Senior Buyer

New England Biolabs • Ipswich, MA

1d

About The Position

New England Biolabs® is a different kind of biotechnology company – we are a community of scientists, innovators and collaborators driven by a shared mission to advance science for the benefit of society. Founded in 1974 with a deep commitment to research excellence and environmental stewardship, NEB® has become a global leader in the discovery and production of enzymes for molecular biology applications. Our reagents are trusted by researchers worldwide for their quality and reliability and have played a critical role in breakthroughs across genomics, proteomics, diagnostics and academic research. With a corporate culture rooted in passion, humility and authenticity, we offer a dynamic and inclusive workplace where creativity thrives, voices are heard, and personal growth is celebrated. Whether you are interested in pursuing a research career or supporting our mission through other roles, joining NEB means contributing to meaningful scientific progress in a collaborative, campus-like environment that values both innovation and integrity. The Senior Buyer is a procurement professional responsible for the strategic sourcing and purchasing of specialized materials and services that support New England Biolabs’ manufacturing, research, and operational activities across multiple sites including a cGMP facility. This role goes beyond transactional buying and focuses on developing sourcing strategies for complex, regulated, and often single‑source life sciences materials. The Senior Buyer plays a critical role in ensuring supply continuity, cost effectiveness, compliance, and risk mitigation across the supply base.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business, science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive responsibility in a procurement or strategic sourcing role.
• Proven negotiation, analytical, and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex sourcing initiatives independently with minimal supervision.
• Solid working knowledge of global procurement regulations, compliance requirements, and supply risk management.
• Working knowledge of ISO quality standards
• Broad, hands‑on knowledge of MRP / ERP systems (SAP preferred) and strategic sourcing methodologies.
• Experience working in regulated environments such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, or life sciences manufacturing.

Nice To Haves

• Experience sourcing specialized, regulated, or single‑source life sciences materials (e.g., enzymes, reagents, chemicals, or validated raw materials) direct (production) and indirect (non-production) materials.
• A strong strategic mindset with the ability to move procurement from transactional execution to proactive sourcing and supplier management.
• Demonstrated success in negotiating and securing long‑term supply agreements and mitigating supply risk in constrained or volatile markets.
• Ability to influence cross‑functional stakeholders and shape sourcing strategy in support of operational and scientific priorities.
• Data‑driven approach to supplier performance management, cost modeling, and market analysis.
• Experience driving measurable cost savings while maintaining quality, compliance, and supply assurance.

Responsibilities

• Support cross‑functional stakeholders with strategic sourcing initiatives of raw materials such as reagents, enzymes, chemicals, packaging, and other life sciences inputs critical to NEB operations.
• Establish and maintain strong supplier partnerships to ensure quality, compliance, supply continuity, and optimal total cost of ownership.
• Conduct commercial negotiations covering pricing, lead times, long‑term agreements, and supply assurance.
• Identify, assess, and resolve procurement challenges, including supply disruptions, contractual disputes, and compliance issues.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in our SAP MRP / ERP system, managing purchasing transactions, supplier master data, pricing, lead times, and inventory drivers.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with global trade regulations, import/export requirements, quality standards, and internal governance policies.
• Analyze supplier performance, spend data, market dynamics, and raw material trends to inform strategic sourcing decisions.
• Manage multiple high‑visibility sourcing initiatives simultaneously in close collaboration with Production Planning, Manufacturing, R&D, Quality, and Finance.
• Drive continuous improvement activities that optimize procurement processes, strengthen supplier performance, and deliver sustainable cost savings.
• Collaborate with Accounting and suppliers to proactively identify, investigate, and resolve invoice discrepancies, minimizing payment delays and financial exposure.

Benefits

• Annual discretionary profit-sharing bonus
• Participation in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan "ESOP" (eligible after two full years of service)
• Exceptional benefits package at a nominal cost to the employee including a 10% 401k match

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior