Senior Buyer - Reading, PA

Job Overview

The Senior Buyer is an experienced individual contributor responsible for purchasing execution for assigned materials and suppliers. Working independently within established policies and approval authority, this role applies sound judgment to balance production requirements and customer commitments with inventory, cost, and quality objectives. The position is focused on operational purchasing, not sourcing strategy, supplier selection, or contract negotiation.

A Day In The Life

• Own purchase order placement, supplier acknowledgments, and order maintenance, ensuring accurate quantities, pricing, delivery dates, and terms.
• Partner with Planning and Operations to review material requirements, prioritize shortages, and communicate supplier commitments, supply risks, and recovery actions.
• Lead regular supplier reviews covering delivery performance, past-due orders, capacity constraints, and corrective actions; track commitments through closure.
• Monitor open orders and material planning exceptions; expedite, defer, or cancel orders as appropriate to support demand and inventory objectives, escalating risks before they affect production.
• Coordinate with Quality, Receiving, Accounts Payable, and suppliers to resolve nonconforming material, receipt discrepancies, invoice issues, and returns while protecting continuity of supply.
• Serve as a subject matter resource for assigned materials, suppliers, and purchasing systems; maintain purchasing data and coordinate approved updates to lead times, order quantities, and other planning parameters.
• Coordinate purchasing setup, initial orders, and delivery readiness for approved supplier transitions, ensuring continuity of material supply.
• Ensure purchase orders reflect approved suppliers, pricing, and purchasing terms; resolve discrepancies through the appropriate approval channels.
• Independently identify and lead purchasing process improvements that reduce manual work, improve data accuracy, address recurring issues, and strengthen standard work.
• Identify supply constraints early and coordinate approved recovery options with Planning, Engineering, and Quality; escalate issues requiring supplier or material changes.
• Drive material availability while managing inventory exposure, excess and obsolete material risk, premium freight, and lead-time reduction opportunities.
• Validate supplier acknowledgments against purchase orders and resolve differences in quantities, approved pricing, and delivery dates.
• Secure achievable supplier delivery commitments and recovery schedules, challenging missed dates and tracking actions to protect production requirements.
• Analyze and report purchasing metrics, including supplier on-time delivery, past-due orders, material shortages, and inventory exposure; communicate performance trends, supply risks, and recommended recovery actions.
• Work across functions to resolve complex supply problems, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions that improve cost, quality, and delivery.
• Mentor purchasing peers, share system and process knowledge, and support training and consistent application of purchasing policies and standard work.
• Provide purchasing coverage during team absences and maintain clear handoffs, current order status, and documented priorities.

What will help you thrive in this role?

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience considered.
• 5+ years of progressively responsible purchasing experience, including independent management of suppliers, purchase orders, and complex material availability issues.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, material specifications, and related terminology relevant to purchased components.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills for purchasing analysis and reporting, including pivot tables and lookup functions; proficiency with PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.
• Hands-on experience with SAP and material requirements planning (MRP) systems, including purchase order management, planning exceptions, lead times, and purchasing data accuracy.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present supply risks, recommendations, and recovery plans to suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrated analytical, supplier follow-up, and problem-solving skills, including root cause analysis and follow-through on corrective actions.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize competing requirements, exercise sound judgment, and collaborate across functions while following purchasing policies and approval requirements.

• Ability to build effective supplier relationships, influence without direct authority, and coach purchasing peers.
• Willingness to travel as needed (approx. 15%)

 Preferred Qualifications

• Strong SAP purchasing and materials planning experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
• APICS/ASCM certification or another relevant purchasing or supply chain certification.