Senior Buyer / Planner

JOIN A GLOBAL LEADER IN INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION!                                                                         

At Murrelektronik, we don’t just sell automation solutions—we bring machines to life.

Summary:

The Senior Buyer will be responsible for managing the procurement of materials, equipment, and services critical to the manufacturing process, ensuring the availability of necessary resources to meet production schedules. This role requires strong negotiation skills, a deep understanding of supply chain processes, and the ability to work cross-functionally to meet the company’s operational and financial goals. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of manufacturing processes, exceptional organizational skills, and the ability to adapt to changing priorities.

Essential Duties

• Procurement Management:
  • Source and procure raw materials, components, and equipment required for production, maintaining competitive pricing, high quality, and timely delivery.
  • Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships, negotiate favorable terms and contracts, and ensure reliable sources of supply.
  • Collaborate with production and engineering teams to understand material requirements and ensure alignment with production schedules.
• Inventory & Supplier Optimization:
  • Monitor inventory levels to ensure an optimal balance of stock without overstocking or stockouts. Develop processes needed to ensure accurate inventory transactions and counts.
  • Evaluate supplier performance, identify areas for improvement, and collaborate with suppliers to resolve issues.
  • Implement and drive cost-saving initiatives, such as vendor consolidation, bulk purchasing, or strategic sourcing.
• Supplier Performance and Risk Management:
  • Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure supplier performance on quality, delivery, and cost metrics.
  • Conduct risk assessments of suppliers to proactively mitigate potential disruptions.
  • Work closely with quality control and engineering departments to address quality issues and improve supplier processes.
• Market Analysis & Strategy Development:
  • Stay informed on industry trends, pricing fluctuations, and new suppliers to adjust sourcing strategies.
  • Conduct market research to identify potential new suppliers and alternatives for existing sources.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  • Partner with finance and production teams to develop and manage budgets and procurement forecasts.
  • Work closely with logistics teams to optimize transportation, delivery, and lead times.
• Compliance & Documentation:
  • Ensure all procurement activities comply with company policies, procedures, and relevant regulations.
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of contracts, pricing, and supplier agreements.
  • Generate procurement reports and analyze data to track purchasing trends and performance.

 Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, or related field. Relevant certifications (e.g., CPSM, CPP, CIPS) are a plus.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in procurement or supply chain management, with at least 3 years in a buyer role within a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience in managing supplier relationships, negotiating contracts, and driving cost-saving initiatives.
• Strong understanding of materials, inventory control, and supply chain principles.

Desired Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in purchasing, ERP software (SAP experience preferred), and advanced use of Excel
• Analytical skills to assess market trends, supplier performance, and cost-saving opportunities.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Knowledge of ISO quality standards, lean manufacturing principles, and continuous improvement processes.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, high-variation manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with global sourcing and managing international suppliers.
• Experience with sourcing electronics components.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position, and hours of work and days are Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Travel

The position will require approximately 10% travel (supporting multiple locations). Travel is usually outside of the local area and overnight. Travel is both domestic and international.

Work Environment

This job operates in a production office environment. The employee is occasionally exposed to shop elements such as noise, dust, fumes and odors. This position will require the use of personal protective equipment in the production area. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

At Murrelektronik, our success is primarily based on our committed employees, innovative products, market and customer centricity, effective logistics and quality consciousness.  We are proud of this: for our company, founded in Oppenweiler in 1975, today occupies a leading position not only on a national, but also on an international basis.

We at Murrelektronik strive to establish long-term connections. And not only in a technical sense, but also in our particularly close connections to our customers. For this reason, we attach importance to employee satisfaction and welfare. We aim to support this through various services and benefits.

We offer a robust benefit package to include medical, dental and vision services, tuition reimbursement, annual uniform stipend, flexible work environment and much more.