Indirect Buyer

HBK - Hottinger Brüel & Kjær; Marlborough (MA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

HBK - Hottinger Brüel & Kjær is seeking an Indirect Buyer to manage procurement across CapEx and OpEx, support manufacturing sites, and collaborate with global teams to drive cost efficiency and supplier excellence. You will lead negotiations, maintain catalogs in SAP S4/HANA and ARIBA, and ensure supplier onboarding and compliance.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, spend analysis, and process improvements to strengthen HBK’s supply chain resilience and sustainability

Qualifications

• Associate degree in business or related field required; 2–3 years indirect procurement experience preferred.
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills with attention to detail.
• Experience with ERP systems; SAP S4/HANA and ARIBA knowledge essential.
• Fluent English, self-driven and collaborative in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage indirect procurement across CapEx and OpEx categories and support manufacturing sites.
• Lead supplier negotiations to secure favorable pricing, terms and service levels.
• Maintain supplier catalogs in SAP S4/HANA and ARIBA; drive catalog adoption.
• Onboard suppliers with compliance checks and system registrations; coordinate with legal and finance.
• Provide site-level procurement support, dashboards, and KPI reporting.

Skills

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Analytical mindset

Attention to detail

Education

Associate's Degree in Business / Supply Chain

Bachelor's Degree in Business / Supply Chain

Tools

SAP S4/HANA

ARIBA

Job description

Join Us at HBK – Precision, Performance, Progress

At Hottinger Brüel & Kjær (HBK), we develop and deliver highly specialized solutions that empower innovation across industries. Our values—Own it, Aim high, Be true—guide everything we do. We are currently seeking a proactive Indirect Buyer to support our global Procurement function from our Porto office.

Job Summary

As an Indirect Buyer, you will manage indirect procurement activities across CapEx and OpEx categories, support manufacturing sites, and collaborate with global indirect commodity team and key stakeholders to ensure supplier excellence, cost-efficiency, compliance, sustainability and supply chain resilience.

Key Responsibilities

• Procure-to-Pay Execution: Evaluate, approve, and convert purchase requisitions into purchase orders in compliance with internal policies and processes.
• Supplier Negotiations: Lead negotiations with suppliers to secure optimal pricing, terms, and service levels. Support global commodity managers in developing long-term strategic partnerships.
• Catalog Management: Maintain and optimize supplier catalogues in SAP S4/HANA and ARIBA, ensuring accurate pricing, availability, and compliance with preferred supplier lists. Drive catalogue adoption across business units and support catalogue-based purchasing to streamline operations.
• Supplier Onboarding:
  • Coordinate onboarding of new suppliers, ensuring all documentation, compliance checks, and system registrations are completed.
  • Collaborate with legal, finance, and quality teams to validate supplier credentials and risk profiles.
  • Ensure suppliers are trained on HBK’s procurement platforms and processes.
  • Monitor onboarding timelines and resolve bottlenecks to ensure timely activation.
• Site Reporting & Support: Act as a procurement liaison for manufacturing sites, providing regular updates on supplier performance, cost-saving initiatives, and contract compliance. Ensure local needs are reflected in global procurement strategies.
• Spend Analysis & Optimization: Analyze spend data to identify consolidation opportunities, reduce tail spend, and leverage volume discounts. Support the creation of sourcing strategies based on spend visibility.
• Contract Administration: Assist in drafting, reviewing, and managing supplier contracts, ensuring alignment with HBK’s compliance and risk mitigation standards.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders to align procurement strategies with business needs and drive cross-functional collaboration.
• Performance Reporting: Develop and maintain dashboards and reports to track procurement KPIs, supplier performance, and savings initiatives.
• Process Improvement: Continuously evaluate procurement processes to identify inefficiencies and implement improvements that enhance value and reduce risk.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Cost Savings Achieved (vs. baseline or budget)
• Catalogue Utilization Rate (ARIBA/S4 adoption across sites)
• Supplier On-Time Delivery Rate
• Contract Compliance Rate
• Purchase Order Cycle Time
• Stakeholder Satisfaction Score
• Spend Under Management
• Procurement Process Efficiency Metrics
• Catalogue Accuracy and Update Frequency
• Supplier Response Time to RFQs and Issues
• Supplier Onboarding Cycle Time
• Supplier Compliance Rate (documentation, certifications)

Required Qualifications

• Associate's Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
• 2–3 years of experience in indirect procurement or purchasing.
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Analytical mindset with attention to detail.
• Experience with ERP systems; SAP S4/HANA and ARIBA knowledge
• Familiarity with supplier onboarding, consolidation, and cost optimization strategies.
• Fluent in English (written and spoken); additional languages are a plus.
• Self-driven, adaptable, and comfortable in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in indirect procurement or purchasing.

About the Team

You’ll join a global team of skilled and committed procurement professionals dedicated to operational excellence. Our department thrives on collaboration, innovation, and shared success—contributing directly to HBK’s mission of delivering precision measurement solutions.

Compensation

The pay range for this position is $70,000 to $90,000. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to the individual's qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as physical work location within the state.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States full-time and will not require sponsorship either now or in the future to obtain an employment visa.