Senior Buyer

Sportech; California (MO); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plans

HSA, FSA, and DCA options

Disability benefits

Life insurance

401k with employer match

Paid holidays and vacation

SLA courses and tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Sportech is a rapidly growing company in Elk River, MN, seeking a Senior Buyer to manage procurement, inventory, and supplier relationships to support production operations.

Reporting to the Purchasing Manager, you will negotiate with suppliers, oversee material flow, and drive continuous improvement across the department. The role emphasizes collaboration, cost control, and aligning procurement with business goals.

Qualifications

• BA or BS degree in Business, Operations Mgmt., or Supply Chain Mgmt with 5+ years in purchasing or supply chain.
• Experience leading projects and change initiatives internally and externally.
• ERP/MRP systems experience; Epicor is a plus.
• Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma experience desired.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• APICS certification strongly desired.
• Strong problem solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; able to work with all levels.
• Some travel may be required.

Responsibilities

• Procure materials and equipment to support production.
• Negotiate prices, terms, and expedite orders; resolve discrepancies.
• Manage material flow and inventory levels for assigned commodities.
• Communicate specifications and design changes to suppliers.
• Maintain costs in the system for accurate reporting.
• Assess supplier capabilities via facility visits and monitor performance.
• Lead continuous improvement activities and supplier performance reviews.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align procurement with business goals.
• Travel as required.

Skills

Strong problem solving

Analytical thinking

Effective communication

Leadership

Education

BA/BS in Business, Operations Mgmt., or Supply Chain Mgmt

Tools

Epicor

Job description

Description

Sportech is a rapidly growing company in Elk River, MN. We are looking for talented people who wish to join a values-based company that desires to help our people and customers win. We design, manufacture, and assemble cab components and systems for the powersports, golf and turf, industrial and agricultural end markets. Our design and engineering capabilities allow us to provide complex components and assemblies to our original equipment manufacturer customers. We are always on the gas and seeking dynamic, enthusiastic, and motivated individuals to join our extraordinary team.

Sportech offers eligible full-time employees a robust and competitive benefits package, which includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision plan options, including flexible spending accounts (HSA, FSA, and DCA)
• Short-term and long-term disability benefits
• Basic life insurance and voluntary life insurance
• Hospital indemnity plans, pet insurance, and legal/identity theft services
• 401k plan with up to a 4% employer match
• Paid company holidays, paid vacation, and paid volunteer time
• Sportech Learning Academy (SLA) with courses offered onsite quarterly, focusing on personal and professional growth and development for employees, and tuition reimbursement options for courses completed outside of Sportech

Further benefits information is provided as part of the offer process for any offer extended by Sportech. Pay varies by position and is based on multiple factors including labor market data and, depending on position, may include education, work experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, and/or certifications. Additionally, Sportech takes into account the internal equity of current employees when considering compensation. Sportech’s reasonable and good-faith estimate for the range of new hire compensation at the time of posting for this position is between $80,000-$90,000 annually. Pay may also include variable compensation from time to time such as overtime for non-exempt positions, shift differential for specific shifts, and/or bonus targets (subject to plan eligibility and other requirements).

Job Summary

The Senior Buyer reports to the Purchasing Manager and is responsible for procurement of materials, inventory levels, supplier management, and continuous improvement in support of production operations.

Essential Job Functions

• Procure materials & equipment in support of production and internal operations.
• Negotiate basic price, terms, and conditions through ethical and professional negotiations; obtain quotes, place and expedite orders and resolve discrepancies as needed.
• Manage material flow and inventory levels, of assigned commodities, to ensure proper flow of materials to production.
• Understand and communicate specifications, as well as design changes, to suppliers.
• Maintain and update costs in the system to ensure accurate reporting.
• Continually assess supplier capabilities via periodic visits to their facilities.
• Monitor supplier performance and communicate performance results.
• Follow-up with suppliers on continuous improvement activities including corrective actions related to performance.
• Manage communications of non-conforming materials to and from suppliers.
• Builds and maintains strong cross-functional relationships, effectively collaborating with internal stakeholders to align procurement strategies with business objectives.
• May provide leadership to assigned team members, including overseeing day-to-day activities, conducting performance evaluations, and supporting employee development.
• Acts as a change agent by identifying opportunities for improvement and driving adoption of new processes, tools, and best practices across the department.
• Participate in and support continuous improvement efforts to increase efficiency, reduce costs and achieve company goals.
• Identify supply sources for new materials and purchase the required materials to support those efforts.

Requirements

• BA or BS degree (Business, Operations Mgmt., Supply Chain Mgmt., related) strongly preferred with 5+ years of experience in a purchasing, materials management, or supply chain role.
• Previous project leadership and experience leading change, both internally and externally, required.
• Demonstrated experience with ERP/MRP systems and demand-base planning systems is essential. Experience with Epicor is a plus.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, and/or Six Sigma strongly desired.
• Experience using Microsoft Office Suite required.
• APICS certification strongly desired.
• Requires strong problem solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Must display excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to work with all levels of an organization.
• Some travel may be required.