Senior Sourcing Buyer

Gutor • Houston, TX

3d • $100,000 - $110,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Gutor is a leading international manufacturer of UPS systems for industrial applications with over 75 years of experience. The company serves demanding industries like oil & gas, petrochemical, chemical, nuclear, and transportation, and has a global presence with over 600 employees in more than 30 countries. Gutor is committed to providing excellent customer support through experienced engineers and technicians.

This role is for a Senior Sourcing Buyer with a specialized focus on transformer technology, metal alloys (like copper and aluminium), and sheet metal. The position is key to leading regional sourcing strategies, optimizing supplier performance, and ensuring the procurement of high-quality, cost-effective materials and components for UPS Manufacturing. The ideal candidate will have an engineering background, market knowledge of the transformer and/or metal fabrication industries, and proven experience managing complex supply chains in high-specification, regulated, and/or custom-engineered environments.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in Supply Chain Management, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 5-8 years’ experience in strategic sourcing or procurement.
• At least 3–5 years in managing transformer and/or metal fabrication suppliers/categories.
• Strong leadership skills, with demonstrated results.
• Proficient in ERP systems (e.g., SAP) and sourcing tools (e.g. cost modelling).
• Excellent negotiation, analytical, and project management skills.
• Fluent in English.
• Willingness to travel up to 20%, including international travel.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored visa sponsorship now or in the future.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative mindset.
• Ability to work effectively in a matrixed, multicultural, and cross-functional environment.
• Flexibility and ability to transition in an ever-changing environment.

Nice To Haves

• Additional languages (Spanish, German, Mandarin) are a plus.
• Industrial UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) manufacturing, especially involving large-scale or mission-critical systems.
• Experience in Engineer-to-Order (ETO) environments, where sourcing must align with custom specifications, tight timelines, and collaborative design.
• Experience in Nuclear energy or other highly regulated industries with strict quality and traceability requirements.

Responsibilities

• Developing and executing sourcing strategy with a strong focus on identifying local sources for transformer components (e.g., magnetic cores, windings, insulation systems, bushings, tap changers), sheet metal parts (e.g., enclosures, distribution panels, brackets, structural frames), raw and semi-finished metals (e.g., copper, aluminium, steel, laminated cores), and other technologies as needed (e.g. cables, wires, etc.).
• Leading RFQ/RFP processes, supplier benchmarking, and total cost of ownership (TCO) evaluations in assigned categories/technologies.
• Identifying, qualifying, and selecting reliable suppliers/vendors.
• Establishing long-term partnerships to ensure the availability of high-quality materials, equipment, and services.
• Conducting global market analysis to identify cost drivers, emerging suppliers, and innovation opportunities.
• Monitoring supplier KPIs (quality, delivery, cost, responsiveness) and leading performance improvement initiatives.
• Ensuring operational relationships with allocated suppliers and driving sustainable competition into the supplier panel.
• Working closely with cross-functional teams including Engineering, Sustaining, Quality, Manufacturing, and Project Management to ensure sourcing strategies align with technical and operational requirements.
• Acting as a key contributor in cross-departmental project teams, particularly in engineer-to-order (ETO) programs.
• Facilitating effective communication between internal stakeholders and external suppliers to ensure alignment on specifications, timelines, and quality expectations.
• Mentoring junior buyers and contributing to knowledge sharing within the procurement team.
• Driving continuous improvement and cost reduction through analyzing value engineering, should-cost analysis, and alternative sourcing.
• Evaluating supplier proposals to ensure cost-effectiveness.
• Contributing to margin improvement through material cost down and supporting supply chain improvements through cross-functional teams.
• Assessing and mitigating risks related to raw material volatility, geopolitical factors in the region, and supply chain disruptions.
• Negotiating long-term agreements and proposing hedging strategies for critical metals and materials.
• Ensuring compliance with internal procurement policies, industry standards (e.g., ISO, IEC), and regulatory requirements (e.g., RoHS, REACH).
• Maintaining accurate records of contracts, supplier audits, and sourcing decisions.
• Generating reports on supplier performance, cost savings, and other key metrics to support decision-making and provide insights to stakeholders.
• Identifying potential risks in the procurement process and proposing risk mitigation strategies, while ensuring compliance with regulatory and company policies.
• Acting as the first escalation level for supplier crisis management in the region.
• Ensuring the involvement of the purchasing function and the introduction of supplier strategies as early as possible in the project stage, aligning as needed with the NPD Buyer.
• Supporting general activities in the procurement department as required to maintain business.
• Coordinating vendor creation in SAP, maintaining PIR/Source List, etc.
• Performing additional sourcing as required to maintain plant operations.

Benefits

• Base salary range: $100,000-$110,000 USD, depending on experience and qualifications.
• Paid holidays
• Paid Time Off: 20 days of vacation
• 401(k) plan: up to 6% company matching contribution
• Cigna Dental and Vision Insurance
• FSA and HSA savings account options
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• Voluntary supplemental life insurance
• Health & Fitness Reimbursement

What This Job Offers

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