Buyer, Sr.

ASSA ABLOY Sicherheitstechnik GmbH; Mequon (WI); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

ASSA ABLOY Group is seeking a Senior Buyer to help keep production moving by sourcing materials, negotiating terms, and analyzing inventory trends. You will collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Finance, and Customer Service to ensure timely, cost-effective supply across manufacturing operations.

The role emphasizes data-driven decision-making, supplier performance management, and continuous improvement in purchasing processes. A strong background in ERP/MRP and Excel is required.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of purchasing, supply chain, materials planning, or inventory management experience.
• Proficient with ERP/MRP systems and Excel.
• Ability to negotiate while building supplier partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Manage supplier relationships and sourcing materials to keep production running smoothly.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, contracts, and service agreements.
• Analyze demand, forecasts, and production schedules to stay ahead of inventory needs.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Finance, and Customer Service teams.
• Lead cost-reduction and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Troubleshoot shortages, delays, and supplier challenges before they impact customers.

Skills

Supplier relationships

Negotiation

Data analysis

ERP/MRP

Excel

Engineering drawings

Communication

Prioritization

Process improvement

Tools

JD Edwards

QAD

ERP systems

Job description

Senior Buyer The person who keeps production moving, inventory flowing, and suppliers on their toes. Are you the kind of person who gets a little too excited about lead times, supplier negotiations, inventory turns, and finding a better way to do things? Do you love solving supply chain puzzles before anyone else even knows there's a problem? If your answer is "yes," keep reading. We're looking for a Senior Buyer to become a key member of our team. In this role, you'll be part strategist, part analyst, part negotiator, and part firefighter. You'll help ensure our manufacturing operations have exactly what they need, when they need it, at the best possible cost. No two days are the same. One minute you're negotiating pricing with a supplier, the next you're analyzing inventory trends, helping resolve a production issue, leading a cost-reduction initiative, or coaching a new buyer. If you thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and enjoy making a tangible impact on the business every day, we'd love to meet you.

What You'll Be Doing

• Managing supplier relationships and sourcing materials that keep production running smoothly.
• Negotiating pricing, lead times, contracts, and service agreements.
• Staying one step ahead of inventory needs by analyzing demand, forecasts, and production schedules.
• Working closely with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Finance, and Customer Service teams.
• Leading cost-reduction and continuous improvement initiatives without sacrificing quality or service.
• Troubleshooting shortages, delays, and supplier challenges before they become customer problems.
• Creating and improving purchasing processes, SOPs, and best practices.
• Helping train and mentor new buyers and serving as a go-to resource for the purchasing team.
• Driving supplier performance in quality, delivery, responsiveness, and cost competitiveness.
• Turning data into decisions through reporting, forecasting, and inventory analysis.

What Makes You a Great Fit

• Have 5+ years of purchasing, supply chain, materials planning, or inventory management experience.
• Know your way around ERP/MRP systems and Excel.
• Can negotiate confidently while building strong supplier partnerships.
• Enjoy digging into data and solving problems.
• Understand manufacturing environments and production schedules.
• Can read engineering drawings or have experience working with technical products.
• Communicate effectively with everyone from warehouse teams to suppliers to senior leadership.
• Stay calm under pressure and know how to juggle multiple priorities.
• Naturally look for ways to improve processes and drive results.

Bonus Points If You Have

• Experience with JD Edwards, QAD, or similar ERP systems.
• Purchasing or Supply Chain certifications (CPP, CPSM, APICS, etc.).
• Experience creating cost models or conducting sourcing analyses.
• SQL or database skills.
• Spanish language skills.

What Success Looks Like You don't just place purchase orders. You identify risks before they happen. You strengthen supplier relationships. You improve processes. You reduce costs. You improve service levels. You help the business grow. Most importantly, you make sure our customers get what they need when they need it.

Why You'll Love It

• High-impact role with visibility across the organization.
• Opportunity to lead and influence without direct reports.
• Collaborative team environment.
• Continuous improvement culture where your ideas matter.
• Variety, challenge, and no shortage of opportunities to make a difference.

We are the ASSA ABLOY Group Our people have made us the global leader in access solutions. In return, we open doors for them wherever they go. With nearly 63,000 colleagues in more than 70 different countries, we help billions of people experience a more open world. Our innovations make all sorts of spaces – physical and virtual – safer, more secure, and easier to access. As an employer, we value results – not titles, or backgrounds. We empower our people to build their career around their aspirations and our ambitions – supporting them with regular feedback, training, and development opportunities. Our colleagues think broadly about where they can make the most impact, and we encourage them to grow their role locally, regionally, or even internationally. As we welcome new people on board, it’s important to us to have diverse, inclusive teams, and we value different perspectives and experiences.