Senior Buyer

Steelway Building Systems; Aylmer; Hybrid; CAD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health spending account

RRSP program

Profit sharing program

Hybrid work schedule

Employee assistance program

Boot & wellness allowances

Job summary

Steelway Building Systems is seeking a Senior Buyer to lead sourcing and procurement of mill-direct steel coil and major raw materials for manufacturing. You will build supplier relationships, analyze market conditions, and balance long-term strategies with day-to-day purchasing execution to ensure availability, quality and total landed costs.

The successful candidate will identify opportunities, manage risk, and contribute to Steelway's operational and financial objectives.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years in purchasing or supply chain, preferably steel manufacturing.
• Experience purchasing mill-direct steel coil, flat-rolled steel, structural steel, or similar.
• Post-secondary diploma or degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or related.
• SCMP designation or active enrollment is an asset.
• Experience in engineered-to-order, project-based manufacturing is an asset.
• Understanding of steel material specifications, grades, gauges, coatings, and manufacturing applications is an asset.
• Proficient with ERP systems.
• Excellent negotiation and supplier relationship management skills.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, material specifications, and bills of material.
• Strong analytical, organizational, forecasting and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Sourcing & Supplier Management: Build relationships with domestic mills and suppliers.
• Identify, evaluate, and qualify alternative sources to reduce risk.
• Evaluate opportunities based on total landed cost, quality, reliability and value.
• Monitor supplier performance and take corrective actions.
• Support supplier diversification and contingency planning.
• Challenge traditional sourcing approaches to improve outcomes.
• Procurement Planning & Inventory Optimization: Coordinate with production planning on material needs.
• Identify shortages and inventory concerns before they impact operations.
• Coordinate mill-direct purchases with replenishment strategies.
• Maintain purchasing data in ERP.
• Cost Management: Analyze steel pricing, market indices, and supplier quotations.
• Provide recommendations on timing, alternatives, and opportunities.
• Identify cost-reduction opportunities while maintaining quality and delivery.
• Provide market intelligence and pricing forecasts to leadership.
• Support cost database updates.
• Purchasing Execution: Prepare and manage purchase orders for mill-direct steel and raw materials.
• Verify specifications, grades, gauges, widths, coatings, and delivery needs.
• Ensure accuracy of quotations, PO terms, and acknowledgments.
• Monitor orders, shipments, and delivery commitments.
• Investigate discrepancies in pricing, quantities, and invoices.
• Maintain procurement records and controls.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Supplier relationships

Negotiation

Forecasting

Analytics

Education

Supply chain management

Operations management

Engineering

Business administration

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Our purpose is simple: To enrich the lives of our partners. At Steelway Building Systems, we are committed to delivering high-quality products and services to our customers. We believe that commitment begins with great people who bring expertise, initiative, and a drive for continuous improvement to everything they do.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Buyer to lead the sourcing and procurement of mill-direct steel coil and other critical raw materials supporting our manufacturing operations.

This position requires a strong combination of strategic thinking, commercial awareness, technical understanding, attention to detail, and proactive problem-solving abilities. The successful candidate will develop and maintain strong supplier relationships, monitor steel market conditions, and ensure a reliable, cost-effective supply of critical raw materials.

The role balances long-term sourcing strategies with disciplined day-to-day purchasing execution, ensuring that material availability, quality, and total landed costs are effectively managed.

The Senior Buyer must be comfortable analyzing complex information, identifying supply chain risks, challenging existing sourcing practices, and developing practical solutions that support Steelway's operational and financial objectives.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

What You Will Do

Sourcing & Supplier Management

• Establish and maintain strong commercial relationships with domestic steel mills and strategic suppliers.
• Identify, evaluate, and qualify alternative supply sources to improve competitiveness and reduce supply chain risk.
• Evaluate sourcing opportunities based on total landed cost, product quality, reliability, capacity, and long-term value.
• Monitor supplier performance and implement corrective actions where required.
• Support supplier diversification and contingency planning to ensure continuity of material supply.
• Challenge traditional sourcing approaches and identify opportunities to improve purchasing outcomes

Procurement Planning & Inventory Optimization

• Collaborate with Production Planning to understand material requirements and anticipated demand
• Identify potential shortages, excess inventory, and material availability concerns before they affect operations.
• Coordinate mill-direct purchases with production requirements and inventory replenishment strategies.
• Maintain accurate purchasing, supplier, pricing, and delivery information within ERP system.

