Senior Technical Buyer

CycloKinetics•Salt Lake, UT

4d•Onsite

About The Position

CycloKinetics is seeking a Senior Technical Buyer to support the procurement of highly technical materials, equipment, fabricated components, and services required to build and operate our biorefinery. This role sits within the procurement organization and works closely with engineering, Research & Development (R&D), operations, finance, and external suppliers. The Senior Technical Buyer will serve as a primary commercial and coordination contact with outside vendors for complex custom orders, including custom fabricated reactors, pressure vessels, steel structures, custom machined parts, pumps, specialty equipment, and bulk specialty chemicals. The ideal candidate has demonstrated experience purchasing technical goods and services in industrial, chemical, manufacturing, energy, aerospace, defense, Engineering, Procurement, & Construction (EPC), or other complex engineered environments. An engineering or technical degree is not required; however, the successful candidate must be comfortable working with technical specifications, drawings, datasheets, vendor documentation, and engineering stakeholders. This individual should be proactive, relationship-driven, commercially minded, and motivated to build a strong vendor network, identify alternative suppliers, improve lead times, and drive down total cost. This role requires organizational and communication skills and requires confidentiality, discretion, and professionalism.

Requirements

15+ years of work experience in purchasing, procurement, sourcing, supply chain, vendor management, technical sales, or a closely related role.
Demonstrated experience purchasing technical materials, fabricated equipment, custom components, specialty equipment, or engineered systems.
Experience in biorefinery, petroleum, chemical, or relatable industrial / manufacturing sectors.
Ability to read, understand, and communicate around technical specifications, drawings, datasheets, bills of materials, and vendor documentation.
Strong vendor management, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
Demonstrated ability to identify alternative vendors, develop supplier relationships, and improve cost competitiveness.
Strong commercial judgment and ability to balance cost, quality, schedule, risk, and technical requirements.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, suppliers, and purchase orders in a fast-paced technical environment.
Strong organizational, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office and procurement, ERP, or purchasing systems.
Familiarity with procurement contracts, master service agreements, purchase order terms, and supplier quality documentation.
Prior experience successfully participating in work teams where personal accountability, attention to detail, collaboration, and results were required is essential.

Nice To Haves

Engineering or Technical Degree’s are not required but can substitute for some work experience.
Preferred Degree’s Chemical, Mechanical, Chemistry, Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, or Logistics.

Responsibilities

Serve as a senior procurement resource for highly technical, custom, and long-lead purchases across engineering, R&D, and operations.
Manage confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
Act as a primary point of contact with outside vendors for custom fabricated equipment, pressure vessels, reactors, steel structures, machined parts, pumps, specialty chemicals, and technical equipment.
Collaborate closely with engineering and R&D teams to understand technical requirements, specifications, drawings, datasheets, and project needs.
Lead sourcing, request for quote / request for proposal (RFQ/RFP), bid evaluation, vendor selection, negotiation, purchase order issuance, and order follow-up for complex technical purchases.
Identify, qualify, and develop alternative suppliers to improve cost, quality, responsiveness, and schedule reliability.
Negotiate pricing, lead times, payment terms, warranty provisions, delivery terms, and other commercial conditions.
Coordinate with vendors to resolve technical, commercial, quality, and delivery issues.
Track and expedite critical orders to support engineering, fabrication, construction, commissioning, and operational milestones.
Maintain strong supplier relationships and hold vendors accountable for performance, delivery, documentation, and quality expectations.
Review requisitions, quotes, specifications, drawings, contracts, and purchase documentation for accuracy and completeness.
Work with engineering and project teams to evaluate make-versus-buy decisions, supplier capabilities, and fabrication alternatives.
Support cost reduction efforts through competitive bidding, negotiation, supplier development, design-to-cost discussions, and alternate sourcing.
Coordinate with finance and internal stakeholders on budgets, purchase approvals, invoice discrepancies, and cost tracking.
Maintain accurate procurement records, vendor communications, contracts, quote files, purchase orders, and technical documentation.
Ensure compliance with internal procurement policies, safety standards, quality requirements, and applicable regulatory requirements.
Work in collaboration with other teams to achieve department and company goals.
Participate in meetings and planning sessions, providing work updates or summaries as requested.
Maintain accurate procurement records, contracts, documentation, and databases in compliance with company standards and regulatory requirements.
Maintain organized filing systems (digital and physical).
Work is performed at your designated location.
Exhibit strong organizational, documentation, communication, and computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and related programs.
Perform job duties in a safety-regulated environment where chemicals are used.
Must be able to function within a team environment.
Perform additional duties as assigned by the Manager/Supervisor or designated leadership.