Strategic Buyer

Precision Products Group, Inc • Cincinnati, OH

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Strategic Buyer is responsible for managing sourcing and supplier performance in support of two PPG manufacturing facilities, with a clear path to take on additional plants and broader category ownership across the PPG family of companies as the role grows. This role handles a mix of direct materials — such as engineered paper, textiles, copper, and chemicals — along with related indirect spend, based on what the assigned plants need. It is a hands-on buying role today, balancing day-to-day purchase order execution with supplier follow-up and inventory support, while also reading supply markets, building supplier leverage, developing sourcing strategies, and adding real analysis to sourcing decisions rather than just processing them.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience required.
• 3–5 years of experience in procurement, buying, or sourcing, ideally within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Experience negotiating with suppliers and managing supplier performance.
• Strong analytical skills and comfort working with data in Excel.
• Experience working within an ERP/MRP system (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Infor, or similar).
• Strong project management, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communicator able to collaborate and work cross-functionally across the enterprise.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, & Outlook).

Nice To Haves

• Sourcing experience in engineered paper, textiles, copper/metals, or chemicals is a plus.
• Exposure to category strategy or should-cost/TCO modeling preferred.
• Experience supporting multiple sites or business units preferred.
• Professional certification such as CPSM, CPIM, CSCP, or CPM is a plus.
• Preferred experience working within small-to-mid-sized companies that are PE-owned.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day sourcing and purchasing for assigned categories at both plants, balancing cost, quality, lead time, and supply risk.
• Issue and manage purchase orders for direct materials, indirect materials, and MRO supplies.
• Monitor open orders, expedite as needed, and resolve delivery or quality discrepancies with suppliers.
• Maintain accurate purchasing, forecasting, and inventory data within the ERP system to support planning.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for assigned categories, with an eye toward leveraging volume as scope expands across additional PPG sites.
• Read supply markets and track commodity trends to inform timing and negotiating leverage.
• Identify and qualify new suppliers where needed to reduce risk or improve cost, quality, or service.
• Build basic cost and total-cost-of-ownership (TCO) analysis to support sourcing decisions beyond unit price.
• Partner with engineering and operations on supplier selection for new programs and product launches.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and contracts with suppliers.
• Manage structured supplier management processes — onboarding, scorecards, and periodic business reviews — to track performance and drive accountability.
• Monitor supplier delivery, quality, and responsiveness; resolve issues as they arise and drive corrective action when performance slips.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships that support long-term supply reliability.
• Manage inventory levels for assigned categories at both plants — balancing service levels against carrying cost and flagging slow-moving or excess stock.
• Track and report cost savings, cost avoidance, and purchase price variance.
• Support annual budgeting and forecasting with input on material cost trends.
• Identify and lead continuous improvement initiatives across sourcing, inventory, and supplier management processes to reduce cost, cycle time, and waste.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, and Quality at both facilities to align sourcing with production schedules and specifications.
• Flag category or market risks and opportunities to procurement leadership.
• As scope expands, partner with procurement and operations leaders across additional PPG sites to standardize purchasing practices and prepare reporting on spend, savings, and key procurement metrics.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation (base salary plus performance-based incentives)
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision (PPO and HSA options)
• 401K with company match
• Highly engaged culture that recognizes and rewards high performance
• A collaborative and supportive team environment with strong leadership
• Opportunities for career progression and the ability to make an immediate impact on the business
• Exposure to a diverse customer base spanning pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and medical device markets

What This Job Offers

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