developing and executing procurement strategies for assigned categories, balancing quality, cost, and delivery performance to support production and innovation goals. The Buyer also manages supplier relationships and drives continuous improvement in supply chain performance. Working cross-functionally with internal stakeholders, this role supports demand planning, contract negotiations, and mitigates supply risks, contributing directly to operational efficiency, supply continuity, and cost optimization.

Requirements

Experience with MRP systems, supplier relationship management, and critical-thinking/problem-solving skills.
2+ years of procurement experience supporting direct materials, strategic sourcing, supplier management, or related functions, preferably within a medical device or regulated manufacturing environment.
Excellent project management skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and Word
Strong quantitative and analytical skills with the ability to evaluate supplier quotations, contracts, and cost structures.
Experience with contract negotiations, supplier development, and global sourcing is preferred.
Knowledge of raw material trends and regulatory/sustainability issues is a plus.
Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required (typically 10% to 20%) for supplier meetings, audits, and business reviews.
Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Nice To Haves

AS400 experience
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field preferred; Master's degree is a plus.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute procurement strategies for assigned categories and services.
Assist in negotiating contracts with global and regional suppliers, including pricing, terms and conditions, volume commitments, and service-level agreements.
Monitor category market trends (feedstocks, supply/demand, pricing, sustainability) and provide insights and recommendations.
Ensure compliance with Bausch + Lomb procurement policies, ethical standards, and applicable regulatory and sustainability requirements (e.g. recycled content, circular economy, REACH/ROHS, ISO 9001/13485, etc.).
Collaborate with engineering, R&D, production, and quality teams on new product introduction (NPI), changeovers, material qualification, and cost improvement projects.
Lead and/or support projects within assigned procurement categories.
Deliver established cost savings targets through competitive bidding processes and effective negotiation of supplier agreements while managing supply-related costs and ensuring contract compliance.
Identify, assess, and mitigate supplier-related risks affecting cost, quality, delivery, and supply continuity.
Perform end-to-end sourcing and procurement activities in support of major initiatives, including stakeholder requirements analysis, bidder identification, RFP/RFQ development, competitive bidding, supplier selection, contract negotiation, risk mitigation, supply continuity planning, and supplier performance management.
Cultivate and maintain strategic supplier relationships to support alignment with Bausch + Lomb's business objectives.
Research and evaluate suppliers based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production capabilities, and capacity.