Senior Buyer

Howmet Aerospace•Mauston, WI

About The Position

The Senior Buyer develops and executes sourcing and procurement strategies aligned with production goals and financial forecasts. The role manages procurements from requisition and purchase order through receipt, acceptance, invoicing, and payment, while negotiating with suppliers to secure value and favorable contractual terms. It also focuses on cost reduction, supplier performance, procurement budget administration, and supply chain risk mitigation. The Senior Buyer collaborates with Manufacturing, Operations, Engineering, Quality Control, and Finance to align material availability with production schedules and communicates shortages, market changes, and recovery timelines to executive leadership.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field.
5 to 7+ years of progressive purchasing, sourcing, or procurement experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
Advanced proficiency with systems and ability to learn new systems.
Strong data analysis skills for evaluating supplier spend, forecasting demand, and conducting price and cost breakdowns.
Deep understanding of manufacturing processes, such as metal fabrication, machining, electronics, or raw material assembly, depending on the role’s niche.
Exceptional negotiation and conflict-resolution skills.
High attention to detail and ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven manufacturing environment.
Strong verbal and written communication abilities.

Nice To Haves

Professional certification such as CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management), CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional), or CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply).

Responsibilities

Develop and execute long-term sourcing and procurement strategies aligned with production goals and financial forecasts.
Process requisitions and place purchase orders; manage each procurement through receipt, acceptance, invoicing, and payment.
Negotiate vendor pricing and terms to obtain value, and lead negotiations for NDAs, terms and conditions, and long-term agreements.
Identify and implement cost reductions for new and series production products and services.
Evaluate market trends, raw material price fluctuations, and lead times to inform purchasing decisions.
Identify, evaluate, and qualify suppliers based on cost, capacity, quality, and delivery reliability.
Negotiate supplier pricing, commercial terms, payment schedules, and master service agreements.
Monitor supplier quality, delivery, and responsiveness using KPIs, and work with underperforming suppliers on recovery, corrective, and preventative action plans.
Identify savings through strategic sourcing, volume rebates, or alternative materials without compromising quality.
Assess and mitigate supply chain risks, including geopolitical disruptions, sole-source vulnerabilities, and capacity constraints, by developing backup suppliers.
Administer and track the departmental procurement budget.
Collaborate with Manufacturing, Operations, Engineering, Quality Control, and Finance to align material availability with production schedules.
Provide executive leadership with visibility into material shortages, market price shifts, and risk recovery timelines.