MRO Buyer

Expert Connections; South Carolina; On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Expert Connections seeks an MRO Purchasing Buyer for a Spartanburg, SC area manufacturing operation. The role sources MRO supplies, spare parts, and services, manages requisitions and POs, and expedites orders to avoid downtime.

A strong focus on supplier negotiation, vendor management, and inventory planning is required. The ideal candidate has 3–7+ years in MRO purchasing within a manufacturing environment, with hands-on ERP/MRP usage and knowledge of automotive components.

Qualifications

• 3–7+ years of purchasing or procurement experience, preferably with a strong focus on MRO purchasing
• Experience working within an automotive manufacturing or maintenance-intensive environment
• Strong technical understanding of machine and automation components, electronics, motors, sensors, wiring/electrical components, safety equipment, and other maintenance and repair parts
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered
• Proven experience negotiating supplier pricing, terms, and agreements
• Experience managing supplier relationships, evaluating vendors, and monitoring supplier performance
• Hands-on experience with inventory planning, demand planning, or MRP/ERP-based procurement
• Experience using ERP systems such as SAP, Epicor, Oracle, or similar
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Willingness to work hands-on with materials and parts when needed, including physically moving product

Responsibilities

• Source and purchase MRO supplies, spare parts, tools, consumables, equipment, indirect materials, and maintenance services
• Process purchasing requisitions and create and manage purchase orders
• Review PO acknowledgements and track orders through delivery and receipt
• Expedite critical orders to prevent production downtime and operational interruptions
• Negotiate supplier pricing, payment terms, lead times, contracts, and other commercial conditions
• Analyze supplier quotes and identify opportunities for cost savings and alternative sourcing
• Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships and identify and qualify new vendors
• Monitor supplier performance related to delivery, quality, responsiveness, and cost
• Partner with Maintenance, Production, and Engineering to understand upcoming MRO requirements and purchasing priorities
• Support inventory planning, including min/max levels, stock and non-stock items, and reduction of excess or obsolete inventory
• Support Kanban, vendor-managed inventory, or similar inventory optimization programs
• Utilize ERP/MRP systems for purchasing, planning, order management, and inventory tracking
• Resolve delivery, invoice, pricing, and payment discrepancies with suppliers and internal departments
• Provide quotes, sourcing options, and recommendations for internal MRO equipment and service requests
• Support continuous improvement and cost-reduction initiatives within the purchasing function
• Assist with purchasing-related administrative responsibilities as needed

Skills

MRO purchasing

supplier negotiation

vendor management

inventory planning

MRP/ERP procurement

analytical skills

communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in SCM/Engineering/Business

Tools

SAP

Epicor

Oracle

ERP software

Job description

Our client, an established automotive supplier in the Spartanburg, SC area, is seeking an MRO Purchasing Buyer to support the sourcing and procurement of maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) supplies, spare parts, equipment, indirect materials, and services.

This position will work closely with Maintenance, Production, Engineering, and other internal teams to ensure critical materials are available when needed while controlling costs and maintaining appropriate inventory levels.

The ideal candidate has hands-on MRO purchasing experience within a manufacturing or industrial environment, with particular strength in supplier negotiation, vendor management, inventory planning, and ERP-driven purchasing.

Key Responsibilities

• Source and purchase MRO supplies, spare parts, tools, consumables, equipment, indirect materials, and maintenance services
• Process purchasing requisitions and create and manage purchase orders
• Review PO acknowledgements and track orders through delivery and receipt
• Expedite critical orders to prevent production downtime and operational interruptions
• Negotiate supplier pricing, payment terms, lead times, contracts, and other commercial conditions
• Analyze supplier quotes and identify opportunities for cost savings and alternative sourcing
• Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships and identify and qualify new vendors
• Monitor supplier performance related to delivery, quality, responsiveness, and cost
• Partner with Maintenance, Production, and Engineering to understand upcoming MRO requirements and purchasing priorities
• Support inventory planning, including min/max levels, stock and non-stock items, and reduction of excess or obsolete inventory
• Support Kanban, vendor-managed inventory, or similar inventory optimization programs
• Utilize ERP/MRP systems for purchasing, planning, order management, and inventory tracking
• Resolve delivery, invoice, pricing, and payment discrepancies with suppliers and internal departments
• Provide quotes, sourcing options, and recommendations for internal MRO equipment and service requests
• Support continuous improvement and cost-reduction initiatives within the purchasing function
• Assist with purchasing-related administrative responsibilities as needed

Qualifications

• 3–7+ years of purchasing or procurement experience, preferably with a strong focus on MRO purchasing
• Experience working within an automotive manufacturing or maintenance-intensive environment
• Strong technical understanding of machine and automation components, electronics, motors, sensors, wiring/electrical components, safety equipment, and other maintenance and repair parts.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered
• Proven experience negotiating supplier pricing, terms, and agreements
• Experience managing supplier relationships, evaluating vendors, and monitoring supplier performance
• Hands-on experience with inventory planning, demand planning, or MRP/ERP-based procurement
• Experience using ERP systems such as SAP, Epicor, Oracle, or similar
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Willingness to work hands-on with materials and parts when needed, including physically moving product

Preferred Experience

• Procurement or supply chain certification such as CPSM, CPIM, or CSCP
• Experience with Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement initiatives
• Experience implementing Kanban, vendor-managed inventory, or other inventory optimization programs
• Demonstrated MRO cost-reduction or strategic sourcing experience

Why Join?

• Join an established manufacturing operation where purchasing has a direct impact on production performance
• Work closely with Maintenance, Engineering, Production, and key suppliers
• Take ownership of MRO sourcing, supplier relationships, negotiation, and inventory planning
• Opportunity to identify and implement measurable cost-saving and process-improvement initiatives
• Hands-on role with visibility across plant operations