Senior Sourcing Buyer

Gutor Electronic•Houston, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Gutor is a leading international manufacturer of UPS systems for industrial applications. The company has been in business for over 75 years and has a proven track record of delivering high-quality products and services. Gutor's products are designed to meet the demanding needs of industries such as oil & gas, petrochemical, chemical, nuclear, and transportation. The company also has a global presence with over 600 employees in more than 30 countries and branches in Brazil, China, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the U.S.A to name a few. Gutor is committed to providing its customers with the best possible support. The company has a team of experienced engineers and technicians who are available to help with any problems that may arise. Senior Sourcing Buyer with a specialized focus on transformer technology, metal alloys (like copper and aluminium), and sheet metal. This role is instrumental in leading regional sourcing strategies, optimizing supplier performance, and ensuring the procurement of high-quality, cost-effective materials and components essential to UPS Manufacturing. The ideal candidate will bring an engineering background, market knowledge of transformer and/or metal fabrication industries, and a proven ability to manage 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 with 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; additional languages (Spanish, German, Mandarin) are a plus
Willingness to travel up to 20%, including international travel, to visit suppliers, attend audits, and support sourcing initiatives.
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 are essential.
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

Industrial UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) manufacturing, especially involving large-scale or mission-critical systems.
Engineer-to-Order (ETO) environments, where sourcing must align with custom specifications, tight timelines, and collaborative design
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). Other technologies as needed (e.g. cables, wires, etc.)
Lead RFQ/RFP processes, supplier benchmarking, and total cost of ownership (TCO) evaluations in these and other categories/technologies as assigned.
Identifying, qualifying, and selecting reliable suppliers/vendors.
Establishing long-term partnerships to ensure the availability of high-quality materials, equipment, and services.
Conduct global market analysis to identify cost drivers, emerging suppliers, and innovation opportunities.
Monitor supplier KPIs (quality, delivery, cost, responsiveness) and lead performance improvement initiatives
Ensure the operational relationships with allocated suppliers and drive sustainable competition into the supplier panel
Work closely with cross-functional teams including Engineering, Sustaining, Quality, Manufacturing, and Project Management to ensure sourcing strategies align with technical and operational requirements.
Act as a key contributor in cross-departmental project teams, particularly in engineer-to-order (ETO) programs.
Facilitate effective communication between internal stakeholders and external suppliers to ensure alignment on specifications, timelines, and quality expectations
Mentor junior buyers and contribute to knowledge sharing within the procurement team.
Drive continuous improvement and Cost reduction through analysing value engineering, should-cost analysis, and alternative sourcing
Evaluating supplier proposals to ensure cost-effectiveness.
Contribute to margin improvement through material cost down and support supply chain improvements through cross functional teams.
Assess and mitigate risks related to raw material volatility, geopolitical factors in the region, and supply chain disruptions.
Negotiate long-term agreements and propose hedging strategies for critical metals and materials
Ensure compliance with internal procurement policies, industry standards (e.g., ISO, IEC), and regulatory requirements (e.g., RoHS, REACH).
Maintain 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.
First escalation level for supplier crisis management in the region
Ensure the involvement of the purchasing function, the introduction of supplier strategies as early as possible in the project stage, aligning as needed with our NPD Buyer
Identifying potential risks in the procurement process and proposing risk mitigation strategies, while ensuring compliance with regulatory and company policies.
Support of general activities in the procurement department as required to maintain business.
SAP (Vendor creation coordination, PIR/Source List maintenance, etc.)
Additional, sourcing as required, to maintain the plant operations.