Sr. Strategic Buyer

Lonza•Vacaville, CA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Strategic Buyer (Indirect) drives value for site stakeholders by working closely with the Central Procurement team to support business continuity and align procurement with site-specific objectives. The role builds partnerships across sites to manage supplier relationships and performance, leads strategic sourcing initiatives, and oversees delegated spend. It requires expertise in tendering, negotiation, contracting, and procurement systems. This is an office-first role based in Vacaville, California. The position is primarily office-based, with the flexibility to work remotely one day per week (20% of the time). The expected full-time base annual salary range is $93,000–$155,000, with a performance-related bonus and a benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) matching; life and disability insurance; employee assistance programs; and paid time off. Compensation depends on qualifications, skills, experience, and relevant knowledge.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree, MBA, or advanced degree in Business, Economics, Engineering, Procurement, or Supply Chain.
Solid understanding of general business practices and procurement fundamentals.
5–10 years of experience in both operational procurement and strategic buying/category management, with strong strategic buying experience.
Expertise in tendering, negotiation tactics, planning, and contracting.
Proven track record in third-party spend management and supplier relationship management.
Ability to influence and persuade suppliers to secure favorable outcomes.
Hands-on experience with SAP ERP and SAP Ariba for strategic buying in indirect procurement.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other essential procurement operations tools.
Strong customer service mindset and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
Positive attitude and proactive approach to learning new skills.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the Central Category Manager to develop and execute category strategies aligned with current and future site business needs.
Lead sourcing initiatives for delegated spend across assigned sites to improve efficiency and achieve cost savings.
Provide support for tendering, negotiations, contracting, and procurement planning, ensuring compliance and adherence to best practices.
Support global and regional sourcing efforts and the rollout of procurement policies, procedures, and tools across sites.
Identify cost efficiencies, drive automation, and use tools such as e-auctions and online catalogs to optimize procurement activities.
Manage supplier relationships, including transitions, performance monitoring, and supply, quality, and financial risk assessments.
Partner with site stakeholders and controllers to forecast spend, track savings, maintain business continuity for indirect materials, and identify risks and improvement opportunities.