Buyer

Sterling Engineering; McKenzie (TN); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling Engineering in Tennessee seeks a hands-on Buyer to support a growing manufacturing operation. This role sources production materials, manages supplier relationships, maintains inventory, and ensures materials are available to keep production on schedule.

The Buyer will supervise one direct report and collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Production, Quality, and Accounting. Travel up to 15% may be required.

Qualifications

• 3+ years purchasing experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage purchasing for production materials, maintenance supplies, consumables, services, and contracts.
• Source, quote, negotiate, and purchase castings, plate, bar stock, valve components, and other manufacturing materials.
• Review material requirements, BOMs, Kanban cards, requisitions, and purchase requests.
• Issue purchase orders, blanket orders, and supplier agreements while maintaining records.
• Negotiate supplier pricing, quality, delivery terms, and service agreements.
• Monitor inventory, forecast material needs, expedite orders, and support production schedules.
• Build relationships with domestic and global suppliers and resolve quality or delivery concerns.
• Support Lean purchasing and inventory programs (Kanban, VMI, consignment).
• Use ERP systems to manage purchasing activity, planning, supplier performance, and procurement data.
• Track purchasing metrics and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Supervise and support one direct report.
• Travel up to 15% for supplier visits and meetings.

Skills

Purchasing

Negotiation

Supplier management

Inventory management

Lean manufacturing

Kanban

Forecasting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations, or related field

High school diploma / GED with 5+ years purchasing experience

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

We are hiring a Buyer to support a growing manufacturing operation. This is a hands‑on purchasing role responsible for sourcing production materials, managing supplier relationships, maintaining inventory levels, and ensuring materials are available to support production schedules. The Buyer will have one direct report and will work closely with Operations, Engineering, Production, Quality, and Accounting.

Compensation: $75–$85k

Schedule: 100% onsite with flexible hours.

What You’ll Do:

• Manage purchasing for production materials, maintenance supplies, consumables, services, and contracts
• Source, quote, negotiate, and purchase items such as castings, plate, bar stock, valve components, and other manufacturing materials
• Review material requirements, bills of material, Kanban cards, requisitions, and purchase requests
• Issue purchase orders, blanket orders, and supplier agreements while maintaining accurate records
• Negotiate supplier pricing, quality, delivery terms, and service agreements
• Monitor inventory, forecast material needs, expedite orders, and help keep production on schedule
• Build strong relationships with domestic and global suppliers and resolve quality or delivery concerns
• Support Lean purchasing and inventory programs, including Kanban, vendor‑managed inventory, consignment, and pull systems
• Use ERP systems to manage purchasing activity, planning parameters, supplier performance, and procurement data
• Track purchasing metrics and support continuous‑improvement initiatives
• Supervise and support one direct report
• Travel up to 15% for supplier visits, client meetings, and business needs

What We’re Looking For:

• Must Have: 3+ years of purchasing, procurement, or buyer experience within a manufacturing or industrial environment
• Must Have: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations, or a related field, or a high school diploma/GED with at least 5 years of purchasing experience
• Must Have: Experience purchasing raw materials, production components, or services for a manufacturing operation
• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to balance cost, quality, and delivery needs
• ERP purchasing system experience
• Comfortable reviewing BOMs, inventory data, and material requirements
• Strong communication, organization, and follow‑up skills
• Experience with Lean manufacturing, Kanban, VMI, consignment inventory, or supplier performance metrics is a plus