Cost Management

• Analyze steel pricing structures, market indices, and supplier quotations to support effective purchasing decisions.
• Develop recommendations regarding purchase timing, sourcing alternatives, and commercial opportunities.
• Identify and execute cost-reduction initiatives while maintaining required quality and delivery performance.
• Provide market intelligence, pricing forecasts, and sourcing recommendations to the Senior Materials Manager.
• Support cost database updating activities

Purchasing Execution & Attention to Detail

• Prepare, review, and manage purchase orders for mill-direct steel coil and major raw materials.
• Verify material specifications, grades, gauges, widths, coatings, finishes, weights, quantities, and delivery requirements.
• Ensure supplier quotations, purchase orders, order acknowledgements, and commercial agreements are accurate and consistent.
• Monitor open purchase orders, mill production schedules, shipment status, and delivery commitments.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies involving pricing, quantities, material specifications, invoices, and deliveries.
• Maintain accurate procurement records and follow established purchasing controls.
• Demonstrate a high level of accuracy when reviewing commercial terms, technical specifications, and purchasing documentation.

Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement

• Proactively identify supply chain challenges and develop practical, timely solutions.
• Investigate root causes of material shortages, delivery delays, supplier performance issues, and purchasing discrepancies.
• Assess alternative materials, suppliers, shipment arrangements, or purchasing strategies when supply disruptions occur.
• Use data and sound judgment to evaluate options, assess risks, and recommend appropriate actions.
• Develop improvements to procurement processes, supplier management, inventory planning, and reporting.
• Take ownership of issues through resolution while maintaining clear communication with affected stakeholders.
• Demonstrate the ability to manage competing priorities without sacrificing accuracy or quality.

What You Will Need

• Minimum 7-10 years of purchasing, strategic sourcing, or supply chain experience, preferably within steel manufacturing, metal fabrication, or a related industrial environment
• Experience purchasing mill-direct steel coil, flat-rolled steel, structural steel, or other major manufacturing raw materials is strongly preferred
• Post-secondary diploma or degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• SCMP designation or active enrollment is considered an asset.
• Experience in an engineered-to-order, project-based manufacturing environment is considered an asset.
• Understanding of steel material specifications, grades, gauges, coatings, and manufacturing applications is an asset
• Proficient with ERP systems
• Excellent negotiation and supplier relationship management skills.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, material specifications, and bills of material.
• Strong analytical, organizational, forecasting and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

What We Offer

• Compensation: Base pay range of $75,000 - $85,000 annually
• Comprehensive benefits package (including health spending account)
• RRSP Program
• Profit Sharing Program
• Hybrid work schedule
• Dialogue Health Care: Employee and Family Assistance Program
• Boot Allowance & Wellness Allowance
• Employee Referral Program
• Computer Purchase Program
• Corporate Discounts
• Years of Service Rewards
• Educational Reimbursement
• Company Events & Celebrations
• Fundraising initiatives for local charities
• Monthly employee appreciation lunch & weekly subsidized lunch (Steelgrill)
• Family-friendly environment

Inclusion & Accessibility

Steelway Building Systems provides accommodations to job applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. If an applicant requires accommodation during the application or selection process, the hiring manager and the Manager of Human Resources will work with the applicant to meet their needs.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment

Steelway Building Systems may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in screening and evaluating applications during the recruitment process. Hiring decisions are made by our recruitment team, with human oversight and consideration of each candidate's qualifications and experience.