Buyer

Buyer

Location: Madison, WI (On Site)

Compensation: $75,000-$90,000 annually plus bonus

Job Type: Permanent; Full-time

Position Overview

An established manufacturing organization is expanding its purchasing team and seeking a Buyer to support material availability, inventory planning, and production requirements. This individual will play an important role in coordinating supplier activity, maintaining appropriate inventory levels, and ensuring purchased components are available to support manufacturing schedules and customer commitments.

This is a hands-on opportunity for a purchasing or materials professional who enjoys working across departments, solving supply challenges, and contributing to operational efficiency in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate purchasing activities to ensure materials are ordered and delivered in alignment with production requirements and supplier lead times.
• Manage purchase orders through the company's ERP system, monitoring order status, delivery commitments, and required follow-up actions.
• Partner with production planning and scheduling teams to align material availability with manufacturing priorities and anticipated customer demand.
• Review system-generated planning recommendations and exception alerts, determining appropriate actions to address potential shortages, timing issues, and changing requirements.
• Maintain regular communication with suppliers regarding order confirmations, delivery schedules, material discrepancies, and outstanding commitments.
• Collaborate with inventory control, receiving, and production teams to resolve material flow issues and minimize disruptions to operations.
• Evaluate inventory levels and identify opportunities to address excess, obsolete, or slow-moving materials.
• Maintain accurate planning parameters and purchasing data within the ERP system to support effective replenishment and inventory management.
• Work with internal stakeholders to communicate order status, identify material constraints, and address changing business needs.
• Support supplier negotiations involving component pricing, payment terms, and purchasing agreements.
• Monitor critical material requirements, proactively expedite delayed components, and communicate potential impacts to production schedules.
• Participate in cross-functional initiatives focused on process improvement, cost reduction, supplier performance, and operational effectiveness.
• Assist with new product initiatives and other projects that support business growth and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required, preferably in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in purchasing, material planning, or a related supply chain function preferred.
• Experience within a manufacturing environment strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of inventory management, demand planning, forecasting, supplier lead times, and material replenishment processes.
• Experience managing purchase orders, coordinating supplier deliveries, and resolving material availability issues.
• Familiarity with ERP systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and time-management skills with attention to detail.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across departments.
• Demonstrated initiative, adaptability, problem-solving ability, and accountability for results.

Why this role?

• Base salary of $75,000-$90,000.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement plan
• Paid time off
• Opportunity to join a growing manufacturing operation during an important period of expansion.
• Broad exposure to purchasing, inventory management, supplier coordination, and production planning.
• Collaborative work environment with regular interaction across multiple operational functions.
• Casual workplace and some flexibility in daily scheduling.
• Opportunity to contribute to process improvements and initiatives that directly support manufacturing performance.