Senior Contract Manufacturing Buyer

Communications & Power Industries (CPI)•Halton Hills, ON

13d•Onsite

About The Position

Communications & Power Industries (CPI) is seeking a Senior Contract Manufacturing Buyer for its Power Electronics Division in Georgetown, Ontario. This role is responsible for leading the sourcing, contracting, and performance management of contract manufacturers for electronics, including Circuit Card Assemblies (CCA). The position owns long-term commodity strategy, supplier negotiations, risk mitigation, and operational procurement excellence. The Senior Contract Manufacturing Buyer will work closely with Engineering, Operations, Planning, Quality, and Program Management to ensure outsourced manufacturing partners meet cost, quality, delivery, capacity, and compliance requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a related field and/or APICS certification.
6+ years of relevant procurement or strategic sourcing experience.
Demonstrated expertise in commodity management, market analysis, and long-term sourcing strategy.
Proven ability to develop and negotiate complex contracts and long-term agreements.
Strong financial acumen and experience building business cases.
Solid understanding of FAR/DFARS and government contracting requirements.
Advanced knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and procurement best practices.
Exceptional analytical, project management, and stakeholder engagement skills.
Ability to think strategically, execute tactically, and make decisions that balance risk, cost, and performance.
Experience coaching junior buyers and contributing to team capability development.
Strong communication, leadership presence, and ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.
Must be able to meet CGP requirements.

Responsibilities

Lead long-term commodity strategies for assigned categories, including market analysis, cost drivers, risk assessments, and supplier capability mapping.
Develop and execute multi-year commodity roadmaps aligned with operational, program, and corporate objectives.
Identify opportunities for strategic partnerships, supply base optimization, and long-term value creation.
Generate business cases to justify sourcing decisions, supplier transitions, capital investments, and major contract changes.
Create, negotiate, and manage Long Term Agreements (LTAs) with contract manufacturers and key suppliers to ensure cost stability, capacity alignment, and continuity of supply.
Lead complex negotiations including commercial terms, pricing models, service levels, warranties, and strategic risk-sharing structures.
Ensure contracts reflect appropriate FAR/DFARS requirements, flow-down clauses, quality standards, and performance metrics.
Identify contractual risks and develop appropriate mitigation strategies to safeguard company interests.
Conduct cost and price analyses, total cost of ownership (TCO) studies, and should-cost modeling for major commodities.
Build financial models and scenario analyses to support sourcing strategies and recommendations.
Use market intelligence—including commodity indices, supplier financial health, and geopolitical trends—to inform decisions and provide strategic guidance to leadership.
Oversee purchase orders for strategic and high-impact commodities, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and supplier performance.
Drive proactive supply planning and continuity through close collaboration with Planning, Operations, Engineering, and Program Management.
Provide innovative supply solutions to support proposal activity, New Product Introduction (NPI), and business growth.
Ensure accurate data management and compliance within ERP/MRP systems.
Manage supplier relationships to ensure delivery, quality, cost, and capacity objectives are consistently met.
Lead supplier business reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.
Identify and qualify alternative sources for strategic commodities to mitigate risk and enhance competitiveness.
Conduct supplier site visits to assess capability, capacity, risk factors, compliance, and alignment with company expectations.
Build strong partnerships with internal stakeholders to align sourcing strategies with program and operational needs.
Provide mentorship and guidance to junior buyers, supporting their development in negotiations and procurement processes.
Present sourcing strategies, business cases, and recommendations to leadership in a clear, compelling manner.
Contribute to enterprise-level supply chain strategy, risk mitigation, and process transformation initiatives.