Tactical Procurement Buyer

Mettler Toledo•Oakland, CA

6d•$69,709 - $107,468

About The Position

The Tactical Procurement Buyer issues and manages purchase orders for direct and indirect materials and services in accordance with MRP/ERP requirements and production schedules. The role monitors open orders, expedites deliveries to avoid production disruptions, communicates order status to internal stakeholders, evaluates supplier quotes, negotiates pricing, lead times, and terms, and maintains accurate purchasing data in SAP. The position manages MRP exception messages and works with Supplier Quality, Engineering, Production, Strategic Procurement, and Accounts Payable to address supply, quality, delivery, and invoice issues. It tracks procurement metrics, supports new product development and introduction activities, participates in supplier performance reviews, identifies supply chain risks, contributes to continuous improvement, and ensures purchasing compliance with company policies, ISO 9001 standards, and applicable regulations. The buyer also supports annual budget planning with spend data, market intelligence, and cost forecasts.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience may be considered.
At least 2 years of experience in purchasing, procurement, or a supply chain role.
Experience managing purchase orders, supplier relationships, and inventory replenishment in a high-mix production setting.
Intermediate knowledge of MRP/ERP-driven procurement processes.
Intermediate to advanced proficiency with ERP systems for purchase order management, inventory analysis, and reporting.
Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and data analysis tools.
Working knowledge of MRP principles, demand planning, and inventory management concepts.
Familiarity with ISO 9001 quality management system requirements as they apply to supplier qualification and purchasing controls.
Understanding of Incoterms, basic contract terms, and domestic and international shipping and logistics processes.
Intermediate analytical skills, including the ability to interpret spend data, evaluate quotes, and make fact-based purchasing decisions.
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities accurately in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to identify supply risks proactively and develop practical contingency plans.

Nice To Haves

Manufacturing-environment experience.
SAP experience.
Experience supporting new product launches or working cross-functionally with Engineering or R&D teams.
Background in precision instruments, laboratory equipment, medical devices, or regulated manufacturing environments.
Experience with Lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies such as 5S and Kaizen.

Responsibilities

Issue and manage purchase orders for direct materials, indirect materials, and services in accordance with MRP/ERP system requirements and production schedules.
Monitor open orders, expedite deliveries as needed, and communicate status updates to internal stakeholders.
Evaluate supplier quotes and negotiate pricing, lead times, and terms for assigned commodities in partnership with Strategic Procurement.
Maintain purchasing data in SAP, including pricing, lead times, minimum order quantities, and supplier records.
Manage MRP exception messages, including reschedules, expedites, and cancellations.
Partner with Supplier Quality, Engineering, and Production to resolve non-conformances, shortages, and delivery issues.
Track and report procurement metrics, including on-time delivery, cost savings, and purchase price variance, and identify improvement opportunities.
Support NPDI/MPDI activities by sourcing materials, qualifying suppliers, and managing sample requests.
Participate in supplier performance reviews and provide data and feedback on delivery, quality, and responsiveness.
Identify and escalate supply chain risks, including single-source vulnerabilities and geopolitical or capacity constraints.
Contribute to departmental and cross-functional continuous improvement projects aligned with Lean and 5S principles.
Ensure purchasing activity complies with company policies, ISO 9001 quality standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.
Collaborate with Accounts Payable to resolve invoice discrepancies and support timely supplier payments.
Support annual budget planning with spend data, market intelligence, and forecasted cost changes for assigned categories.
Perform other duties as assigned.